The Basics of an Apple Corer

• Many apple corers have a serrated end. apple corer image by Edsweb from Fotolia.com

  There are a number of different kitchen gadgets on the market to help you core and peel apples. When making apple pie or apples for canning or applesauce, you may want a gadget that does both, peels and cores. For those times you simply want to remove the apple's core, a basic apple corer does the trick with minimal effort. Apple corers come in a variety of styles, yet they typically share similarities.

Shaft

• In general, an apple corer is similar in shape to a curling iron or piece of pipe. The cutting portion or shaft is a tube-like shape and typically has a serrated end that pushes into the top of an apple, through the apple and surrounds the apple's core. Made commonly from metal, some form a complete tube shape to surround the core. On some apple corer designs, the cutting end is nothing more than a long, narrow scoop-like shape. Cutting the core involves twisting the corer after inserting the shaft entirely through the apple. When pulled from the apple, the utensil takes with it the apple's core. One antique apple corer was a single piece made of bone and did not have a serrated end, which demonstrates how apple corers have evolved.

Handle

• Opposite the cutting end of the apple corer is its handle, which may be nothing more than a grip at the end of a long tubular shaped object, an end knob or an actual handle that extends perpendicular from the cutting portion, allowing the user to grip firmly on the utensil before pushing through the apple. One apple core design is a single piece, made from one solid material and shaped like a pair of tongs. When gripping the end, or handle, the tong-like cutting end compresses, before pushing into the apple. After removing this type of apple corer from the fruit, the user releases the handle which causes the cutting end to open up and release the core.

Lever

• Some apple corer designs include some type of a movable part or lever. This might be an end knob, which slides through the cutting tube, to push the apple core from the utensil. In other models, the lever opens the apple corer, to release the apple core from its grip.