We have a huge peach tree on our backyard. It has grown abundant with fruits and harvesting them was the best option we had in order to save them from becoming overripe. Now we have a sack of peaches and my family can’t consume them anymore. I want to save the rest for later snacks and I am not sure if it’s alright to just freeze them.
Peaches are everyone’s favourite summer fruit. Depending on the variety of the peach, the colors can range from yellow to red-orange. Peach however, is the name for the color of its flesh. Its flesh is soft and sweet when ripe.
After the impulsive mass harvest, don’t waste peaches. Instead, freeze them because you definitely can! Peaches, like any other fruit, is best preserved when frozen. In that way you can hold on to the sweet, summertime pleasure that comes with every slice of this wonderful fruit.
Frozen Peaches
Freezing peaches is one of the most essential and practical step to do in order to preserve them.
Like some other fruits, once harvested, peaches continue to go through chemical changes that will ripen and eventually spoil the fruit.
If peaches are not properly preserved, they will turn brown and mushy when thawed, which nobody likes to happen.
However, if preserved properly and if chemical controls such as vitamin C or ascorbic acid or with sugar mixtures, the color, taste and texture will remain the same.
Nothing bad will happen if you consume this chemical control, if that concerns you. It is simply just vitamin C. So don’t worry.
Frozen and treated peaches can be stored in the freezer for as long as 1 and a half years.
How to Freeze Peaches?
There are basically three ways to preserve and freeze peaches. The easiest and most common is the “dry pack”, one is by adding sugar and the other is by adding a syrup.
Prepare the peaches:
- Wash the peaches and let them dry completely.
- Cut a shallow X mark on the peaches in preparation for blanching. It’s also possible to freeze peaches without blanching them and I will cover them in a separate post.
- Quickly cool off the peaches in iced water. Let dry.
- Remove the skin and then pit the peaches and slice as desired.
Dry Pack:
- Place the slices on a pan with wax paper at both at the pan and on top.
- Pre-freeze for about 5 hours. This will prevent the peaches from sticking together.
- Remove the peaches from the pan and simply put the frozen peaches in a ziplock bag.
- Remove excess air by sliding of the side of your palm across the bag.
- Put them back in the freezer.
This is the best method if you plan to consume them within 3 to 5 days for they tend to change color and texture beyond those days.
To treat, you can use ascorbic acid or to ease the task, simply sugar.
With Syrup or Water and Sugar:
- Prepare the syrup by dissolving sugar into a cold water. Syrup concentration may vary from light to heavy. Prepare as to the desired sweetness.
- Put the peaches into a freezer-friendly container.
- Pour syrup leaving a half inch headroom.
- Seal and place in the freezer.
With Sugar Only:
- Sprinkle sugar to peaches. Make sure to cover all sides of the sliced fruit. (amount of sugar depends on your desired sweetness)
- Put them in a ziplock bag or container. Make a half inch headroom to the container.
- Put them in the freezer.
How To Use Up Extra/Leftover Peaches?
Peaches are a delicious and healthy fruit that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. But what do you do when you have extra peaches? Here are five delicious ways to use up your leftover peaches:
- Make a smoothie – Peaches make a great addition to smoothies. Just add them to a blender with some milk and yogurt, and you’ll have a delicious and healthy drink in no time.
- Add them to your cereal – To add some extra sweetness and flavor to your morning cereal, just add some sliced peaches to your favorite cereal, and you’re good to go.
- Make a fruit salad – Peaches are a great addition to any fruit salad. Just add them in with your other favorite fruits, and you’ll have a tasty and healthy dish in no time.
- Grill them – Peaches can also be grilled for a delicious and unique flavor. Just slice them in half and remove the pit. Then, place them on the grill over medium heat for about 5 minutes per side. Serve with ice cream for a delicious dessert.
- Make a peach jam – Peach jam is a great way to enjoy the taste of summer all year round. To make peach jam, you will need 3 cups of chopped peaches, 1 cup of sugar, 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice, and 1 package of fruit pectin. Simply combine the peaches and sugar in a large pot and bring to a boil. Add the lemon juice and pectin and stir until combined. Pour into jars and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. This recipe makes about 4 half-pint jars of jam.
So there you have it – five delicious ways to use up your leftover peaches. Next time you find yourself with extra fruit, try one of these recipes and enjoy!
Recipes for Your Peaches
There are a lot of recipes that involve peaches. One of the favourites is the peach and raspberry tart. This love-at-first-bite tart will surely make everyone droll for more.
For bakers, who wouldn’t love peach doughnuts? Not only is it yummy, a vegan recipe is surely healthy too.
For your desserts, a slice of peach cheesecake will complete the meal. It looks fancy with a perfectly layered crust, cream cheese and beautiful peaches, and really yummy as well!
Wrap Up
Yes, you can freeze peaches. Frozen peaches will last for 6 months in the freezer. Here is how to do it: Clean and peel the skin off the fruit. Cut them into halves or slices depending on your preference. Then put the peeled peaches in a plastic bag and seal tightly, removing all of the excess air from inside before sealing it. Put them inside another bag so that they won’t get stuck together or bruised while they are being stored in your freezer. Date them with today’s date so that you know when you have frozen your fresh peaches!
How do you plan to freeze peaches? Share your experience with me in the comment below. I am always looking to hear from my readers.