How to Freeze Fresh Peaches
86Incredible peaches!
How to have fresh peaches all year 'round
What's the best fruit in the whole wide world?
I've heard many people say "a perfectly ripe peach." I couldn't agree more.
There's just something incredibly satisfying about the texture of a peach in summer -- how it yields to your teeth and tongue when you bite into it, the intense aroma from the skin, and that unparalleled flavor.
How can you have them year 'round?
By freezing them -- it's easy -- and here's how to do it.
How to remove the skin from your peaches
Put a large pot of water on the stove to boil.
Using a paring knife, make a small slit in the bottom of each peach. Put a few peaches into the water for about 30 seconds, then remove them with a slotted spoon to a bowl with iced water.
After a few moments, you'll be able to use your fingers to easily remove the skin. If you find it difficult for some of them, just drop them back into the boiling water for another 30 seconds or so.
This method is quick and fool-proof -- two things i really like when I'm preparing a lot of peaches for the freezer.
How to Prepare Your Peaches
Once the peaches are peeled, use a sharp knife to cut them in half -- imagine you're cutting through the "equator" of the peach, then twist the halves. This method will allow you to keep that beautiful dark red meat around the stone.
Remove the stone and discard. I slice the peaches into a bowl, then move on to the next peach.
Sometimes, the peach flesh won't pull away from the stone. In those cases, I just cut the peach away from the stone as best I can... and move on to the next! Don't get hung up on having each slice look perfect.
Once I have a large bowl full of sliced peaches, i squeeze a whole lemon onto them (I squeeze it through a strainer to prevent the seeds and lemon pulp from falling into my peaches.)
Add sugar to the peaches, then stir them and the lemon juice to combine. How much sugar? It depends on the sweetness of the peaches.
HOWEVER, you will need sugar -- it acts as a preservative, and will also help maintain their beautiful color.
A good rule of thumb -- approximately one cup of sugar to each four cups of peaches. Occasionally you might have a batch of peaches that aren't all that sweet -- then by all means increase the amount of sugar.
The Last Steps
I put my peaches into quart freezer bags (not sandwich bags, of course -- they aren't thick enough to provide the protection your fruit will need.)
I write the date on the bag -- and if I plan to put up different batches of peaches I'll write who gave them to me, or where they were picked. Believe me -- once they're frozen you won't be able to tell one package from another unless you clearly label them.
Besides, when I serve a peach dessert, I like to tell my guests where the peaches came from.
Using a funnel, I put two cups of sliced peaches into each bag. You can also put three cups -- it depends on the number of people you cook for, and how you imagine you'll use your peaches.
For example, if you plan to eat them on ice cream, then two cups are plenty -- even for four or five people. But if you plan to make cobblers you'll probably want to put three cups per quart bag.
Press out the air, seal the bags, then lay them on the counter.
Clear a space in your freezer where the bags can lay flat. This is really important. If they're frozen into neat packages they can be moved to another part of the freezer and easily stacked. You'll be glad you took this step.
The first time I put fruit in the freezer I tossed them in willy-nilly, and ended up with these odd-shaped bags that took up way too much room.
Need freezer bags? Ziploc are the only ones I use!
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Ziploc Double Zipper Freezer Bags - Quart - 4/54 ct.
Current Bid: $23.95
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216 HEAVY DUTY QUART SIZE DOUBLE ZIPPER ZIPLOC FREEZER BAGS ZIPLOCK FOOD STORAGE
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Ziploc Double Zipper Plastic Freezer Bags, Gallon
Current Bid: $39.75
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Want to Know how to Freeze Fresh Squash? Click below.
Final Thoughts
That's all there is to it. These peaches will be good for up to a year -- and they taste as fresh as the day you were preparing them for the freezer.
When I defrost them for a cobbler, I put a bag in my refrigerator about 4 hours or so before I plan to start baking. However, if you're short on time, you can put the bags into a pot of hot water (from the tap) -- they'll be defrosted in a very short time.
Don't try to put them into a pie or cobbler while they're still half-frozen -- it will make your crust soggy. (This is the voice of experience...)
:-)
Enjoy your peaches!
Want my peach cobbler recipe? Click below.
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Hi MM,
Yes, you can use a Foodsaver.
I used to have one, but freezer bags (I get them at Costco -- depending on the area of the country you live -- you can also get them at Sam's Club, inexpensively) are cheaper.
Thanks for taking the time to write to me.
Best regards,
Buster
can you use a Food Saver to freeze peaches?
Hi Becky,
Yes, you can use fresh limes, or lemon juice from the bottle. The acids in either one will preserve the color of the fruit.
The only caveat about the limes: they will alter the taste of the peaches a little bit because limes have a different flavor (of course) than lemons. Will you like the taste of limes with peaches?
Try it out: squeeze fresh limes on a few peach slices then eat them. If you like the taste, then you're good to go. If you don't, then use the bottled lemon juice instead.
Hope this helps!
Best regards,
Buster
Can I use the juice of a lime, instead of lemon? Or how about real lemon juice from the bottle? I have no lemons on hand.
Just the method I was looking for! Thanks for sharing!
I freeze my fruit one layer thick on a cookie tray before bagging so that they remain individual even frozen. Best!~K
I can taste the peach french toast in the middle of winter already.
Hi Grace,
You have to remove the skins. They become unpleasantly chewy and tough after freezing.
Good luck!
Buster
Can you leave the skins on the peaches to freeze them or do you have to take it off?
Hi Alisa,
I like to defrost them for about an hour or so -- but not fully defrosted, so that the peaches are still a little crunchy (like the peaches in peach ice cream) -- then eat them out of a bowl.
Another method: put the peaches into a pot on the stove, add in about a half cup of sugar and a little cinnamon, then heat till they're piping hot. Serve them warm in bowls. Delicious!
Thanks for taking the time to write to me.
Best regards,
Buster
How are these peaches from the freezer as a stand alone dish? We have some great peaches right now that I would like to serve my kids in the middle of a cold winter!
Hi Onward,
Peaches are fantastic on cereal!
Glad the instructions were helpful. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Best regards,
Buster
Thanks for the easy instructions! I bought a half bushel of peaches yesterday and was looking for easy freezing instructions. Love peaches on my cereal & want to enjoy them all year long!
Hi MMom,
Lucky you! A few years ago a friend's co-worker let us pick up the fallen apples from his orchard. We had bushels of perfect apples to put up in the freezer, and to make jelly out of.
Glad you'll be using this method -- you'll like it.
All the best,
Buster
Thank you for these easy to follow instructions. We helped at an orchard today and were able to take all the "fallen" peaches we wanted as they can't use them once they hit the ground. I now have lots of them and will be using this method.
Hi Bette,
Yes, it's always wonderful to enjoy peaches throughout the year.
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best regards,
Buster
Thanks so easy! The peaches have been so good this year here in TX. I will love having them through the winter!!!!
Hi Genevie,
I look forward to reading your thoughts as you go through the process of freezing your peaches.
I'm envious of your orchard!
Best regards,
Buster
We have started our own orchard and have many Peaches. Thank you for the easiest way to freeze peaches. I will be commenting as we go along.
Hi Alli,
Peaches should be fully ripened before they're frozen.
My mom used to say: "What you put into the freezer is what you get out of it." She meant -- the fruit (or vegetables) need to be at their peak when they're preserved.
Since you just bought the peaches, let them sit on the counter for a few days. Check them occasionally -- when you're able to *just barely* make an indention in them with your fingertip, then you're ready to go. Eat one, just to make sure.
;-)
Feel free to write to me again if you have any other questions. Good luck with your peaches!
Warmest regards,
Buster
Hi-
I'm just wondering, do the peaches need to be perfectly ripened before I slice and freeze them? I just bought a whole bunch but they are still quite firm... just want to be sure I do it right. Thank you for the tips!
Hello Bstillnbreathe (great name, by the way)
So glad you were able to get those peaches in the freezer. Thanks for taking the time to tell me your story!
Warmest regards,
Buster
Thanks so much for the instructions. I had several peaches that a friend had given to me a week ago that were on the verge of going bad. I was able to get them ready to freeze, using your instructions, while cooking my supper. The peaches were bagged, marked & in the freezer before my green beans & corn were done. This brought back so many memories from my childhood. Thanks so much for sharing!!!
Hi Fat Bottom (love the name!)
I'm so glad this method is going to work for you. It makes putting up peaches so much faster. Best part? They come out of the freezer tasting like they that summer day you picked them.
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best regards,
Buster
I am thrilled to have found this site! My little tree is in full production now, and I must pick peaches daily (like Anita, the yield gets a little overwhelming), plus I have limited fridge/freezer space. I've been making jam, butter, and chutney, which means I have to work fast and risk the "casualties" when I don't have the time after picking the fruit - the waste just breaks my heart! Thanks so much for sharing your freezing method...it will make a big difference.
Hi Anita,
Lucky you! How wonderful to have fruit trees already on the property, and already producing.
Good luck with those peaches --
Buster
Wow! thankyou for this info, having just moved onto property with a small orchard, 3 peach trees, beautiful fruit just falling off and too many to give away, this will be very very useful, tho I may need another freezer lol
Thankyou! :)
Hi Tim,
So sorry for the delay in responding to you -- I've been out of the country (in Asia) and unable to check my hubpages.
Peaches should be frozen when they're at their peak of flavor and ripeness. You want to capture that flavor, because the freezing process won't add flavor or improve the texture.
Good luck!
Buster
Hi
Do you carry out the freezing process when the actual peaches are fully ripe i.e. soft? Or freeze them when they are still reasonably firm?
Thanks
Tim
Hi Samantha,
I always use lemons, rather than fruit fresh. So, yes, it's an either-or decision. Don't buy anything else - use your lemons!
:)
All the best,
Buster
Do i have to use fruit fresh as well or just lemon juice and sugar? most of the other receipes i found called for that fruit fresh stuff but i already have lemons. Didnt want to have to buy anything else to freeze them
thanks
samantha
Hi Tara,
Yay! You're going to love the smoothies these make.
Thanks for taking the time to write -- it means a lot to me.
Buster
this was awesome! I have never canned anything or made jam or anything like that, but I decided to try freezing some peaches. in my short search, your instructions were the easiest to follow and your tips are very helpful. so thank you for sharing this, I can't wait to make some smoothies with them!
Try freezing them first on a cookie sheet, then put into freezer bags. This way you can enjoy one at a time straight from the freezer. They are so yummy to eat frozen.
I am new at this and wow.. someone gave me these yummmmy peachs.. i have two boxes to freeze.. The skins are ready to come off.. so wish me luck
Hi Sheila,
You'll definitely want to wait until they're ripe. If you freeze them unripe... they'll defrost unripe, of course, and you won't have good peaches for eating and cooking.
Thanks for writing, and good luck!
Buster
I'm new to this whole peach thing. I picked all of the peaches off of my tree this evening in hopes of freezing them over the long weekend, but they are still hard. Can I still freeze them or do I need to wait for them to soften up?
This was the most Awesome page, I ever...
note: I used only 2.5 cups of sugar to my 11cups of peaches - due to my diabetic status!
Hi Tracey,
Thanks for your comments. You've made my day.
:-)
Buster
Thank you for your help and advice, It is just as I remembered with my mom 30 years ago. Thanks so much.
Hi Heather,
On average, one lemon equals 1/4 cup of bottled lemon juice.
I prefer the taste of fresh lemon when I'm freezing fruit... but if you already have bottled on hand, then go ahead and use it.
Thanks for writing -- and good luck with your peaches!
Buster
How much lemon juice per four cups of peaches and one cup of sugar?
Hi Mike,
I suspect that you're right -- the degree of ripeness affected your ability to peel them.
When you make a cobbler from frozen peaches, yes, you should add the sugar as described in the recipe.
Thanks for taking the time to write, Mike.
Buster
I bought a peck of peaches at the flea market last week. They were mostly green. I let them sit around for a week and yesterday I used your recipe to freeze some. In the peeling process, about half of the peaches peeled really easy. The other half, I had to peel with a knife. What do you think was the difference. I tried varying the boil time, with no difference in the results. I suspect it had to do with the ripeness of each peach. More ripe, easier to peel. In your recipe for the cobble, I am a little confused. I used 1 cup of sugar to freeze the peaches. When I make a cobbler later, do I still add a cup of sugar when using what I've frozen. Thanks.... Mike Mankin
Hi Rose,
If you're using bottled lemon juice, I think a quarter cup would be fine.
Good luck!
Buster
how much lemon juice would you use?
Hi Kaye,
I don't think it's a good idea to use fruit that has already started to go bad.
When preserving food of any kind, it's important to use the freshest you can, and in great shape, so that it won't deteriorate while in the freezer, or in canning jars (if you're canning.)
Wish I had better news...
All the best,
Buster
What if the peaches have already started to go bad can you just cut off the bad stuff & then prepare it the same way.
Hi Amy,
You're lucky to have great peaches from a local farmer!
I had a fresh peach for breakfast this morning... yum.
:-)
Thanks for taking the time to write.
All the best,
Buster
I have been looking all over for an easy and simple way to freeze fresh peaches.I get them by the bushel from a local farmer here and now I can have them year round. Thanks so much!
Hi Kelli and Suzan,
Thanks for telling me your stories -- best of luck with your peaches!
All the best,
Buster
Thanks so much - we just bought some fresh peaches from PA as a group of gals who love fresh peaches but live in northern Maine :) I'm sharing your directions with the girls and we are preparing to work together Monday . Thanks for being so clear in your directions. A+
Hi thanks for the clear easy directions! Peach cobbler is my boyfriend's favorite and I am trying to freeze some good Colorado peaches until we get our oven fixed this winter!!!!
Hi Lisa Marie,
I'm glad the instructions are easy to follow -- thanks so much for writing.
You've made my day!
Buster
Wow! I really appreciate all the work and time that went into such perfect instructions, for the peach cobbler and for other instructions. I wish all recipies were this informative. Thank you so very much.
Hi Nancy,
No, I haven't tried using fruit juice to sweeten this recipe.
Thanks for writing --
Buster
this is so so easy! Thank you for the info.
what about using peach/apple juice instead of sugar? have you tried that?
Hi Sandra,
Double crust fruit pies freeze beautifully, but I've never made and frozen a peach cobbler before.
If you try it, could you let me know how it turned out?
Thanks so much for writing --
Buster
I'm wondering if I can make your cobbler recipe and crust of course and freeze the whole pie until I need it. It would save time during the holidays for sure.
Hi Connie,
Some people use (slightly) less if they're using peaches they've put up in the freezer... but I still include the sugar that's in the peach cobbler recipe.
:-)
Thanks so much for taking the time to write --
Buster
Sounds easy! One question- you use 1 cup of sugar on the peaches, then do you omit the sugar ftom the peach cobbler recipe you gave? Thanks for any advice1!
Hi Debra,
Good luck, and thanks for writing --
Buster
Thanks for the advice, this is my first year to do fresh peaches, and this helps me alot.
Hi Papajohn,
Sugar has preservative qualities... but from what I've read, Splenda doesn't. Therefore, it's my opinion that you wouldn't be able to use Splenda to freeze fresh fruit.
Wish I had better news...
:-(
Buster
Being a diabetic, I am wondering about being able to use Splenda?Thanks
Hi Rashmi,
The only way I know to do this is to refrigerate them. You'll want to buy peaches that are still not yet ripe -- not HARD, but not soft either. Take them out of the fridge a day or two before you plan to eat them, and let them come to room temperature. They will ripen faster at room temperature.
This is no guarantee that you'll be able to hold the peaches for 10 days, though. I've had peaches in the fridge for a week that were still excellent, and others that ripened from hard to soft in only a few days.
Good luck!
Buster
Hi, Your method is really very nice and easy to follow. But I want to preserve the fruit as such for some 10 days, without cutting them, is there any ways to do so. I will get the peach from market. Please help me in this regard. I will be pleased to see the reply as soon as possible.
Thank you.
thankyou
Hi Melissa,
Glad to hear you'll save your peaches! Thanks so much for writing.
Buster
Thanks so much, now all of my bruised peaches on my tree will not go to waste!
Hi there,
Thanks so much -- enjoy your peaches.
Buster
I like the frozen peach flavor much better than the canned. Your explanation was simple to follow. Thank you.
Hi Deb,
I know that many people are faced with choosing Splenda because of diet concerns, or (like my dad) diabetes.
I wish I knew for sure about Splenda for freezing, but I don't. Give it a try and see. If you don't mind, would you make a note to drop me a line in 3 or 6 months and let me know how it turned out?
Good luck, and thanks so much for writing.
Buster
Can I use Splenda instead of sugar? My cobbler calls for white sugar (I use Splenda) and brown sugar. Would it be okay to freeze them with both the sugars added before freezing?
Hi Duane,
Hmmm, this is something I've never considered before...
You'll notice when you defrost a package that they'll be as brightly colored, and as aromatic as when you first put them in the freezer (it's why I like freezing peaches so much) and so... I don't know why you couldn't make jam in 6 months time.
Perhaps you might consider writing to your County Ag Extension office -- they might be able to better answer your question. Maybe there's a reason to NOT do it that I don't know about.
Good luck finding someone who really knows.
:)
Buster
We make peach jam, will these frozen peaches be as good for jam 6 months later as fresh ones are now?
Good luck with your peaches, Pam.
:-)
Buster
Thanks for the easy and quick way to freeze peaches.
Glad to hear it, Joanne. Thanks for writing -
Buster
You have motivated me to store peaches not too complicated. Thanks
Thanks, S Jonty!
Good luck with your peaches --
Buster
Wow ..... really nice hub ...... very informative ..... very nicely explained ...... thanks ...... keep up the good work ....
Hi Ann Maree,
The lemon juice helps to retain color. Fruit will discolor in the freezer if an acid isn't added.
The sugar acts as a preservative.
If you think you'll eat all of your frozen peaches in the next, say, 2 months... then I think you'd be okay if you leave out the lemon juice, but (personally) I wouldn't decrease the sugar.
Thanks so much for taking the time to respond!
Best of luck --
Buster
Do you have to use both lemon juice and sugar? Can I use only a little sugar since the peaches are so very sweet and I am going to vacum package them?
Hi Melanie,
Bottled lemon juice will certainly work since it's the acid that will help to retain the color. In my opinion, fresh lemons have a better (um, let's say *cleaner* taste) and so I use fresh. But I'm a firm believer in using what you already have around the house. :)
Thanks so much for reading!
Buster
Would bottled lemon juice work instead of a fresh lemon or is there a reason to use a fresh lemon?
Thanks!
You're welcome -- it was fun to write. Good luck with those peaches, let me know how they turn out!
All the best,
Buster
thanks for getting this up on hubpages....I'm off to find me some fresh peaches!!!
an 3 months ago
very nice