How to Store and Cook Seasonal Peaches
Peaches, in season from mid-July to mid-September, seduce us with their juicy texture, delicate aroma and sweet taste. Learn how to properly store this stone fruit and get inspired by our easy ideas and recipes.
STORING
Maturation Phase
The peach is one of the climacteric fruits, which means that it continues to ripen once picked. In doing so, it releases a natural gas, ethylene, which promotes ripening. A simple way to speed up the process is to put the peaches in a paper bag to enclose them with the gas.
Air Ripening
The best way to ripen a peach is to keep it at room temperature on the kitchen counter, out of direct sunlight. For it to develop its sweet flavour, avoid storing it in the refrigerator before it reaches maturity.
Refrigeration
Ethylene production is slowed down by cold, and that will also slow the fruit’s ripening. This is why you should not store peaches in the refrigerator before they’re ripe. The fruit will remain firm, low in sugar and will be less juicy.
The cold also poses the risk of altering the texture: a seemingly perfect peach can hide a floury flesh that disappoints. It’s important to wait until the fruit is ripe before refrigerating it. Place the ripe peaches in the fruit drawer of the refrigerator and avoid stacking them. They can be left there for about a week.
Freezing
To enjoy peaches out of season, freezing is the most popular option. The first thing to do is to peel and pit them before cutting them into slices. It is then suggested to dip them or drizzle them with a little lemon juice to prevent browning of the flesh.
Place the peach slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. After 30 to 60 minutes in the freezer, transfer the peach pieces to airtight bags and remove as much air as possible. The frozen fruit will be ready to use in your favourite recipes!
CONSUMPTION
Natural
Biting into a juicy and sweet whole peach is pure bliss, but there are also other ways to enjoy them raw, for example in:
Cooked
Peaches grilled on the barbecue, on skewers with other fruits, develop a little caramelized touch that makes them a simple dessert loved by all. Cooked peaches can form the basis of jams and are sensational in:
As for savoury dishes, they work beautifully in: