Poisoned Apple

"Oh trust me dear boy. This is not just an apple. It's a weapon. A weapon for a particular and devious enemy. One who still under the illusion. That's she's safe."

- The Evil Queen to Hansel and Gretel about the Poisoned Apple

The Poisoned Apple is an item important to the central plot of Once Upon a Time. It first appears in the ninth episode of the first season.

History
The apple had a Sleeping Curse placed upon it so that when someone willingly bites into it, they would fall into a deep sleep, during which their body would be their tomb and they would be tormented by their regrets, all the while appearing to be dead. However, the Evil Queen was unaware that, as with all curses, it could be broken by true love's kiss.

The curse that have been placed on the apple was created by Maleficent, who had traded it with the Evil Queen in exchange for the Dark Curse. Who the apple itself originally belonged to is unknown. At some point, the apple was in the possession of the Blind Witch and the Evil Queen sent Hansel and Gretel to retrieve it in exchange for the whereabouts of their father, the Woodcutter. ("True North")

The Evil Queen later offered the cursed apple to Snow White, who willingly bit into it, fully aware of the consequences in order to save the life of Prince Charming. ("An Apple Red as Blood") It was later Prince Charming who broke the Sleeping Curse and awoke Snow White. ("Pilot") ("A Land Without Magic")

Moments after Snow White had bitten the apple, she collapsed and dropped the apple. As it rolled away, it fell into a portal created by Jefferson in Storybrooke. From there, the apple was made into an apple turnover that Regina Mills offered to Emma Swan, who willingly accepted it, unaware of the turnover's true nature. The turnover was later eaten by Henry Mills, sacrificing himself in order to save Emma while proving to her that there was indeed a curse hanging over Storybrooke. Once again, the sleeping curse was broken by true love's kiss—in this case, Emma's maternal love for Henry. It is currently unknown what happened to the remains of the turnover, following Emma taking it to Storybrooke Hospital, believing it to be the cause of Henry's condition. ("A Land Without Magic")