How to Store and Care for Your Peaches

We're taking notes from our friends at Pearson Farms on the best way to store and care for your peaches. They've been doing it for over 135 years, and they gave us some insight on what is best. 

Once you bring your peaches home, in order for them to ripen properly, do not put them in the fridge! Simply put them on your counter at room temperature until they reach your desired ripeness. To expedite the ripening process you can place peaches in a brown paper bag on the kitchen counter. Once your peaches have reached your preferred ripeness, then and only then should you place them in the refrigerator where they should last an additional week or so.

For maximum flavor, allow your peaches to reach room temperature before eating (about 30 minutes). Once your peaches are sliced, you can add a few dashes of lemon juice or coat with a citric acid solution to prevent excessive browning.

If you are planning to cook or bake a recipe with your peaches at a later date, you'll need to preserve your peaches once they have ripened. These are our best tips for freezing your peaches:

• Peaches should be soft & ripe before freezing.

• Peel & slice peaches into a bowl of water mixed with a citric acid powder, making sure to cover the peach slices with the water solution. This will keep peaches from turning brown when they are thawed.

• Drain all water from the peaches before freezing.

• Sugar may be added to the peaches at this point, if desired.

• Pack peaches in freezer bags about ¾ full.

• Flatten bags and freeze.