Freezing Peaches, How to Easily Freeze Peaches
Peaches are a fruit that is so good. We could eat them year round, but out of season peaches, they are not good at all. Canned peaches are great but taste differently. Freezing peaches keeps the fresh flavor or at least as close to the fresh flavor as you can when preserving.
This step-by-step tutorial for how to freeze peaches can teach you how to freeze fresh peaches easily.
How to Freeze Fresh Peaches, Getting Started
My mom used to can and freeze peaches each year. We would go out to a family farm near us and pick peaches. Then bring them home and spread them out in a single layer in boxes to ripen.
I loved smelling that delicious aroma coming from the peaches. It’s a heavenly scent. Then once they were slightly soft to the touch and smelled so very good when you gave them a sniff. It was time.
Time to preserve that peak of season flavor for later in the year. When the cold wind blows and you are longing for the warm sunshine on your face again.
Well, you can get a taste of sunshine in your home frozen peaches, any time of the year.
But first you have to get some peaches!
There are two kinds of peaches. Either kind will freeze well, but the amount of work put in will be different. If you are a lazy food preserver like me, then you’ll want to know what peaches are easier to pit.
Two Kinds of Peaches
Cling
Cling peaches are named that because the peach flesh well, clings to the pit. So you need to cut the peach into slices off the pit.
This is the harder to deal with peach. But some cling varieties of peaches are so good, you won’t mind dealing with a cling peach.
One of the peaches that’s a cling peach we love is called Red Haven. They are superb freezing peaches and so yummy too.
Freestone
As you might have guessed, a freestone peach is one that breaks free of the pit easily. After peeling you can cut the peach in half, give it a little twist and it breaks free easily from the pit.
Perfect when you are preparing a lot of peaches at a time. One freestone peach we love is Improved Elberta peaches.
Once you decide on the peach you want to use, then let’s get to freezing the peaches. The five steps are all explained below.
Freezing Peaches, Step by Step
In just 5 easy steps you can learn how to freeze fresh peaches. It’s really can be an easy process. The hardest part is peeling the peaches and I have a tip for you for that too.
Here’s a quick video to show you how to freeze peaches. But if watching a video isn’t for you. Scroll on down to get the written directions
1. Wash Peaches
I think you know how to wash peaches. If I’m doing a lot of peaches it easy to add them to a clean sink cover them with water and mix them a bit. Then as you remove it each one rinse with water.
You just need to remove any dirt or debris from them which usually isn’t much. The next step is to peel the peaches. And I have an easier way to do just that.
2. Peeling Peaches
You can take a knife and peel the skin off the peaches. But this often results in nicks and cuts into the fruit. If the peach is ripe, you should be able to pull a lot of the skin off.
But the best way to peel peaches is below…
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add a peach or two at a time and leave it in the water until the skin splits or about 30 seconds. You don’t want to cook the fruit.
Immediately remove the peach from the pot of boiling water to an ice bath. Which is just a large bowl of cold water with ice.
Let the peaches sit and cool for a couple of minutes in the ice bath.
Remove the peach and using a knife start to peel the skin away. Once started the skin should slip or pull right off.
That’s how easy it is to peel a peach.
Once peeled you can slice the peach or cut it in half. After it’s cut you need to make sure it doesn’t turn brown while you are peeling and cutting the rest of the peaches and to do that we need to make a soak.
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3. Soak the Peaches
While you are preparing the peaches, you’ll want to keep the peeled and sliced peaches in a soak to keep them from browning. You can use fruit fresh in water to keep your prepared peaches from turning brown.
You can also use a saltwater solution if you don’t have fruit fresh. To make the salt water solution mix 8 cups of water with 2 tablespoons of salt. Don’t worry about the peaches tasting salty they won’t.
Once you have all the peaches prepared it time to…
4. Mix with Sugar, the Easy Sugar Pack Method
There are a few ways you can freeze peaches. You can sugar pack them, syrup pack them or puree them.
You can use any of these methods but the easiest one is the one I’m sharing. Plus, this is how to freeze peaches without them turning brown too.
I’m assuming you want fruit in slices so I won’t cover the puree method. For myself I like to go the easy route so I skip the syrup pack and go with the sugar pack. It’s the easiest method.
To pack your peaches in a sugar pack for the freezer you’ll want to mix sugar with a produce protector like fruit fresh. The fruit fresh will keep your frozen peaches from turning brown so it’s important.
You want to mix 2/3 cup of sugar with 2 teaspoons of produce protector.
Measure out 1 quart of peel and sliced fruit and sprinkle with the sugar mixture. Gently toss or mix to coat the fruit with sugar and let it stand about 10 minutes until the sugar dissolves.
Then it’s ready to pack into containers.
5. Place in Freezer Containers or Bags
Once the sugar is dissolved and a syrup has formed. It’s time to package your peaches. You’ll want to scoop the sliced fruit and syrup into freezer jar or plastic freezer boxes or bags.
Seal the container, label with the date and what it is. Then freeze.
It’s that easy to freeze peaches. Now a few questions you might have about the frozen peaches…
Freezing Peaches Questions and Answers
Can I use frozen peaches instead of fresh?
You can use frozen peaches in place of fresh peaches in recipes. You’ll want to thaw and drain the peaches first. Then replace the amount of fresh peaches with the same amount of frozen peaches.
How to Thaw Frozen Peaches?
To thaw frozen peaches, you’ll want to place them in the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
How do you keep peaches from turning brown when frozen?
You can keep your peaches from turning brown when frozen by adding a produce protector like fruit fresh or you can use a little lemon juice. The ascorbic acid helps to protect against browning.
How long do frozen peaches keep?
Your frozen peaches will keep 10 to 12 months in the freezer.
How to Use Your Frozen Peaches…
Frozen peaches can be used in so many ways. Here’s a few to get you started.
Eating Like Fresh Peaches
You can thaw them and drain them to eat just like canned peaches. But they taste so much fresher.
Make Peach Shortcake
You can thaw them and use the juice and the peaches over shortcake for a quick and easy yummy peach shortcake.
Make Peach Pie
Thaw the peaches add a little cinnamon and nutmeg along with a couple tablespoons of flour. Then add it to a pie crust and bake. Yummy peach pie that is quick and easy.
Make Peach Jello
Make homemade peach jello with this recipe. But instead of berries use the peaches with liquid in the recipe. It’s a more natural version of Jello Jigglers.
Make Cinnamon Peaches
Cook the peaches in a skillet with a little cinnamon. Then stir in cornstarch dissolved in water and boil for about a minute to thicken the syrup. This makes a great topping for pancakes or waffles.
How to Freeze Peaches
Ingredients
- 1 quart Peaches
- 2/3 cup Sugar
- 3 teaspoons Fruit Protector
Instructions
- Wash the peaches
- In a boiling pot of water simmer a few peaches at a time for 30 seconds
- Remove from boiling water and add to an ice bath. Let sit for 3 minutes.
- While the peaches are cooling make the soaking liquid. Mix 1 quart of water with 1 teaspoon fruit fresh. Stir and set aside.
- Remove one peach from the ice bath. Peel, the skin should slip off easily.
- Then cut into slices and remove from pit.
- Add the sliced peaches to the soaking liquid.
- Repeat for other peaches.
- In a small bowl mix 2/3 cup sugar with remaining 2 teaspoons of fruit fresh.
- Measure out 1 quart of prepared sliced peaches into a bowl and sprinkle with sugar mixture.
- Stir to moisten the sugar.
- Let sit 10 minutes.
- Add peaches and syrup to a freezer container or freezer bag. Remove as much air as you can and seal.
- Label with peaches and date. Freeze.
Video
Notes
That’s how to freeze peaches quickly and easily. The hardest part about the whole process is peeling the peaches. But if you use the technique, I shared it should go pretty quickly for you.
Now go find some of those yummy in season peaches and preserve them for this winter. When you are enjoying the fresh taste of peaches when it’s cold outside you’ll thank yourself.
This is such a easy recipe I have lots of peaches and a new vacuum sealer have one down and 2 more to go. My brother loves anything peaches
Those peaches will taste so good in the winter. Glad you liked the recipe.
I also like the 3 ways to eat frozen peaches. My sister lives alone so I froze smaller bags. Like about 2.5cups
Works perfectly…great directions, good suggestions; one of the best recipes ever; freeze your own and never have to buy frozen at the stores.
I’m glad you found this helpful. Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it.
I cannot get the peels off!! I have tried the boiling water and even put the peaches back in repeatedly and the skin is still sticking. Could it be that my peaches aren’t ripe enough?
Tammy, yes, it sounds like they weren’t ripe enough. With ripe peaches after the boiling water the peels should slip right off.
What can I do if I don’t want to add hardly any sugar. I can’t have all that added sugar.
Laura, you could just toss the slices with fruit fresh or lemon juice then place the peach slices in a single layer on a cookie sheet and freeze. Once the peaches are frozen, then place in a freezer bag, seal and label. I hope that helps. I really should do a tutorial for how to freeze peaches without sugar.
Thank you for responding.
Do you use the entire 2/3 cup and 2 teaspoons of fruit fresh per quart of peaches?
Chris, that is correct. You’ll be using 2/3 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons for fruit fresh per quart of peaches. I hope that helps. I can see it wasn’t clear in the post. Sorry about that.
How do you figure a quart of peaches?
Pam, I measure out 4 cups of sliced peaches to get the quart of peaches to freeze. I hope that helps.
Can I use the salt substitute with the sugar if I don’t have a produce protector like fruit fresh on hand?
If you don’t have the produce protector, I’d skip it altogether with the sugar. Or you could add a small amount of lemon juice about 1 teaspoon but it can change the flavor of the peaches a little. But I wouldn’t substitute the salt with the sugar mixture. I hope that helps.
I’ll be getting some fresh peaches in three weeks! I’m looking forward to freezing a LOT of them and enjoying them later this year. (If I can leave them alone!)
Linda, we just picked up our peaches this weekend and have been eating them fresh but today is the day to freeze some. I hope your peaches turn out great.
It has been about 3-4 years since I’ve frozen peaches. I needed a refresher course on how to do it. This recipe looks to be just like the method I used to use. Thanks so much for posting this!
Barb, I’m glad you found it helpful.
Hi I’ve been freezing peaches for years and do it much the same way you do but my ratio of Fruit Fresh has always been hit or miss. I never knew what the correct ratio was, however in your instructions you say 2 tsp fruit fresh to 2/3 cup sugar but in the recipe you have 3 tsp. Fruit Fresh and 2/3 cup of sugar. Is the extra tsp the one for the soak? Anyway thank you so much for the ratios as obviously I haven’t been using enough fruit fresh as mine turn brown fairly quickly once thawed. Thanks again.
Patricia, yes the extra teaspoon of fruit fresh is for the soaking liquid. I use 1 teaspoon for 4 cups of water. I hope that helps. I’m getting ready to freeze peaches today. I hope your peaches turn out great too.
Hi. What if fruit fresh isn’t available? Is Sur-Jell comparable and can be used instead? Same ratios?
Sharon, Sure-Jell isn’t the same. You could use any fresh fruit protector. I know there are other brands available I just always buy Ball fruit fresh. Or you could add a teaspoon of lemon juice to help keep the peaches from browning too. I hope that helps.
Ok. So I dont have fruit fresh but have lemon juice. How much lemon juice do I use in place of fruit fresh?
Dianna, I’d try about a tablespoon of lemon juice to 4 cups of water to keep the peaches from browning.
So cannot find the fruit protector, so have to use the syrup receipt. Is this pretty much the same as when you can peaches, i.e. sugar & water mixture?
If you don’t have fruit fresh, you can use a saltwater solution. To make the salt water solution mix 8 cups of water with 2 tablespoons of salt. Don’t worry about the peaches tasting salty they won’t. You’ll drain this solution off before you freeze them, you can even rinse them if you are concerned about the salt water. I hope that helps.
Thank you soooo much for this post and video on freezing peaches. I had a case of peaches that needed to be processed and no idea how to do it. Your method worked and is tasty. Also the “How To Use” info on the peaches is great!
I’m glad you found the tutorial helpful and you were able to get your peaches preserved. I hope you can enjoy them all winter long.
Love your recipe! Got a lot of peaches from our local orchard this week on sale and needed a way to preserve them. Quick and easy sounded good. Wanted to get Fruit Fresh but ended up using the juice of one lemon. Also boiled the peaches for about five minutes instead of two. Started to use a knife to peel them, but decided to use my hands to pull the skin off and break apart the peaches. Thank God it worked! Had a mixed bag of underripe and ripe peaches when I got them, but after a couple of days, they were ready to be put up. Had to ladle them in Freezer quart bags with one 1 quart and 1 1 1/2 cups leftover and the others had 3 cups each. Made the mistake of not rereading the recipe, or I might have put sugar in it or used 4 cups per bag. I felt like the bags were too full, though and might burst open. Didn’t push the air out of most of them so they could expand. Should I have done that, though? I might even go back and add some sugar, not sure. Was concerned that it would turn brown after freezing. Ugh. Thanks so much for the recipe from an ex-homeschooling mom and believer in Jesus!
I’m glad you liked the recipe. I hope your bags held up in the freezer for you.
My peaches are already very sweet. Would it work to take them from the soak to the freezer bags skipping the added sugar?
Amy, you can, the peaches might stick together if they aren’t in the liquid. But if you thaw them before using them it should be fine. You can also soak them, then put them on a cookie sheet in one layer, place them in the freezer and once frozen add them to the freezer bag. I hope that helps.
This is a great video but can I lighten up on the sugar?
Jennifer, you can reduce the sugar some but you might not get as much liquid. I hope that helps.
can I freeze the soak and use it later in something like a shake?
Patricia, I’ve never done that before, so I’m not sure. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.
I didn’t use fruit fresh or lemon juice when I put my peaches in the freezer, can I still prevent the peaches from turning brown?
I’m not sure at this point Brenda. If while they are frozen they don’t turn brown they might when they are thawed. Maybe while thawing you could add a bit of lemon juice or fruit fresh to help keep them from browning? I’m sorry I can’t be of more help.