When it comes to fruit, IC patients can feel limited. Citrus fruits — of which there are many — most often irritate IC bladders. But some fruits are usually bladder friendly. Along with pears and blueberries, some mild apple varieties fall into this category.
Depending on the variety, apples can be harvested from August to November, but September is the peak month for apple harvest in the United States.(1) So, that makes autumn the perfect time to enjoy fresh apples! Grab one to snack raw, slice it up and pair it with peanut butter, try one of these delectable and IC friendly apple recipes or all of the above!
What apples are best for IC bladders?
While all apples have a lower acidic content level than many other fruits, they do vary in their acidity levels. The ICN Food List includes gala, fuji and pink lady in the “Usually Bladder Friendly” category. Then there are middle-of-the-road acidic apples like red and golden delicious apples. These fall into the “Foods Worth Trying” category. The most acidic apples to watch out for and avoid are granny smith, nj-109, sir prize, Jersey Mac and Akane.(2)
The good news is the least acidic apples come in a variety of sweet and tangy. If you’re looking for a sweet, juicy apple, try fuji apples. Gala apples are sweet also but more mild. Pink lady apples are tangier. Golden and red delicious apples fall right in the middle between sweet and tangy.(3)
Whether you’re picking apples at an orchard or picking them up at your local grocery store, you can enjoy them in all sorts of ways without aggravating your IC symptoms.
IC Friendly Apple Recipes
We’ve scoured the internet to find IC friendly apple recipes. But we also know that not every IC bladder is created equal. These recipes all contain ingredients that are in the “Usually Bladder Friendly” category of the ICN Food List. We’ve made notes of any ingredients not in that list along with suggestions for alternatives. Be sure to use IC friendly apples like gala, fuji and pink lady. From sweet to savory IC friendly apple recipes, we have you covered!
Breakfast Apple Recipes
- Pumpkin apple streusel muffins
- Apple cinnamon baked oatmeal cups (This recipe has walnuts or pecans as an optional ingredient. Both are in the “Foods Worth Trying” category. When in doubt, leave them out!)
- Cinnamon sugar baked apple doughnuts
- Easy apple fritters
- Apple french toast casserole
- Frosted apple cinnamon bread
- Apple cinnamon muffins
- Country apple fritter bread
- Apple peanut butter smoothie
- Apple pie oatmeal (Omit the raisins or dried cranberries. This recipe also uses pecans which are in the “Foods Worthy Trying” category. When in doubt, leave them out!)
Dinner Apple Recipes
- Harvest chicken skillet with sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts (This recipe includes onion, which is in the “Foods Worth Trying” category. You can omit the onion or give it a careful try since cooking the onion reduces its acidity somewhat. Be sure to also substitute the granny smith apples for a more IC friendly tangy apple like pink lady.)
- Apple gouda stuffed chicken breast with smoky roasted sweet potatoes (Omit the smoky paprika in this recipe to keep it completely bladder friendly.)
- Baked apple pork chops and green beans
- Butternut squash apple soup (This recipe contains onion which can be omitted. Cooked onion has lowered acidity and could be worth a try.)
- Sage and apple turkey burgers (This recipe contains onion which can be omitted. Cooked onion has lowered acidity and could be worth a try.)
- Crockpot apple chicken
- Celery root and apple soup (This recipe contains onion which can be omitted. Cooked onion has lowered acidity and could be worth a try.)
Snack Apple Recipes
- Slow cooker pear and applesauce
- Crockpot cinnamon applesauce
- Cinnamon apple chips
- Easy cinnamon apples
- Apple butter in the Crockpot
- Chunky apple cheddar muffins
- Apple cinnamon oatmeal bars (Substitute the granny smith apples for a more IC friendly tangy apple like pink lady.)
Dessert Apple Recipes
- Traditional apple pie
- Fried apple rings with cinnamon sugar
- Microwave caramel apple mug cake
- Caramel apple charcuterie board (Add only IC friendly items to your board or eat only those things you know work for you.)
- Apple fries
- Apple crisp cookies (Substitute the granny smith apples for a more IC friendly tangy apple like pink lady.)
- Maple glazed apple blondies
- Apple crisp bars
- Easy mini apple pockets
References:
- Duford MJ. When to pick apples: A harvest season guide. Home for the Harvest. July 12, 2023.
- Belyeu, S. The Most Acidic Varieties of Apple. Garden Guides. July 21, 2017.
- CMI Orchards. Sweet-O-Meter.
