Freeze the season’s peaches to enjoy sweetness all year
I always get a little overzealous during peak peach season. Their beautiful hue draws me in, then their perfume seduces me into a stupor, and the next thing I know, I’m leaving the farmers market with a full peck of peaches. A peck is nearly 15 pounds, so once my stupor fades away, I realize there is no way my family can eat that many peaches before they go bad (although we’ve tried).
Cookbooks and websites are full of recipes for freezing peaches in sugar or syrup. But for those of us who want plain frozen peaches to blend into a morning smoothie and bake into pies, there is a simpler way. Here’s a basic breakdown of how to peel, pit, cut and prep peaches for freezing. Tip: For the best results, use ripe peaches.
Peel the skins: I prefer to peel my peaches before freezing because it makes them more versatile to use later. The easiest way to do this is by blanching, a cooking process that involves scoring the bottom of each peach with a paring knife and quickly dunking it in a pot of boiling water and then an ice bath. As a result, the peach skin loosens and becomes incredibly
easy to peel.
Cut into slices: While you can technically freeze whole peaches, I’ve found they’re much easier to use as slices. As is the case with other stone fruits like nectarines and plums, you’ll need to remove the pit first. Luckily, you can easily pit a peach with the help of a paring knife.
Toss with lemon juice: By coating the peaches with a bit of lemon juice before freezing, the fruit maintains its color and quality without added sugar. You can also use ground vitamin C (as Alton Brown suggests), or use a fruit-preserving product, such as Ball’s Fruit Fresh, in place of the lemon juice.
Freeze on a baking
sheet: This crucial step keeps the peaches from clumping together during the freezing process. Make sure to place them on top of parchment paper, otherwise they will freeze to your baking sheet.
Store in a zip-top plastic bag: Once your peaches are frozen solid, transfer to a gallon zip-top plastic bag labeled with the date. They can be stored in your freezer for up to three months.
The best thing about freezing peaches without added liquid or sugar is that you can use them as you would fresh peaches. There’s no need to thaw beforehand — simply take the amount you need, then return to the freezer.