There’s nothing quite as disappointing as biting into an apple you picked out carefully at the store, only to find it mealy, bland, or worse, weirdly sour when you were expecting something crisp and sweet. Most of us just grab whatever looks shiny and red without really knowing what we’re actually looking for, and honestly, colour is one of the least reliable indicators of a good apple. There are a few simple, genuinely useful tricks that fruit vendors and seasoned shoppers swear by, and once you know them, you’ll rarely end up with a disappointing apple again. Here are five tips worth keeping in mind the next time you’re at the fruit stand.