How to Freeze Peaches So You May Enjoy a Fresh Taste of Summer

Bright, sweet, and a little bit tart, peaches would be the sweetest mid-summer sweet. In fact, out of fresh peach season, it’s easy to overlook just how wonderful perfectly ripe berry flavor. By keeping them in the freezer, however, you get a delicious reminder every time of year. Freezing peaches is simple, and you’ll be able to appreciate them in lots of ways, whether on their own or baked into cobblers and crisps (any recipe which calls for frozen peaches will work).

Test Kitchen Tip: If you don’t have a lot of space in your freezer, canning peaches Is an Excellent alternative

Choosing the Finest Fruit for Freezing Peaches

The very first step to learning how to freeze peaches is to know the best way to select the very best fruit. When freezing peaches, always select fruit at its peak of maturity. When ripe, peaches must be intensely fragrant and yield to mild pressure at the stem end.

More hints for choosing the best fruit for sour berry:

Look for tree-ripened peaches in local farmer’s markets and farm stands. Commercial peaches are often picked before they’re mature. Ripening them at home may change their texture, but it will not improve the taste. However, as their name implies, clingstone tends to be more challenging to slice and pit.

Notice that for each quart of berry you’re freezing, you are going to need 2 to 3 pounds of fruit (different freezing rates for different peach variants).

Selecting the Top Containers for Freezing Peaches

While you’re out picking up berry, make sure you bring home the right containers for freezing peaches, too. Use containers that are durable, easy to seal, resistant to cracking at low temperatures, and moisture- and – vapor-resistant. Also, make sure you pick the right size container for your volume of meals; wasted space may lead to oxidation and freezer burn.

Here are our recommended vessels for freezing fresh berry:

Plastic Containers: Use rigid plastic containers like those Ziploc containers ($2.79( Target) with airtight lids intended for freezing.

Canning Jars: Select canning jars that are qualified for freezing; this information is clearly mentioned on jar packaging. These Ball canning jars ($14.99, Bed Bath & Beyond) are a good example. Use only wide-mouth glass jars; jars with necks can crack more easily as contents extend. To allow for food expansion, don’t fill jars over the 1-inch line.

Plastic Freezer Bags: Use luggage designated for freezing, such as resealable bags and vacuum freezer bags. All these are made of thicker material than regular plastic bags and are more resistant to oxygen and moisture. Remove as much air as you can in the bags. If you want to restock, here are a few Up & Up quart freezer bags ($3.49, Target). As soon as you learn how to suspend fresh peaches, you’ll look forward to other fruits, too. Next up? Discover how to freeze apples.

Preparing Peaches for Freezing

Before freezing peaches, you have to blanch and peel them. This step inactivates or slows enzymes that cause loss of flavor and color in your own mailbox.

Test Kitchen Tip: If you are using a syrup pack for freezing fresh berry, be sure to make the syrup before you prepare your berry because it requires to chill before using. Watch “Packing Peaches for Freezing”.

Step 1: Slit the Skin Care On Every Peach

First, wash the peaches with cool tap water, but don’t soak just drain them. Then, use a sharp knife, such as those paring knives ($34.95, Williams Sonoma) to make a shallow X on the bottom of each peach. This step allows for growth when the peaches get blanched.

Step 2: Blanching Peaches for Freezing

Blanching (plunging vegetables or fruit into boiling water ice water to halt the cooking) companies the flesh, heightens flavor, and loosens the skin to ease peeling. We love this Le Creuset 51/2-Quart dutch oven ($288, Williams Sonoma).

Fill a large bowl with ice water.

Gradually lower three or four peaches to the boiling water. Eliminate after 30 to 60 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, try this OXO spoon ($9.99 Bed Bath & Beyond), transfer peaches from boiling water to the bowl of ice water.