would they eat them if you got one of those gadgets that cores and slices into wedges. With her braces, my granddaughter uses that on all her apples.

I also suspect they'll soften up with a big of time.

Wish I had some ... the really hard ones are getting softer every day ...

kay

Our native AR Blacks are one of the crispiest varieties, a long-storage variety, so yes harder than what you may be used to. ;) They can be used for baking, either whole or in pies and cobblers, and make really good cider or apple butter. Make good dried apple slices too.

Dave

I also prefer the hard apples, because they're the keepers when the others get mealy and turn to mush. I pare and slice them to eat because a car accident left me with an healed jaw fracture and it's an effort to get any pressure in my bite.

ABs do have the reputation for hardness. One web site claims they're too hard to be good for making applesauce.

Yes, they are hard apples. They will improve with storage, if you have a cold place to store them.

They are the type of cooking apple that holds it's shape, so it is for pies and strudel, not apple sauce.

I suspect that your family would eat them sliced.

This is a great thread! I have an Arkansas Black apple to plant! I can't wait to get some great apples to harvest!