Description
How to Freeze Peaches is the ultimate guide to preserving fresh peaches, allowing you to enjoy their juicy, sweet, and fragrant flavor all year round. Learn the simple steps to freeze peaches perfectly and use them in a variety of dishes, from smoothies to pies to salsas. Whether you’re preserving the season’s bounty or prepping for the future, freezing peaches is an essential skill for any fruit lover.
Ingredients
- Fresh peaches (about 4-6 medium peaches will yield 4 cups of sliced fruit)
- Lemon juice or ascorbic acid (optional, to prevent browning)
- Plastic freezer bags or airtight containers
- A sharp knife and cutting board
- A large bowl for water (if using lemon juice)
- A baking sheet (optional for flash freezing)
Instructions
- Choose Ripe Peaches: Select peaches that are fully ripe but not overripe. They should be sweet-smelling, with no signs of overripe spots. Soft, ripe peaches will give you the best flavor and texture after freezing.
- Peel and Slice the Peaches: To make it easier to peel the peaches, start by blanching them. Bring a pot of water to a boil, and make a small “X” at the bottom of each peach. Drop them in the boiling water for about 30 seconds, then transfer them to an ice water bath. The skins should peel off easily. Once peeled, slice the peaches into wedges or cubes.
- Prevent Browning: To prevent your peaches from browning, you can treat them with lemon juice or ascorbic acid. Simply toss the peach slices in a bowl with 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice or a commercial ascorbic acid solution. This step helps to keep the peaches fresh while frozen.
- Flash Freeze (Optional): For the best texture, flash-freezing peaches is a great method. Lay the sliced peaches out on a baking sheet in a single layer, making sure they don’t touch. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for about 2 hours or until the peaches are frozen solid. Flash freezing prevents the slices from sticking together when stored in bags or containers.
- Store in Freezer Bags or Containers: Once the peaches are frozen, transfer them into freezer bags or airtight containers. Be sure to remove as much air as possible from the bags to avoid freezer burn. Label the bags with the date of freezing. You can store frozen peaches for up to 12 months.
- Enjoy Year-Round: Now that you know how to freeze peaches, you can enjoy them in smoothies, pies, cobblers, or even as a topping for oatmeal throughout the year.
Notes
- Flash-freezing peaches ensures the slices stay separate, so you can grab just a handful when needed without having to thaw the entire batch.
- For best results, always use fresh peaches as they freeze much better than overripe ones.
- Frozen peaches are a great way to make fruit salsas, smoothies, or even savory dishes like marinades and sauces.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Preserving
- Method: Freezing
- Cuisine: General
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 17g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: How to Freeze Peaches, Frozen Peaches, Peach Preservation, Freezing Fruit, Summer Peach Recipes