How to Freeze Peaches

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Last Updated on December 8, 2023

There’s something magical about the taste of ripe peaches, sweet, and dribbling with juices that one can never get enough of. And then there are those delectable peach recipes, including jams, pies, ice creams, margaritas, mocktails, syrups, smoothies, peach cobbler with cake mix and whatnot.

Here's a guide on how to freeze peaches and store them:

If you’ve ever gone all out in your passion for the fruit in peach season and stocked it up in abundance only for it to go overripe later, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, the peach season seems too short to savor its goodness.

So, if you’re done with that agonizing wait and want to prevent the browning of your favorite fruit by extending its lifespan, you’re in for a treat ahead. I’ll explain how to freeze preaches so that you can enjoy them anytime you want.

How to Choose the Best Peaches for Freezing

Selecting the best peaches available on the market is of utmost importance. Make sure to choose the peaches that are in their peak season: super ripe and fragrant. Also, you might not be aware that there are two types of fresh peaches available out there: freestone and clingstone. Understanding the difference between the two can help in easing your choice.

Washed Peaches in a  large pan in this tutorial on How to Freeze Peaches

Although clingstone peaches are juicier and more flavorful, they’re difficult to slice since they’re attached to the fruit’s pit. These peaches are more commonly available at the farmers’ market and are an exceptional choice for canning and making jams.

On the other hand, freestone peaches are effortless to cut; I just take a paring knife and remove the pit easily. They’re widely available at grocery stores and are an apt choice to freeze peaches.

How to Freeze Fresh Peaches: The Common Edition

Here’s a guide on how to freeze peaches and store them:

Remove the Peaches’ Skin

peaches in bowl with skins removed

First, wash the whole peaches thoroughly to eliminate any lingering bacteria or germs before starting the process.

Then, remove the peaches’ skin by blanching them in a pot of boiling water. I leave them in a hot water bowl for approximately 30-60 seconds. Afterward, remove the peaches from the container using a slotted spoon or a sieve and drop them into a cool ice water bath to pause the cooking process. After the peaches cool down, I use a sharp knife to easily peel the skin.

Slice Them and Add Lemon Juice

Using the same sharp knife, slice the peaches as you wish. Then, add a tinge of fresh lemon juice to the bowl of freshly peeled and sliced peaches, as the ascorbic acid in lemon helps to reduce the natural browning of peaches. I recommend maintaining a ratio of 1 pound of peaches to 1 tablespoon of lemon juice for enhanced effectiveness.

Arrange and Freeze

sliced peaches in a plastic bag preparing to freeze them

Neatly arrange the peaches on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, making sure there’s enough space between each slice. It’s important to freeze peaches individually rather than stuffing the entire batch in a plastic freezer bag.

I freeze them for a minimum of four hours, but you can leave them in the freezer overnight as well.

Store the Fruit

How to Freeze Peaches

After ensuring that the frozen peaches are solidified, transfer the slices to a plastic freezer bag to remove as much air as possible. I like to label the bag properly with the proper name and date.

Other Ingenious Ways to Freeze Your Peaches

Apart from the most commonly used procedure for freezing peaches explained above, there are a few other ways to enjoy frozen peach slices.

Freezing Peaches in a Water Pack

Freezing peaches in water can help you bask in the glory of those tangy peaches for as long as nine months. Start the process by tossing peaches into the boiling water for blanching, then remove them from the hot water using a slotted spoon. After that, peel peaches and cut them into slices with a small paring knife.

Spoon the peaches into a pint or quart size freezer container and pour water over the peach slices leaving at least one inch of headspace. Don’t forget to add lemon juice or powdered ascorbic acid to the water before tossing the peaches into the freezer to prevent the fruit from turning brown.

Freezing Peaches in a Sugar Pack

If you’re comfortable sprinkling sugar on your peach slices, then your frozen treats are safe to be consumed within a longer period.

Begin by adding a single layer of peach slices to the base of a freezer container. Sprinkle it with sugar. Then, continue to repeat the layering, leaving one inch of headspace between the peaches and the top of the container.

Cover the container and let it stand for approximately 15 minutes until the peaches start getting juicy. Then, go ahead and freeze peaches in your freezer.

Freezing Peaches in a Syrup Pack

In this method, a syrup made from boiling water and sugar is used to freeze peaches. I recommend using heavier syrup packs for sour peaches and lighter syrups for mild ones.

Here are some tips to help you understand the proportion of water and sugar that has to be mixed in a large pot to yield a syrup pack:

  • Use 1 cup of sugar and 4 cups of water to prepare 4 cups of very thin syrup.
  • Mix 1⅔ cups of sugar with 4 cups of water to obtain 4¼ cups of thin syrup.
  • To yield 4⅔ cups of medium syrup, use 2⅔ cups of sugar and 4 cups of water.
  • About 5¾ cups of heavy syrup can be yielded by using 4 cups of sugar and 4 cups of water.

Heat and stir the mixture of sugar and water on medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves. Allow the syrup to cool off. Then, spoon fresh peaches into the freezer containers and pour the syrup over the peaches, leaving enough headspace.

Recommended Containers for Freezing Peaches

When it comes to freezing your favorite summer fruit, every minute detail matters, like the container it’s stored in. The vessel in which you store peaches must be durable, sturdily built, easy to seal, moisture and vapor-proof, and low-temperature resistant. The storage container’s size also matters as ample space left could cause freezer burn or oxidation.

I recommend these containers for storing your frozen peaches:

  • Glass Jars: Although a bit pricey, well-stacked glass containers kept in a freezer or anywhere else are easy to the eye and can conveniently be reused as well.
  • Plastic Containers: Well-built plastic containers with an airtight lid make for a practical choice when it comes to freezing peaches.
  • Canning Jars: The wide-mouth canning jars are also a sensible choice to store your fruit. They usually come with a rubber ring for a better seal.
  • Zip-Top Plastic Freezer Bags: The thick plastic freezer bags are vacuum free as well as re-sealable. Try to eliminate as much air as possible from any freezer bag before storing frozen peaches in them.

Eight Frozen Peach Recipes

Frozen peaches are a super-versatile ingredient that can add a unique flavor to tons of delicacies. I’ll share some of my favorite frozen peach recipes with you.

1. Smoothies

Smoothies are an instant favorite for all age groups. So toss some frozen peaches into the blender with the other ingredients and get yourself a cool and yummy drink. You can also add bananas to your fruity drink. I make it a bit more healthy by adding greens such as spinach.

2. Cobblers

Craving peach cobbler in the off-season? Fret not; satiate your desire with a wholesome dessert made from frozen peaches, and serve it to your friends and family. Add some cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice to your cobbler, and you’ll have everyone raving about your dish and asking for more.

3. Crisps

Since they’re quick and easy to make, peach crisps are the ultimate comfort food. I like to serve these baked goods with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

4. Cocktails

Drop a few frozen peaches into your favorite wine or make yourself a cocktail using peaches. Peach margarita is one of my favorite juicy drinks that combine the tangy flavor of peaches, tart lime, and tequila.

5. Oatmeal

I like to use frozen peaches to make my boring bowl of oatmeal at breakfast one dreamy meal. A tip here is to add peach slices to your overnight oats to save time in the morning.

6. Jam

A jar of peach jam feels like a piece of summer heaven in those cold-biting winters. Here’s something you might not know about peach jams: they can be made without peeling the peaches. Why? The high volume of pectin found in the skin of peaches helps to set the jam better.

7. Sauce

You can also make a delicious peach sauce for your fussy toddler that they can’t resist. You can enhance the flavor of this fruit puree by adding lemon juice or cinnamon. If you have leftovers, you can freeze this saucy puree in an ice tray and then use it later.

8. Ice Cream

Peach ice cream can be easily whipped up in minutes and tastes even better when combined with maple syrup and coconut milk. This is my favorite frozen peach treat, so I always make a big batch and store it in my refrigerator for up to three months.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Thaw Frozen Peaches?

There are two easy options to defrost frozen fruit. The first one is to keep the frozen peaches that you plan to thaw in a container and place it in the refrigerator until they defrost. This might take a few hours.

But if you want your peaches to thaw quickly, you can use an ice water bath. Just add the frozen peaches to a sealed bag and keep it in the water. Change the water often until you get your thawed peaches.

Can Whole Peaches Be Frozen?

Yes, if peeling and slicing the peaches seems to be too much of an effort, you can skip these processes and freeze peaches with the skin. Just wash and pat dry the whole peaches before placing them in a zip-top plastic bag.

When you’re ready to dive into the peach-frenzied stupor, run the frozen solid under cold water and let it thaw for a while.

Can Peaches Be Frozen Without Blanching?

Yes, fresh peaches can be frozen without blanching. However, the process is considered essential if you plan to freeze peaches for a considerable amount of time.

Are Frozen Peaches Mushy After Freezing?

Yes, frozen peaches can get mushy after being frozen, especially if they are improperly thawed.

Conclusion

There’s no such thing as too many peaches for anyone who’s had a taste of the magical goodness that the fruit promises. Now that I’ve helped you with all the tried and tested ways in which you can freeze fresh peaches, you can sit back and enjoy the different peach recipes all year round.

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6 thoughts on “How to Freeze Peaches”

  1. Nice! I am planning on buying a 30lb case of peaches from the farmers market tomorrow…. the plan is to freeze some and dry the rest.
    I usually freeze fruit in cup sized portions as we most often use it in smoothies and this quantity works best.
    And I don’t slice my peaches – I take the stones out and then roughly chop them in the food processor… even quicker!

    Reply
  2. I’m even lazier when it comes to freezing peaches…I just freeze them whole on a tray and then bag when frozen. I don’t bother washing them either. Just set them stem end down on the tray so they don’t roll around. When you are ready to use, just rinse under running water and the skins slip off. You can then slice or chop or blend as desired. Easy peasy.

    Reply

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