During the summer season, peaches abound. If you have bought a lot of them because you find them delicious, you need to do your best to store them properly until you are ready to eat them. Choose the most suitable method according to the degree of ripeness and the use you intend to make of it. Read on and find out how to wash, prepare and store them to make them last as long as possible.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Store Unripe Peaches
Step 1. Determine if the peaches are unripe or ripe
Look at the peel to see if it is still yellow or golden in some places. Squeeze the fruits lightly between your fingers, the pulp should be firm, but at the same time soft. Then smell the peaches, they should have a sweet and intense aroma. If they are not very fragrant, it means they are still unripe.
- If the peaches are hard it means that they are unripe; if they are soft, it is because they are too ripe.
- Unripe peaches must be kept separate from ripe ones and the conservation method changes according to the degree of ripeness.
Step 2. Store the peaches in the fruit bowl in the kitchen for a couple of days to mature
You can expose them to sunlight, but check them often to make sure they don't get too hot or go soggy. Leave them in the fruit bowl for 2-3 days or until they are slightly soft to the touch.
If the peaches are unripe, do not refrigerate them. Cold can alter its texture, taste and color in an undesirable way
Step 3. Put the peaches in a paper bag to make them ripen faster
Place a peach or two in each bag and store them at room temperature for 2-3 days. Check them daily so that the best time to eat them does not pass.
Do not put more than two peaches in a bag to avoid the risk of crushing
Step 4. Place a banana or apple next to the peaches to ripen them earlier
Whether they are in a fruit bowl or closed in a bag, just put a ripe fruit, such as a banana, an apple or even an avocado, next to the peaches to speed up the ripening process. Check them every day to make sure they don't ripen too quickly. After 1-2 days they should be ready to eat.
Peaches, bananas and apples release a gas called ethylene, which helps them ripen; thus keeping the fruits close together you can accelerate the ripening process in a natural way
Step 5. Store the peaches upside down
Whatever the place, the fruit bowl, a bag or the kitchen counter, it is important that the side with the stem is facing down, to limit the area in contact with a hard surface.
If the peaches are upside down, they are also less likely to roll and fall
Step 6. Space the peaches apart so as not to damage the skin
Peaches need to breathe and will also not risk bruising if you leave some space between them. In general, it is better not to overlap them to prevent those on the bottom from crushing; so be careful if you keep them in the fruit bowl. If possible, arrange them side by side on a plate or on the kitchen counter, leaving some space between them.
In any case, if you keep peaches together with other fruits, it is better not to put them on the bottom. If you have to overlap the fruits for space reasons, put the peaches on top
Method 2 of 3: Store Peaches in the Refrigerator
Step 1. Wash the peaches to remove any kind of impurities
Gently scrub them under cold running water to remove any foreign matter on the peel. Do not rub them and do not keep them under water for a long time to avoid damaging them.
If you don't like the feeling of the fuzz of the peel in your mouth, you can remove it largely by rubbing the peaches with your fingers under water. Do not use a brush, to avoid damaging the pulp
Step 2. Dry the peaches with a cloth or kitchen paper
Be careful not to squeeze them and not to damage the peel as you gently pat them. Make sure the peel is completely dry before continuing.
Drying peaches before refrigeration is very important, as the combined humidity and cold can damage the skin
Step 3. Put the whole peaches in the refrigerator
You can simply place them on a shelf or store them in a bag. If you intend to eat them whole or use them quickly for a recipe, you can simply store them in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. If you prefer to use a bag, don't overfill it to avoid the risk of crushing the peaches.
- The cold slows down the ripening process, so the peaches will last a few days longer.
- Check the peaches daily. Peaches stored in the refrigerator last a few days longer than those kept at room temperature, but they still tend to dehydrate and wither; so check them often.
Step 4. Slice the peaches before refrigerating them if you want them ready when you feel like eating them
Place them on the cutting board and cut them in halves, quarters or slices with a clean knife. Discard the pit or set it aside to add to the compost.
Placing cut peaches in the refrigerator is especially useful if you intend to use them in the future to make a smoothie, milkshake or dessert
Step 5. Sprinkle the peach pulp with lemon juice to prevent it from blackening
After peeling and cutting the peaches, leave them for a moment on the cutting board or transfer them to a small bowl. Squeeze a lemon and brush the pulp with the juice to prevent it from turning black.
The ascorbic acid contained in lemon juice reduces the pH level and blocks the oxidation process (responsible for the blackening of the pulp)
Step 6. Store the cut peaches in the refrigerator for a couple of days
You can put them in an airtight container (made of plastic or glass) or in a resealable food bag. If using a bag, let as much air out as possible before sealing it. Check the peaches every day as they are already cut and they will deteriorate more quickly than whole peaches.
If you notice that they have become mushy, use them immediately, for example to make a smoothie, otherwise you will have to throw them away. Alternatively, transfer them to the freezer to make them last longer
Method 3 of 3: Freeze the Peaches
Step 1. Wash the peaches under cold running water to remove all traces of impurities
It is very important to wash them so as not to risk contaminating the pulp with foreign substances present on the peel when you cut them. Scrub them a couple of times with your hands under cold running water to remove any possible harmful substances. Be careful not to crush them and not to rub them too hard so as not to damage the skin or pulp.
Don't worry about removing the fluff as the peaches will need to be peeled before being placed in the freezer
Step 2. Peel the peaches
You can use a knife or vegetable peeler. Hold the peach in one hand or place it on the cutting board, then peel off the peel in small strips. Finally, discard the peel or add it to the compost.
If you want to freeze an entire batch of peaches, you can speed up the time by making an "X" -shaped incision in the bottom of the fruit with your knife and soaking them in boiling water for 40 seconds. When the time runs out, immediately transfer the peaches to a bowl full of cold water and ice cubes. When they have cooled, you should be able to peel the peel off very easily with your hands
Step 3. Cut the peaches in halves, quarters or slices
Place them on the cutting board and use a clean knife to slice them as you wish, based on the intended use. Cut them into slices or into small pieces if you intend to incorporate them in a smoothie or in half or quarters if you prefer to use them to prepare a dessert.
Be careful of the stones when cutting peaches. Make sure you get rid of all of them and throw them away or use them for compost
Step 4. Arrange the sliced peaches on a tray or baking sheet
Arrange them so that the pieces don't touch each other. You may need to use different pans or trays or do it several times, depending on the number of peaches to freeze.
Leave some space between one piece of peach and the other so that cold air can circulate freely. This way the peaches will freeze faster
Step 5. Place the peaches in the freezer for 4-12 hours
The time required may vary based on the temperature of the freezer, but in general it will take at least 4 hours for the peaches to be completely frozen. To be safe, you can leave them in the freezer overnight.
- When the pulp is frozen it does not release juices if you crush it. If you break a frozen piece of peach in half, you will see small ice crystals and no trace of juice.
- Freezing the pieces of peach on a tray helps to keep them from sticking together. If you put them directly in a bag, in the future you will be forced to defrost and use them all.
Step 6. Transfer the frozen peach pieces to an airtight container
You can use a glass container with a lid, but first make sure it is suitable for use in the freezer. Alternatively, you can use a food bag; in this case fill it for ¾ and squeeze it to let out as much air as possible before sealing it. The lower the exposure to air, the lower the risk of developing cold burns.
- If you have a straw available, you can use it to suck all the air out of the bag before sealing it.
- The best option would be to use a vacuum sealer.
Step 7. Store peaches in the freezer for 6-12 months
In the fridge freezer peaches will keep fresh for up to 6 months, while in a chest freezer they can last up to a year.
