I absolutely love Springtime here. It’s all about the u-pick farms for strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and peaches. To savor the harvest for all year long, I’m sharing how to freeze fresh picked peaches with you.
Choose and Prepare Ripe Peaches
- Select ripe but firm peaches (slightly soft, fragrant, no major bruises).
- Wash gently under cool water and pat dry.
- Decide whether to peel: Peeling is recommended for most uses (skins can toughen or get mushy when frozen), but you can freeze with skins on for smoothies or if you just prefer to keep them on. The variety we have here in Florida are not fuzzy so I leave my skin on. Plus, my good friend Mary owns a peach farm so I listen to what she tells me haha.
Items Needed
Fresh Picked Peaches (or peaches from the store)
Cutting Board
Food Saver (optional) – similar to mine
Join Our Simple Living Community
Directions
- Pit and slice into wedges or slices (thicker slices hold up better for baking).
- Lay slices in a single layer on a parchment (or wax paper) lined baking sheet (don’t let them touch).
- Freeze until solid (2–4 hours or overnight).
- Transfer to freezer bags or containers, remove as much air as possible (use a straw or vacuum food sealer if possible), label with date, and return to freezer.
Pin For Later
TIPS
- When slicing the peaches, take your knife and make an “X” from the top to the bottom of the peach. Do it again and again until you have 8 peach sections. They will peel away from the seed (pit) pretty easy this way. Or you can use this handy dandy tool.
- Toss immediately with lemon juice (about 1–2 Tbsp per 4–6 peaches) dissolved in ¼ cup water per quart of fruit. This prevents browning.
Are Peaches Healthy?
Peaches are not just pretty to look at or just good to eat. They are filled with nutrition.
This yummy fruit is rich in fiber along with vitamins A, C, K, thiamin, niacin and riboflavin. They also are rich in Potassium (heart health) and Calcium (bone health). Peaches help fight inflammation due to their antioxidants which can destroy free radicals.
FUN FACT
Here is an extra tip if you are out picking peaches and want to calculate how many to buy for things like pie, crisp or cobbler recipes.
1 Medium Peach = 1/2 cup of sliced peaches
Example: If your recipe calls for 3 cups of sliced peaches, you would need 6 peaches.
How to Enjoy Fresh Picked Peaches
- Fresh, right out of your hand
- Sliced over oatmeal in the morning (drizzled with a touch of honey or maple syrup)
- Make a refreshing pitcher of Peach Tea
- Tossed into a simple grilled chicken summer salad
- Grilled Honey Glazed Peaches
- Baked into a cobbler, crisp, or a pie
- Served with a scoop of old-fashioned vanilla or toasted pecan peach ice cream
What if I don’t have a peach farm near me?
No need to worry. If you don’t have fresh peaches where you live, you can have them delivered right to your door or pick them up at a local drop off area. Sometimes if I feel like I didn’t pick enough at my local farm (or be a peach hog), I go to a local drop point and get them.
Storage
- Store in the coldest part of your freezer at 0°F (-18°C) or below.
- Label bags with date and contents. Will stay fresh for 6-8 months. A food saver will push them to 12 months. It really vacuums out any air with a good tight seal.
- Thaw in the refrigerator or use frozen directly in baked goods/smoothies.
Resources
https://njaes.rutgers.edu/sshw/message/message.php?p=Health&m=301
https://cdn.agclassroom.org/media/uploads/LP873/Peach_Nutrition_Facts.pdf
https://cdn.agclassroom.org/media/uploads/LP873/Peach_Nutrition_Facts.pdf
How to Freeze Fresh Picked Peaches
Materials
- Fresh Picked Peaches
- Cutting Board
- Kitchen Knife
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Ziplock Bags
- Food Saver (optional)
- Sharpie Marker
Instructions
- Pit and slice into wedges or slices (thicker slices hold up better for baking).
- Lay slices in a single layer on a parchment (or wax paper) lined baking sheet (don't let them touch).
- Freeze until solid (2 – 4 hours or overnight).
- Transfer to freezer bags or containers, remove as much air as possible (use a straw or vacuum food sealer, if possible), label with date, and return to freezer.
Notes
- When slicing the peaches, take your knife and make an “X” from the top to the bottom of the peach. Do it again and again until you have 8 peach sections. They will peel away from the seed (pit) pretty easy this way.
- Toss immediately with lemon juice (about 1 – 2 Tbsp per 4 – 6 peaches) dissolved in ¼ cup water per quart of fruit. This prevents
I hope you enjoy making this helpful tip on how to freeze fresh picked peaches. You and your family will be able to enjoy them all year long. Please share this post over on Pinterest and tag me on Instagram.
Wendy Lea Walker, NTP
Nutritional Therapy Practitioner
I’m Wendy. A wife, empty-nester mama, homemaker, homebaker, gardener and small-time farmer. I love sharing wisdom and mistakes I’ve learned along the way. Anyone can garden or homestead, no matter where you live. It’s a mindset. You just have to start somewhere. I believe food is medicine. Feed the body real whole foods and healing will begin. I’m an advocate for eating real food and enjoy sharing all my fresh-milled flour recipes. I’ve learned to slow down over the years from all the noise that came with life and enjoy creating a simple cottage home.
Leave a Reply