Family Table Testing 123: Apple Corers

Esther Kurtz Nov 18, 2025
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An Apple A Day

The weather is getting colder…you know that that means — apples! It’s the fruit that’s available all winter, and it shows up in a million forms: applesauce, baked apple, apple crisp, apple pie, and apple parfait to name the first few that pop to mind. Using a corer makes quick and easy work for most of the apple prep you might be doing. I tried a few different kinds. Some cute and useless, others fun and bulky, and then some that just got the job done. Let’s bite into it.

Testing, Testing

1. I cored smaller, softer McIntosh apples.

2. I cored larger, firmer Pink Lady apples.

3. I cleaned the corer.

4. I placed the corer in my drawer, checking its footprint.

OXO

Price: $11.25

Notes: Smart design, ergonomic, small footprint, smooth and easy use, cuts a narrower tube in the apple, wasting less.

Stars: 5

Schvubenr

Price: $8.99

Notes: Looks and performs identically to the Zulay corer.

Stars: 4.5

Ototo

Price: $19.95

Notes: Cute idea but requires too much exertion. The spiral fell apart, and it only cores and slices at the same time, you can’t just core.

Stars: 4

Tigwin

Price: $19.99

Notes: Took me a second to figure out, but a breeze after. Only cores and slices at the same time; you can’t just core. Can also peel apples and potatoes. Tons of fun
for kids.

Stars: 4

Zulay

Price: $8.99

Notes: Sharp, smooth, easy to use, but made a wider than expected tube, cutting away a lot of apple.

Stars: 4.7

Cuisipro

Price: $15.02

Notes: Looked exactly like the Zulay and Schvubenr but performed worse.

Stars: 4.5

The Bottom Line

OXO. OXO, Schvubenr, and Zulay all performed the same. The two differentiators were the size of the hole and the space it took up in storage. The price difference between them is fairly inconsequential.

Tip: Want to fill your cupcake with cream or ganache? Use an apple corer for a neat, uniform hole. Easier than lumpy, crumbly knife cutouts.

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Esther Kurtz

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