How to Keep Peaches in Their Best Condition for Storage

Peaches are one of summer’s greatest luxuries. Bright and acidic with a flowery flavor, they’re best eaten over the sink to collect all of the juices. There are numerous options for cooking with peaches. We know and adore peaches in desserts like cobblers and buckles, but they’re also delicious in savory meals like Caprese salads and pizzas.

Unfortunately, once plucked, peaches have a short lifespan and bruise rapidly due to their thin skin. While peach season will always be fleeting and precious, here are some techniques for extending the maturity of your peaches at home. Continue reading to learn more.

How To Store Peaches

The first step is to assess if your peaches are ripe. If they feel hard and aren’t exceptionally aromatic, they’re not ripe. In that case, place them on the counter at room temperature in a single layer (to minimize bruising) for a few days, or until they are fully ripe. A ripe peach smells good and has a little give when gently pressed against its skin.

It’s better to eat ripe peaches immediately away, but if that’s not possible, keep them in the refrigerator. The chilly environment will slow down the ripening process, buying you some time. In both cases, wait to wash your Peach skins have a natural preservative that protects the flesh, so save them until you’re ready to consume them.

The Optimal Location for Peach Storage

There is a better way, so think again before stuffing your peaches into the refrigerator’s crisper drawer. Refrigeration is frequently needless and may even mask the fruit’s flavor. Nevertheless, you should locate a cool, shaded area to keep the fresh fruit.

Rather, they advise keeping them off of the window sill, off of the kitchen counter, and away from direct sunlight. Even though you might How to Handle Sliced Peaches

Peaches that have been chopped and exposed to air will gradually begin to turn brown. Both putting the chopped fruit in an airtight container in the refrigerator and adding a small amount of acid, such lemon juice, can help stop browning. Instead of storing chopped peaches in the refrigerator, it is preferable to freeze them for extended periods of time (more on that below).

How To Store Cut Peaches

If possible, preserve your peaches whole, as exposing the flesh accelerates the ripening process. However, if chopped peaches are carefully stored, they can last up to four days in the refrigerator. To avoid browning, sprinkle them with lemon or lime juice before storing them in a closed container in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze peaches?

In short, yes, you can freeze peaches! In fact, freezing peaches is a terrific way to prevent food waste while also gifting yourself with summer peaches in the future. They will remain fresh in the freezer for 6-12 months.

Bring a saucepan of water to a boil, then prepare an ice bath next it.
Use a tiny knife to make a shallow X in the bottom of each peach.
Place the peaches in the boiling water for 30 seconds, then transfer to the ice bath with a slotted spoon.
Gently remove the peach skins with your hands. This should be fairly simple post-blanch!
Pit and slice the peaches, then place them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
It takes around three hours to freeze solidly.
Transfer the frozen peach slices to a freezer-safe sealed plastic bag and store in the freezer.