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Best Apple Corers

Updated February 2023
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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more 
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Artaste Apple Corer
Artaste
Apple Corer
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Most Comfortable
Bottom Line

This apple corer provides a quick and clean cut.

Pros

The corer has stainless steel blades, which make cutting through the apple in 1 quick maneuver possible. It has some weight to it, which can also make cutting easier. The extra-long handles are great for control, leverage, and comfort. Dishwasher safe.

Cons

Not great for larger apples.

Best Bang for the Buck
Zulay Kitchen Premium Apple Corer
Zulay Kitchen
Premium Apple Corer
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Ergonomic Handle
Bottom Line

The large ergonomic handle and sharp serrated edge make this corer easy to use.

Pros

The large, non-slip, comfortably curved handle lets you apply force even with limited strength. Sharp serrated teeth make cutting through apples, pears, and peppers easy. The tool opens up for easy, hands-free core disposal. Stainless steel.

Cons

Light twisting or rocking may be needed to core completely.

Savorliving 12-Blade Extra Large Apple Slicer, Corer
Savorliving
12-Blade Extra Large Apple Slicer, Corer
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Durable & Solid
Bottom Line

A stainless-steel apple corer that leaves you with neat apple slices too.

Pros

Sharp, stainless steel blades have 4 welding blades each, making it durable. The corer is dishwasher safe and comes with a small cleaning brush. Wide handles allow users to get a good grip.

Cons

The blades are very sharp but are not recommended for use on very hard fruit.

OXO Good Grips Apple Corer
OXO
Good Grips Apple Corer
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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

If all you need to do is get that apple cored, this little tool will do the job reliably at a low price.

Pros

This corer has a strong and easy-to-hold handle and a stainless steel head. The blades are sharp but not sharp enough to cut your fingers. The tool has a hole that is convenient for hanging and storing. Dishwasher safe.

Cons

For some apples, the diameter of this corer is not quite wide enough to get the whole core.

Calphalon Easy Grip Apple Corer Slicer
Calphalon
Easy Grip Apple Corer Slicer
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Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

With oversized handles, this tool gives you the leverage you need to slice through medium-sized apples.

Pros

Has oversized handles for comfort and control. Super-soft control zone. Large. Best with apples under 3.5" in diameter. Dishwasher safe, but consider drying to prevent rust. Grips are angled away from blades to keep your hands safe.

Cons

Apple slices are often still connected at the bottom when finished.

HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

30
Models
Considered
74
Consumers
Consulted
12
Hours
Researched
Category cover

Buying guide for best apple corers

Apples are a fruit almost everyone loves. Their sweet, crisp flavor is obviously their biggest draw, and they’re extremely versatile — perfect as a snack on their own, mixed into oatmeal, turned into a delicious sauce, or worked into a variety of baked desserts like pies, tarts, and crisps.

The one problem with apples, though, is dealing with their cores. Not only does the core contain the inedible stem and seeds, but it also has an unpleasant fibrous texture. What you need to deal with this mess is an apple corer, which cuts away the useless bits while preserving all the fruity goodness.

But while an apple corer is a pretty simple tool, choosing one can be tricky. Basic corers only remove the core, but some models are multi-functional and can help with other apple prep tasks such as peeling and slicing the fruit. You have to decide which type best suits your needs, what size you prefer, and what other features will make the corer most effective in your kitchen. Fear not. With our buying guide, you’ll have all the tips you need to make choosing the best apple corer as easy as pie.

Content Image
Apple corer/slicers usually cut apples into eight wedges, but some slice the fruit into up to 20 thinner pieces.

Key considerations

Type

While all apple corers essentially do the same thing — make a circular cut through the center of the fruit to remove the core — you can choose from a few different types. Some corers perform other functions that make them a better option depending on whether you intend to eat your apple on its own as a snack or bake apples as part of a recipe.

A basic apple corer is a thin, handheld tool that features a handle and a cylindrical tube with a bladed edge. You press the round, bladed edge through the center of the apple, and the corer cuts the center core portion of the apple out without removing too much of the fruit. These basic handheld corers typically require the most hand strength to use because you have to press the tool all the way through the fruit with one hand.

An apple corer/slicer is similar to a basic corer in that it’s a handheld device that cuts through the fruit to take out a circular portion that contains the core while slicing the apple at the same time. However, a corer/slicer features a different design: it’s a larger tool with handles on either side of a metal circle. There’s a small bladed circle in the center, which is surrounded by blades that divide the circle into wedges.

To use a corer/slicer, you line up the smaller circle with the apple stem and push down on each handle to cut out the core and slice the apple into wedges. A corer/slicer requires hand strength, too, but some people find it easier to use because you can exert more force with two hands.

An apple corer/peeler is a countertop tool with a crank handle and a suction cup on the bottom to secure it in place on your table or counter. It features a long arm with metal prongs on the end that you press into the apple around the stem. When the apple is in place, you turn the handle to rotate the fruit and move it toward a peeling blade and a corer blade at the end of the tool to remove the skin and core in a single step. Most corer/peelers slice the apple, too.

A basic corer or corer/slicer works well if you just want to core an apple for a snack. A corer/slicer can also come in handy for baking and other recipes if you peel the apples first  because you can just cut the wedges down to the size you need for your recipes. If you frequently make apple pies, tarts, and other baked desserts, however, you’ll probably enjoy how efficient a corer/peeler model is since it does your peeling, slicing, and coring all in one step.

Size

The size of an apple corer determines how easy it is to store. In a small kitchen, you’d probably appreciate the slim, compact design of a basic corer because it can easily fit in a drawer. A corer/slicer is larger and doesn’t sit flat because of the handles on either side, but you can usually store it in a drawer easily enough. A corer/peeler is the largest type of corer and is definitely more difficult to store — it won’t fit in most drawers, so you’ll likely need room on a shelf somewhere to keep it.

Features

Corer diameter

A corer’s diameter is an important factor to consider because it determines how large a section is cut away to remove the core. A large apple requires a larger diameter to cut away the entire core, while a smaller diameter works best for smaller varieties because you won’t waste any fruit by cutting away too much to remove the core.

Blade material and design

Most apple corers feature a stainless steel blade, which is extremely durable and can hold its edge for a long time. Stainless steel doesn’t rust, either, so it’s a lower-maintenance option than other blade materials. For handheld corers, opt for a model with a serrated blade. It can typically cut through the fruit more easily, so you don’t need to use as much force to push the corer through the apple.

Ergonomic handle

The handle on handheld corers is another important feature to consider because you want to be able to hold the tool comfortably. Rubberized handles usually provide the best grip and prevent slippage. They’re often softer to hold, too, which can limit hand fatigue when you’re coring multiple apples.

Other functions

If you mainly want to core your apples to eat as a snack, a basic model that only cores is probably all you need. But if you also bake apples or are preparing snacks for children, you may want a tool that can core and slice and/or peel at the same time. A corer that also peels and slices can save bakers serious time in the kitchen, allowing you to enjoy your apple pies and tarts that much faster.

Apple corer prices

Apple corers typically vary in price based on the type and the quality of their materials. Most models cost between $2 and $50.

Inexpensive: The most affordable apple corers are basic handheld models. They only remove the fruit’s core, so they’re a single-use product. You can expect to pay between $2 and $10 for these corers.

Mid-range: Stepping up from basic models, corers in the $10 to $30 price range are usually handheld apple corer/slicer combinations. They cut away the apple’s core and slice the fruit into wedges in a single motion.

Expensive: The most expensive apple corers are corer/peeler tabletop models. They not only remove the core but can peel and usually slice the apple at the same time. They generally cost between $30 and $55.

Tips

  • Go basic! A traditional handheld apple corer that only removes the core but leaves the fruit intact is the ideal tool if you love to make baked apples. Just place the cored whole apples in a baking dish, fill the center hole with a mixture of butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and your favorite chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans, and bake until the fruit is soft.
  • Prevent browning. If you’re coring, peeling, and slicing apples for a pie, tart, or crisp, you can keep the fruit from browning while you work by squeezing some lemon juice over the apples.
  • Slice more than apples. An apple corer/slicer can be used to cut potatoes into wedges for roasting or frying. You can also use it to cut onions into slices for kabobs, salads, or braising.
Content Image
Some apple corers are bigger than others in order to accommodate large apple varieties.

FAQ

Q. What’s the best type of apple corer for an avid baker?
A.
When you bake with apples, you’re usually looking to not only core your fruit but peel and slice it as well. That’s why a corer that also peels and slices your apples is such a handy tool to have. It saves time when preparing multiple apples for a pie, tart, or crisp and keeps your hand from getting fatigued because it doesn’t require as much hand strength as a handheld corer.
 

Q. What type of apple corer should I choose if I often cut apples for my kid’s lunch?
A.
Apples definitely make a healthy snack for kids. An apple corer/slicer model is a good choice because it cuts the apple into easy-to-eat wedges while removing the core. You can easily fit the slices in a zippered plastic bag to toss into your child’s lunch bag.
 

Q. Are handheld apple corers dishwasher safe?
A.
Most handheld apple corers that are made of stainless steel can be cleaned in your dishwasher. However, you should always check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions to make sure that your model doesn’t require hand washing.

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