How to store peaches to keep them super juicy & full of flavor
Peaches are a true gift from nature in the hot summer months. They are super juicy, sweet, and full of flavor, and sweetness. Peaches are one of the best fruits to just cut and snack on, since they are a treat on their own! Their shelf life, however, is not particularly great. What’s more, you can shorten it even more if you do not store this delicious fruit properly. If you have bought a lot of juicy peaches, or you grow your own peaches, and you happen to enjoy a bountiful harvest, it is important to know how to properly store them! That way, you will be able to enjoy this sweet fruit for weeks without it spoiling super quickly! So, if you want to know how to store peaches to make them last longer and keep them super juicy and fresh, just keep on reading:
Learn how to store your peaches to keep them super juicy and delicious
How to choose the best peaches
The first step to properly storing your peaches is to actually determine how ripe they are. It is important to separate the ripe peaches from the unripe ones! When selecting ripe peaches, aim for a firm peach with a tiny give in the skin. The fruit should have a pleasant aroma and no green spots on its skin. A fully ripe peach has dark yellow skin that compliments the sunset colors (think orange and red) when exposed to direct sunlight. Unripe peaches are hard to the touch and smell bland. Our advice is to purchase your peaches from a local fruit and vegetable market or orchard, so you can get the best natural fruits. That way you will support your local farmers, and you will have the juiciest peaches in town! The supermarket should be your last resort!
The first step is to choose the best peaches from your local fruit market
Or pick some from your peach tree if you are lucky
Should you wash peaches?
It is very important not to wash your peaches. If you do, the moisture from the water will accelerate the rotting process and spoil the peaches. The mossy skin of peaches contains substances that act as a natural preservative of the fruit, which slows down the rotting and scaling processes. It is therefore important not to wash it off! Store your peaches unwashed, and when you are ready to snack on one, wash it right before consumption!
Peaches are protected by their signature peach fuzz
How to store ripe peaches
If you have well-ripe peaches, the best strategy is to eat them right away. The longer you hold onto them, the faster they spoil. To slow down the process and preserve them longer (if they are already ripe) you need to store them in the refrigerator. Our preferred method is to loosely twist a thin produce bag from the grocery store and place it in the produce drawer. This will give you a little more time to enjoy them. The cool, cold environment of the refrigerator slows ripening and delays the peaches from going bad. But remember that if they are ripe, they won’t last more than a few days in the fridge. What’s more, keep in mind that the cold air might dehydrate the peaches, so keep an eye out for wrinkles. If you detect creases on a refrigerated peach, try to eat it as soon as possible or store it in the freezer for later use.
Ripe peaches should be enjoyed immediately
Use your fingers to check if the peach is ripe
How to store cut peaches
If you have sliced peaches left over, the ripening and rotting processes become even more rapid. To slow it down, keep them refrigerated. Keep in mind that sliced peaches cannot last longer than about 3-4 days in the refrigerator. To delay the browning of the fruit, put them in a container with a tight-fitting lid. Arrange them in a row and make sure there is space between them. You can use fresh lemon juice to keep peaches from browning, just like you can do with apples, potatoes, and avocados! Sprinkle lemon juice directly on the fruit’s flesh, or immerse the chopped peaches in a lemon juice-cold water mixture. The acid in lemon juice inactivates polyphenol oxidase enzymes, which cause the fruit to discolor.
TIP: Cleaning and disinfecting fresh produce with a lemon water solution is one of our favorite lemon hacks. Want to see more ways to use lemons in your home? We have a list of the most unique things you can do with lemons!
Peaches cut into slices are the fastest ones to spoil and rot
Our advice is to add them to both sweet and salty meals
How to store unripe peaches
When your peaches are firm to the touch and lack their trademark sweet scent, they need a couple more days to ripen. Until then, they should be kept on your counter at room temperature. Keep them unwashed and arrange them in a single layer, stem-side down, to avoid damage to the skin of the fruit. Do not pile them on top of each other, as this will speed up the rotting process. However, if you and your taste buds are in a hurry to taste this delicious fruit, you do not have to take the long and steady approach. A simple trick can help you speed up the ripening process of your peaches. Just take a paper bag and place the peaches inside. Place a banana in the bag as well if you are really in a hurry. After a few days, the peaches will begin to ripen more quickly and take on the beloved flavor and sweetness of ripe peaches. You will know they are ripe when you press gently with your finger in the middle of the fruit and a mark remains!
TIP: It is so important to know how to store your fresh produce in the fridge! That way, you can ensure that your fruits and vegetables last the longest. Check this guide for fruit and vegetable storage to see our tricks and ideas!
Leave your peaches on your counter, so they can have time to ripen on their own
How to freeze peaches
If you still cannot handle the number of peaches you have on your hands, you can freeze them! This is a good strategy that will help you enjoy this summer fruit all year long. Peaches can remain edible and quite good tasting for 6 to 12 months in the freezer. It is advisable to use suitable containers and plastic bags for storing fruit in the freezer. Frozen peaches are perfect for smoothies, oatmeal, sauces, syrups, and cocktails!
If you want to freeze your peaches, just start by cutting them into slices
Pop them in a zip lock bag and then leave them in the freezer
Your frozen peaches will last from 6 to 12 months in the freezer
Take a look at this video for visual instructions
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