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Here’s how to freeze peaches, a fast and easy way to preserve them! Use this simple process to extend the life of fresh peaches.
Got some beautiful ripe peaches and need to extend their life? Here’s how to freeze fresh peaches! Freezing peaches is a great way to preserve this fruit, especially since it doesn’t change the texture of the fruit like canning does. This makes them easy to pop out of the freezer and use immediately in a peach dessert or peach smoothie. There are a few things to note about the method, but it’s quick and simple. Here’s what to know!
How to freeze peaches
Maybe you’re like us: we had a few beautiful ripe peaches and we were about to go out of down for the weekend. What to do? Freeze them! Peaches can go from ripe to overripe quickly, so it’s important to preserve them before they get too juicy and bruised. Freezing is an ideal method because it captures the raw texture of the fruit, unlike canning which cooks the fruit. To flash freeze fresh peaches, you’ll need to peel them first, then freeze them on a tray. Here’s what to do:
- Peel the peaches: Fill a large bowl of water with ice. Start a medium saucepan of water to boil. Once boiling, place the peaches in batches of 3 into the boiling water for 45 seconds. Remove each peach with a slotted spoon and place it into the ice bath. After about 1 minute when the peaches are cool enough to handle, use a paring knife to make a small cut to puncture the skin. Then use your fingers to pull off the skin in sheets.
- Slice and mix with lemon juice: Remove the pits, thinly slice the peaches and place the slices in a bowl. Mix the lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of water and mix with the slices.
- Freeze on a tray: Lay the slices on parchment lined baking sheet and freeze until hard, 3 to 4 hours.
- Transfer to a bag: Transfer to an airtight container or plastic bag. If using a bag, use a straw to suck out any remaining air before sealing the bag, then write a date on the bag.
Storage info
Got that fruit in the freezer? Frozen peaches are best for up to 6 months in the freezer. They can last up to 1 year, but they do become very icy by that point. They have best flavor and texture when used within the first 3 months.
How to defrost frozen peaches
Ready to use your frozen fruit in recipes? These peach slices are easy to add to whatever you’re making. Here are a few notes:
- To use in baked desserts or cooked recipes, run under warm water. Place the frozen peaches in a colander and run under warm water for about 1 minute. Shake them mostly dry. They can be still solid on the inside. This works well for a peach crisp or peach cobbler.
- Use immediately in smoothies. Throw them right into a peach smoothie, peach mango smoothie or banana peach smoothie.
- To use in other desserts or recipes, allow to sit at room temperature for 1 hour. The peaches will release some liquid when thawing, which is natural. Their texture will be slightly different than raw: almost like lightly cooked. We don’t recommend using them in a peach salad, but they’d work for peach salsa or peach sangria.
Recipes for frozen peaches
Keep in mind: peaches that you froze yourself are much more flavorful than those store-bought bags! In some of our recipes we recommend not using store-bought frozen peaches: but homemade frozen fruit is a different story. Here are some favorite peach recipes and peach desserts where you can use frozen fruit:
- Go for Perfect Peach Crisp or Peach Ice Cream
- Try this tasty Peach Galette
- Opt for Peach Sorbet
- Try Peach Juice (defrost first) or Peach Compote
- Go for smoothies: Peach, Peach Mango, Peach Banana or Strawberry Peach
How to Freeze Peaches
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 3 to 6 cups peach slices 1x
Description
Here’s how to freeze peaches, a fast and easy way to preserve them! Use this simple process to extend the life of fresh peaches.
Ingredients
- 1 to 2 pounds (6 to 8 medium) peaches
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl of water with ice. Start a medium saucepan of water to boil. Once boiling, place the peaches in batches of 3 into the boiling water for 45 seconds. Remove the peaches with a slotted spoon and place them into the ice bath. After about a minute or so when the peaches are cool enough to handle, use a paring knife to make a small cut to puncture the skin. Then use your fingers to pull off the skin in sheets.
- Remove the pits, thinly slice the peaches and place the slices in a bowl. Mix the lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of water and mix it with the peach slices.
- Lay peaches on parchment lined baking sheet and freeze until hard, 3 to 4 hours.
- Transfer to an airtight container or plastic bag for long term storage. If using a bag, use a straw to suck out any remaining air before sealing the bag, then write a date on the bag. Store for up to 6 months.
- Category: Essentials
- Method: Frozen
- Cuisine: N/A
- Diet: Vegan
Let us know if you have any questions!