How Many Calories in an Apple?

In this article I am going to answer the question: How many calories in an apple?

We’ve all heard the phrase “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” at some point in our lives. Now I don’t know about that, but they sure are tasty and convenient.

They are definitely one of the more satiating fruits out there, and a single apple packs a decent amount of fibre, potassium and Vitamin C.

How many calories in an apple?

Short answer:

• A small apple contains: 77 calories, 21g carbs.
• A medium apple contains: 95 calories, 25g carbs.
• A large apple contains: 116 calories, 31g carbs.

Keep reading for the longer, more detailed answer.

How many calories in an apple?

Whenever I look for data on calories and nutrients online I go to NutritionData, which is an awesome resource for detailed nutritional info. You can find all sorts of details about pretty much any kind of food on that website.

Apples, although tasty, aren’t as nutritious as many other fruits. They contain almost no protein or fat, and the majority of calories in them come from the simple sugars glucose and fructose.

There are two micronutrients that are quite abundant in apples, mainly Vitamin C (14% of RDA in a medium apple) and Potassium (6% of RDA in a medium apple). A medium apple also contains about 4 grams of fibre, which is great.

How many calories in an apple, based on size and weight?

• An extra-small apple: 53 calories, 14g carbs, 2g fibre.
• A small apple: 77 calories, 21g carbs, 4g fibre.
• A medium apple: 95 calories, 25g carbs, 4g fibre.
• A large apple: 116 calories, 31g carbs, 1g protein, 5g fibre.
• 100 grams (3.5 ounces): 52 calories, 14g carbs, 2g fibre.
• 1 ounce (28 grams): 15 calories, 4g carbs, 1g fibre.

In contrast to bananas, apples contain almost no starch.

Apples are quite low on the Glycemic Index (about 40), have a low Glycemic Load (about 6) and a low Insulin Index. They are also quite high on the Satiety Score, which measures the effects food have on satiety.

Conclusion

By now it should be clear exactly how many calories in an apple. I’d like to say that even though apples aren’t very rich in micronutrients, they are quite satiating compared to other fruits, so they can be a very convenient snack.

If you peel the apples, you will get rid of some of the pesticides, but you will lose nutrients at the same time. Apples are among the modern foods with the most pesticide residues, so it might be a good option to buy organic apples, if you can find them.