Red Delicious apples are medium-sized and have a conical shape. They are broadly round at the top and taper at the base. The thick skin turns bright red well before the fruits are fully ripe, which can lead to early harvests. As they mature, the skin becomes a darker red with white lenticels visibly dotting the surface. The fine-grained flesh is creamy white, crisp and juicy and offers a mildly sweet taste with flavors of melon.

Seasons/Availability

Red Delicious apples are available year-round with a peak season in the early fall.

Current Facts

Red Delicious apples are one of the most well known commercially grown apples in the United States. The Botanically, they are classified as Malus domestica. Red Delicious apples look a lot different today than when they were first discovered. Over a period of nearly 100 years, improvements were made, altering the fruit’s shape, firmness, juiciness and even its color. Red Delicious is the parent apple of several popular varieties like the Starkrimson, Empire and Fuji apples.

Nutritional Value

Red Delicious apples are high in dietary fiber and contain vitamin C. They offer a small amount of vitamin A and sodium and traces of calcium and iron. Red Delicious apples are higher in antioxidants than many other apple varieties, most of which are contained in the skin.