Is there anything as delicious as a fresh peach? Peaches on ice cream, peach sangria, peach barbecue sauce — my mouth is already watering. Some summers the crop is extra delicious, juicy and fragrant. It’s these flavors I want to capture and savor all year long. When you come across a crop like this, you’ll be tempted to buy the whole bushel, and that’s what I say go for it! Delicious fresh peaches make for delicious frozen peaches, too.
What good are frozen peaches? Well, you can pretty much do just about anything with them that you would have done when they were fresh: savory dishes like peach topped pork chops, kebabs, cobblers, pies, jams, sangria, smoothies. Or use them as ice cubes in your iced tea or lemonade for a fruity treat when you reach the bottom of your glass.
So what’s the best way to freeze peaches? The first decision you have to make is whether or not to leave the skin on. Do you like a little extra fiber and texture in your baked goods, or do you like the smooth skin on the outside? A quick blanch will help you slip the skin off more easily. Or you can always peel it — just be careful not to waste too much delicious fruit inside.
blanch to remove skin (Optional)
Directions
- Prepare an ice water bath and set aside.
- Place whole peaches in a large pot of boiling water. Let boil for 10-20 seconds or until the skin shows signs of splitting.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove peaches and immediately transfer to ice water bath. This will stop the peaches from cooking.
- Use a paring knife to peel off the skin. At this point, the skin should come off pretty easily.
Freeze peaches
Ingredients
- 1 pound ripe peaches
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Directions
- Line baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Set aside.
- Slice peaches into about 8 sections per peach, and discard pit.
- In a large bowl, add peach slices and toss with lemon juice.
- Arrange peach slices in a single layer on the parchment paper.
- Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight, until solid.
- Transfer frozen peach slices to freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible from the bag. Seal tightly. Store in freezer for up to a year.
Pro tip: Measure out how much you need to make your favorite recipes and store in separate smaller zip-top bags. Be sure to label what is in each zip baggie. (Ex: 2 pounds peaches, 1 9-inch pie.)
ALSO TRY, Peaches and cream smoothie.
