Blanching your peaches means they will be ready for eating, as well as making peach galettes, jam, pies, tarts and other delicious baked goods.
When are peaches in season?
While it varies slightly depending on where you live, peaches are harvested from approximately June through August.
How to tell if peaches are ripe:
The background color of a peach will completely changed from green to yellow when it’s ripe. To check ripeness by touch, slightly press a peach that’s still hanging on the tree. If the peach is too hard and doesn’t give slightly, leave it for a few more days before picking, according to food writer Felicia Lim. “A ripe peach will also have a sweet aroma that gives away the fact that it’s ready to be harvested,” she adds.
Easy way to peel peaches
Here’s a visual tutorial on how to peel peaches the easy way—that way you can spend less time peeling and more time making tasty treats.
Step 1: Scrub your peaches
Pre-wash the peaches to remove dirt, pesticides and bacteria. Although you’ll be removing the peel, it’s best to ensure pathogens aren’t spread as you peel them, according to Elizabeth L. Andress, PhD, professor emeritus and former director of National Center for Home Food Preservation at UGA. Andress says. Briefly scrub each peach under cool running water.
Step 2: Boil water
Use a large pot and bring water to a rolling boil for best results.
Step 3: Add peaches to water
Reduce heat to a simmer and carefully lower peaches into the water—use a large ladle to work quickly while avoiding any splashes. One Parade reader shared a pro tip: slice a small X in the bottom of your peaches so you have something to easily grip once they’re cooled and ready to be peeled.
Step 4: Blanch the peaches
Let the peaches roll around in the boiling water for 30 seconds up to 1 minute (until the skins loosen).
Step 5: Ice the peaches
Remove the peaches from the boiling water and add them to a bowl of ice water (about 30 seconds).
Step 6: Peel peaches
Remove the peaches to a cutting board and use your fingers to slide the skins off. It’s that easy! Just cut them in half to remove the pits, and now your peaches are ready for anything—eating, baking, pureeing, making jams, etc. Have too many peaches to eat now? Here’s exactly how to freeze peaches.
