How to Freeze Peaches? The Intro

If you aren’t a peach lover, this article may bore you to your core but for those who are, you are in for a peachy treat. When I say peach, I am not referring to the Internet Slang but the fruit, Peach. For those of us who live in the southern part of the country, summer hasn’t started till we get a bite of juicy peaches. But what happens when we get into the past summer days? We start our long wait for the next summer only to get them for a few weeks. All good things come after a little wait proverb sounds perfect in this scenario. 

Although, we can get peaches all year if we import them from around the world. But that won’t keep our creative and aesthetic sense intact. Also, we’ll have to wait for the fruit delivery as well. But the record reflects that we are not that great when it comes to waiting for a delivery. Also, we aren’t talking about the summertime when we get peaches on the roadside stalls and markets. I am wondering about post-summer time. Another variation of the proverb that I wrote about is ‘All good things must come to an end’. The same goes for peaches as well. Since these peaches are available only from May to August, we always need more. In this situation, we start thinking about freezing peaches. Instead of worrying, let’s see the best way to freeze peaches. 

How to Freeze Peaches? Peach Selection

Before we head over and understand the process of selecting the correct peach for freezing, we must know the different varieties of peaches. Freezing the peaches is the only way to get a peach flavor iced tea all year round. You can also use them in smoothies and pies. You can get the best taste and results out of your frozen peaches if you follow the correct procedure in the summer. Now, let us understand the types of peaches. 

Understanding Peaches

Peaches are available in different types, and each of them has its unique characteristics. Despite having different types, we study and observe the peaches in two main categories. 

Freestone Peaches

Freestones are the type of peaches in which the pit of the fruit is easy to remove from the fruit. If you are looking for an easy procedure for freezing the fruit, select freestones. These freestones are the best freezing peaches. 

Clingstone Peaches

These are the more challenging types of peaches when it comes to their stone. The stone of the fruit is tightly attached to the pit. Thus, you will need to put extra effort on the clingstone peach. I don’t choose them while freezing peaches. But they are sweeter and also have extra juice. So, their selection varies from person to person. 

Along with these two main categories, there are a few varieties of the peach as well. The varieties include Elberta, Redhaven, and O’Henry. These varieties have different flavors and textures. But for the best results go for Freestone peaches while freezing. 

How to freeze peaches?  Market Peaches Selection

Along with keeping the details of the two categories in mind, we must check for a few other indicators that help us get the best type of peach for freezing. 

When selecting peaches for freezing, consider the following factors:

Ripeness

We want our peaches to be ripe enough to savor the flavor during the off-season. You don’t want them to be oversoft as well so they can get out of shape and taste upon freezing. Only apply gentle pressure on the peach and see if it emits an aroma. In case the peach gets mushy upon gentle pressure, leave it as it is overripe. 

Color

The color of your fruit isn’t a fashion choice but it helps you decide the overall quality of the peach. While selecting the peach, check for the green undertones on the skin. If you find any green color, it means the peach isn’t ripe enough for you. The color should be uniform and vibrant. 

Texture

The texture of the fruit is also a vital indicator of the overall quality. The texture should not have wrinkles, bruises, and blemishes. The skin of the fruit should be fresh but not so firm that it remains the same upon applying pressure. 

Smell

The last obvious indicator is the smell of your fruit. It should be sweet and have a fragrant aroma. If your fruit smells anything else, it’s not ripe yet. 

How to Freeze Peaches? Best Time to Buy Peaches

As we are going over various aspects of the indicators that we should check before freezing peaches, there is another one as well. There is a specific time to buy peaches from the market. This way, you can get the best results out of your hard work. 

The ideal time to get peaches from the market is during the peak season. It varies from area to area so check your local market as well. However, Later May to early September are the peak hours for peaches. In your area, peaches can be at their best from June to August. Peak season peaches are ripe and have the best flavor. They had their time to produce the best taste. The perfect taste reflects that they are ideal for freezing. 

In case your market gets peaches during the off-season, it means that they won’t have the best taste and color. Those peaches are picked from the trees early in their growing period. Also, off-season peaches aren’t the best for freezing due to their behavior and taste. Thus, I always recommend getting the peaches during peak season. This way, you can enjoy the best taste in the off-season. 

How to Freeze Peaches? Reasons to Freeze Peaches

It is obvious that we all are peach lovers. We miss them during the off-season and always wonder if we got a chance to enjoy them during winter. A peach fruit will be best to eat for a day if kept out of the fridge. If you keep them in the fridge, they can last for ten days. But those ten days aren’t enough to fill our soul. Thus, we are always asking, “Can you freeze peaches?” Frozen peaches can last for a year. 

How to Freeze Peaches?

Now we come to the real question. After picking the peaches from the market, it is time to freeze the peaches. 

Step 1: Blanching

If we follow the correct procedure, we can get the frozen peaches in no time. We start with the blanching process. Start by washing the peaches. Now, we must use cold water to rinse off any dirt on the fruit. Now we need to remove the skin from the peach and boil a pot of water. As you are boiling water, prepare a bowl of ice water as well. Cut a small X on the bottom of the fruit and put them in the boiling water for a minute.  After a minute, put those peaches in the ice-cold water. This process will help us remove the skin from the peach. 

Step 2: Slicing

We can’t freeze the whole peach. We need to cut the peaches in half. As we are cutting the peaches, we must remove the pit from each fruit. Now cut the peaches into slices. We know, that without the skin, peaches can turn brown rapidly. Thus, it is better to keep them in a mixture of lemon juice and water. Add three tablespoons of lemon juice in one-quarter of water. Now add the slices of peach to the water. 

Step 3: Peaches

After slicing the peaches, we are at the third step of freezing peaches. Now add the slices of the peaches on the baking sheet in a layer. Keep a little gap between the peaches when you are putting them on the baking sheet. Now place the baking sheet in the freezer for a few hours. Keeping a gap among the slices will help you freeze each slice of the peach. 

Step 4: Storage

Now as you see the frozen peaches on the baking sheet. Take them out and away from the baking sheet. Now put the peaches in an air bag or container. I would recommend you take as much air out of the bag as you can for the best results. Without taking out the air, your peaches can get a freezer burn. You can use the frozen peaches for a year. This procedure answers the “how to freeze fresh peaches?” question. 

How to Freeze Peaches – Flash-Freeze Method

The lemon juice method will keep the frozen peaches stored and safe for a year. But if you are looking to use them in the next two months, we’d suggest a different method to freeze them. To use the peaches in the next two months, use the flash-freeze method. 

Step 1: Removing Pits

In the first step, wash the peaches with running water and rinse off any dirt from the fruit. Now peel off the skin and remove pits from the fruit. 

Step 2: Slicing

Now slice the peach, put each slice on the baking sheet, and keep a gap between all slices. Keep a layer of parchment paper on the sheet to easily remove the slices from the baking sheet. 

Step 3: Freezing 

After putting the slices on the baking sheet, put the baking sheet in the freezer. It usually takes three hours for the peaches to freeze. Later, you can take them out and store them in an air-tight bag. Remember to put a label with a freezing date on the bag so you can use it in two months. 

How to Freeze Peaches in Syrup?

You can use the syrup method to preserve the whole or half fruit without cutting them into slices. This method helps you store the frozen peaches for 10 months. 

Step 1 – Removing Pits

Take the fresh peach and wash it with running water to rinse off any dirt on the fruit. Now remove the skin of the peach and also take out the pit.

Step 2- Storing

Now take a freezer-safe container and put the whole or half fruit in them. When you are putting the fruit in the container, make sure to leave a half-inch head space in the box. Now we need to pour syrup on the peaches

Step 3- Add Syrup

We can make the syrup by dissolving sugar in lukewarm water. Mix the water till you see it is clear like regular water. Check the recipes on the internet about adding the exact sugar in water. But the recommended level is 10% to 50%. Afterward, place them in the freezer and add a label with the freezing date. 

How to Freeze Peaches? Sugar Method

You can also freeze peaches by putting them directly in the sugar. This process will also make the peaches taste sweeter for later. 

Step 1- Removing Pits

Take the fresh peach and wash it with running water to rinse off any dirt on the fruit. Now remove the skin of the peach and also take out the pit.

Step 2- Adding Lemon Juice

Now we need to add lemon juice in the form of sprinkles on the peaches. This addition of lemon juice will prevent browning in the peaches. 

Step 3- Adding Sugar

If you have a quart of peaches, add ⅔ Cup Sugar and mix gently. Afterward, leave the peaches for 15 minutes so the Sugar can dissolve. Now place this container in the freezer. 

All these methods are applicable. You only need to check the best way to freeze peaches and get the best results. 

More info: Cucumber Trellis – Introduction The Uses and Benefits

FAQs

1- Can you eat the skin of a peach?

Yes, peach skin is edible and non-toxic. 

2- How to prevent peaches from turning brown when freezing?

Add some lemon juice to the peaches to avoid brown color during the freezing process. 

3- How long can I store frozen peaches?

It depends on the freezing method but you can store them for 8-12 months. 

4- Do I need to add sugar while freezing?

No, sugar is not necessary while freezing the peaches.

Conclusion

Now we understand that getting the frozen peaches isn’t a difficult process. We only need to follow the instructions to get the best results. This way we can enjoy peaches during the off-season.