Freeze Peaches to Enjoy Classic Summer Flavor All Year Long

You want to freeze peaches so you can enjoy their fresh, summery flavor all year long. Freezing peaches is a simple process, and the result can be used in many ways, from eating them straight to baking them into pies or cobblers.

Choosing the Best Peaches for Freezing

The first step to freezing peaches is selecting the best fruit. For freezing, always choose peaches that are at their peak ripeness. Ripe peaches should have a strong, sweet aroma and give slightly when gently pressed at the stem end.

Here are some more tips for choosing the best peaches for freezing:

• Look for tree-ripened peaches at local farmer’s markets and farm stands. Peaches sold commercially are often picked before they’re fully ripe. While you can ripen them at home, it may alter their texture and won’t improve their flavor.
• Seek out clingstone peaches starting in mid-June and freestone peaches from late July through September. Clingstone peaches are generally juicier and sweeter than freestone varieties. However, as their name suggests, clingstone peaches are more challenging to pit and slice.
• You’ll need 2 to 3 pounds of fruit for every quart of peaches you plan to freeze using the water or syrup pack method. You can use any quantity of peaches that fit in your freezer for flash freezing.

Flash Freezing Peaches

This method of freezing peaches is excellent for smoothies and peach ice cream. Flash freezing peaches gives you about 2 months of high-quality frozen peaches, while water or syrup packing extends that to 8 to 10 months. Flash freezing is also quicker. Here’s how to do it:

1. Wash the peaches under cold water. Using a sharp knife, cut each peach in half along the seam. Gently twist each half to expose the pit. Use the knife to pry out the pit. Slice the peaches to your desired size.
2. Arrange the peach slices on a baking sheet or tray lined with parchment paper. Make sure the edges of the peaches do not touch, or they will freeze together.
3. Label your freezer containers with the food type, quantity, and date frozen. Remove the trays and transfer the frozen peaches into airtight containers. They will keep for up to 2 months in the freezer.

Freezing Peaches in Water or Syrup

To enhance their quality, peaches are typically packed with sugar or liquid when frozen (unless you’re flash freezing them). Here are methods for freezing peaches with different packing options.

Freezing Peaches in Water

To freeze peaches without added sugar:

1. Spoon the peaches into pint- or quart-sized freezer containers (avoid using glass jars). Leave a 1/2-inch headspace for pint containers and a 1-inch headspace for quart containers.
2. Pour water over the peaches, maintaining the designated headspace.

Freezing Peaches in Sugar Pack

1. Spoon a shallow layer of peaches into a pint- or quart-sized freezer container.
2. Lightly sprinkle sugar over the layer. Repeat layering, leaving a 1/2-inch headspace for pint containers and a 1-inch headspace for quart containers.
3. Cover the containers and let them stand for 15 minutes, or until the peaches become juicy, before freezing.

Freezing Peaches in Syrup Pack

This method involves covering the fruit with a syrup made from boiling water and sugar. Generally, tart fruits use a heavy syrup (meaning sweeter), while milder fruits are best with a lighter syrup.

To make the syrup, combine the specified amounts of sugar and water in a large saucepan:

• Very Light Syrup: 1 cup sugar and 4 cups water yields about 4 cups of syrup.
• Light Syrup: 1 ⅔ cups sugar and 4 cups water yields about 4 ¼ cups of syrup.
• Medium Syrup: 2 ⅔ cups sugar and 4 cups water yields about 4 ⅔ cups of syrup.
• Heavy Syrup: 4 cups sugar and 4 cups water yields about 5 ¾ cups of syrup.

Heat and stir the sugar and water until the sugar dissolves. Turn off the heat and skim off any foam if necessary. (Note: You’ll need ½ to ⅔ cup of syrup for every 2 cups of peaches.) Allow the syrup to cool.

To pack the peaches in syrup:

1. Spoon the peaches into pint- or quart-sized freezer containers. Leave a 1/2-inch headspace for pint containers and a 1-inch headspace for quart containers.
2. Pour the cooled syrup over the peaches, maintaining the designated headspace.

Packaging Frozen Peaches

Once your peaches are packed using one of the methods above, follow these steps to freeze them:

• Wipe the container rims (if using jars or plastic containers). Seal bags or containers according to the manufacturer’s directions, removing as much air as possible. Use freezer tape to seal jar lids tightly if necessary.
• Label each container or bag with the contents, quantity, and date. Lay bags flat; place packages in the freezer in batches to ensure food freezes quickly. Leave space between each package for air circulation. Once completely frozen, you can arrange the packages more compactly.
• Frozen peaches are best used within 8 to 10 months.