If there is one thing we love around here, it’s peaches.
Peach smoothies in particular. So when I see a deal for peaches, I snatch up a few pounds {okay, maybe 38} to freeze and tuck away for winter when there are no peaches to be had in the stores. Well, at least no peaches that taste any good that is.
When the fruit is ripe. Preserve it! Not only will your tummy thank you, but you pocketbook will too, because we all know it’s cheaper to buy fruit in season, then it is in the middle of December.
How to Freeze Peaches:
Supplies
Peaches
Ascorbic Acid {I use Fruit Fresh}
Procedure: Dip fruit in boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds until skins loosen. Dip quickly in cold water and slip off skins. Cut in half, remove pits and slice. To prevent darkening, keep peeled fruit in ascorbic acid solution.
Lay sliced peaches on a cookie sheet in a single layer. Freeze until firm. Place peaches in freezer safe bags, label, date and freeze until ready to use. Peaches can last up to 9 months in the freezer and still retain the freshness when stored properly.
Want to learn more about preserving summers bounty? Check out my How to Freeze Fruits and Vegetables guide.
Here are a few of my favorite peach recipes:
Peach Salsa
Peach Jam
Peach Cobbler
Peach Ginger Glazed Chicken
How to Can Peaches
Tina says
What kind of price did you get? I know Fred Meyer has them on sale this week but I am wondering if they are going to get cheaper.
Ellen says
Mavis,
where are these peaches coming from? Seems too early for Yakima peaches (which are the best in the whole world)
Susan says
Oh Ellen… Yakima peaches… We live in CA and happened to go up there on business one year. Deciding to go see Yakima, we found a little farmstand and bought some peaches there. Afterwards, while we were traveling away from Yakima, we saw a woman standing outside her car, eating a peach.. We kind of giggled at the thought, and then decided to get our Yakima peaches out and have one. Holy Moly !!! Those really were amazing peaches !!! Now… if only we could figure out how to bring some of those down here !!!
Leronna says
Could you use lemon or lime juice instead Mavis??
Lise says
This is how our family always preserves our peaches and they are DELICIOUS! They have that fresh peach taste that canned peaches never even approach. I have to say, we never bake with them… they don’t make it defrosted that long :).
Kristina Z says
I freeze peach pie fillings, too. Just make the filing, pour it into a gallon ziploc freezer bag and freeze, nestled into a pie pan. When the filling is frozen, remove the pie tin and you have a perfectly shaped pie filling, ready to slip frozen into a crust. Just add a few more minutes onto the pie’s cooking time (you may need to shield the crust with foil at the end). Nothing better in January or February than a fresh peach pie!
Laurel says
Even easier, I discovered that you can just freeze fresh peaches whole, with the skins on. When you want to use them, just run under warm water, and the skins peel right off so easily! We freeze bags full in season, then use in smoothies all year long.
Laura says
that is what we do too, but I haven’t tried to use them yet. I had read that was the easy peasy way (totally my style, lol!) so decided to give it a go.
Laurel says
I make a variety of smoothies: frozen peach, banana (frozen or not), apple juice, yogurt. Blend. Yum…..
Alli says
Thank you for the great post! Can you share your peach smoothie recipe too please?
Mavis Butterfield says
Yep. I’ll type it up.
Lynn says
I freeze all of my peaches in orange juice for a orange -mango juice mix. It keeps the peaches bright and you have the juice to drink as well. A friend also cannes her peaches in the same juice. How ever you do it they are wonderful in winter when you want something sweet to eat.