The secret to choosing the sweetest apple is in the stem. A green stem shows the apple is not quite ripe, while a brown stem is a sign that it is ready to eat.
Furthermore, a missing apple stem may reduce the amount of time that an apple stays fresh for, as microorganisms can enter the spot where the stem was located.
Squeezing an apple isn't a good indicator of ripeness because apples are firm, whether ripe or not. This makes the stem rule the best way to avoid a mushy, flavorless apple.