Some measurements are more than confusing, to say the least. For example, how much is a peck of apples? If you’re wondering what a peck of apples is, you’re certainly not alone.
Fortunately, not many recipes call for an entire peck of apples unless you’re preparing a dish for an especially large crowd. But you may occasionally come across the term ‘peck of apples’ while grocery shopping or browsing online.
If someone tells you to pick up a peck of apples from the store or you find a recipe that requires a half peck of apples, you will need to figure out how many apples are in a peck.
You may even need to know how to convert a peck into measurements that you commonly use. Let’s eliminate some of the confusion for you.
How Much Is A Peck of Apples?
A peck of apples is equal to two gallons or a half bushel of apples. A full peck weighs an average of ten to twelve pounds and can be converted to eight quarts or sixteen pints. If you want to buy a full peck of apples from a local orchard, it will cost you about ten to twenty dollars, and you’ll receive roughly thirty apples.
How Many Apples Are In A Peck?
If you really want to keep it simple, a peck of apples is equal to thirty to thirty- five apples. So, if you stop at your local grocery store or farmers market and carefully select thirty fresh apples, you essentially have yourself a peck of apples.
While that may still sound like an awful lot of apples for the average family, you can usually get a deal for buying in bulk. But pecks are often divided into smaller amounts when sold at most retailers. Most people buy small bags of apples, which are the equivalent of a half peck.
Measurement Conversions for A Peck of Apples
This is where a peck of apples becomes more complicated- and probably part of the reason that the US decided to measure dry goods in odd sounding units, such as pecks. A peck of apples is equal to two gallons of apples, which can be broken down into eight quarts or sixteen pints.
But you would probably have trouble measuring a pint of whole apples, so it’s much easier to measure them in pecks. Then again, if you are trying to make homemade apple juice or cider, you may find these conversions to be helpful.
Cost of a Peck of Apples
It’s much more cost-efficient to buy a peck or half peck of apples from your local orchard or fruit stand than it is to buy single or bagged apples from your local grocery store. A peck of apples costs about ten to twenty dollars and a half peck will run you about five to ten dollars.
However, some organic farmers sell their pecks of apples by the pound and charge anywhere between three to five dollars per pound. Since a peck of apples weighs between ten to twelve pounds, the price can add up quickly.
Nutritional Value of a Peck of Apples
A medium-sized apple is composed of 86% water and contains a mere 52 calories, so there’s no need to feel guilty about indulging in an entire peck. Apples are a healthy high-fiber snack for your entire family.
Apples are also rich in vitamin C and potassium, but they do have a relatively high content of carbs and natural sugars, such as fructose, sucrose, and glucose. Even so, most parents would much rather see their kids devouring a peck of apples rather than munching on chocolate chip cookies.
Why You Should Buy a Peck of Apples
OK, so maybe not a whole peck unless you’re planning on doing a lot of baking during the holidays, but at least a half peck. Apples can be used in many recipes, from fritters to butters to pies and cider. But they’re also a healthy snack to keep around.
If you have fresh fruit in your home, you and your family will be more inclined towards healthy snacking and proper nutrition. Aside from being healthy and delicious, apples are relatively affordable- especially if you buy them in bulk by the peck.
What Are Some Fun Facts About Apples?
Apples are actually members of the Rose family, and they’re usually still hand-picked. Apple trees bloom in late spring, produce pink and white flowers, and begin bearing fruit about ten years after they are planted. It takes a total of thirty-six apples to produce one gallon of apple cider, so you can put that whole peck of apples to good use.
Although a ‘peck’ may be an unfamiliar measurement, it basically just means thirty to thirty- five apples or two small bags. That’s much easier than trying to convert them into quarts or pints.
While a peck is usually too many apples for the average family, it can come in handy for many apple recipes, including apple pies and homemade ciders, which are classic favorites for holiday celebrations.
Believe it or not, there are many things that you can do with a peck of apples, so if you enjoy getting creative in the kitchen, you may want to stop by your local fruit stand or orchard and ask for a peck of apples- or at least a half peck.
Frequently Asked Questions On How Much Is A Peck of Apples?
Why Is It Called a Peck of Apples?
Sure, the term ‘peck’ sounds funny and may even bring to mind the image of birds devouring an apple tree. But a peck is actually a US customary unit that’s used to measure the volume of dry goods. It’s basically another way of saying two gallons of apples.
What Does a Peck of Apples Look Like?
While you may assume that a peck of apples would resemble a small wheelbarrow full of apples, most likely you’ve actually seen pecks of apples on multiple occasions without knowing it! A peck of apples is equal to two small bags of apples from your local grocery store. So, a peck looks like two bags of apples!