What is a Peach?
A peach is a stone fruit that is usually very juicy and fragrant. Stone fruits are any fruit with a large seed or pit on the inside and they typically have rough edges that cling on to the flesh of the fruit. Other stone fruit are plums, nectarines, cherries, and apricots to name a few. Peaches have a fuzzy skin that ranges in color from light yellow, to red especially depending on the variety. There are two main types of peaches, yellow and white. Yellow peaches are more common, have darker yellow/red skin, and a yellow flesh. White peaches have light yellow/white and pink/red skin and are white on the inside.
What do they taste like?
Peaches, like most fruit are best when they are in season and local (more on seasonality below). Peaches vary in taste depending on their ripeness and the variety. Ripe, in season peaches are sweet and juicy with fragrant/floral notes. The more ripe the peach, the sweeter and juicier they tend to be. Less ripe peaches are not as juicy with harder flesh and muted flavors. I find white peaches to be slightly sweeter than yellow peaches.
What to look for when buying?
Look for peaches that are bright in color and have a slight give when gently pressed. The softer the ‘give’ in the peach the riper it is. It is okay to choose peaches that are more firm and let then ripen on the counter at home. Avoid peaches that are overly hard as they were likely picked too prematurely to develop flavor or any that have wrinkles as this indicates they are older. Peaches should also not have any major bruises or blemishes or soft spots.
Clingstone vs Freestone and how to tell what I am buying?
Have you ever cut into a peach and sometimes the pit comes right out and other times it feels impossible to remove the pit? This is a very common problem among peaches. There are two types of peaches clingstone and freestone and as the names suggest, the clingstone varieties hold on to the pit and the pit on the freestone varieties comes out fairly easily. It can be difficult to tell if a peach is clingstone or freestone just from the outside appearance. The best way is to rely on signage or just try to cut one in half and see if the pit comes out easily. Freestone peaches are more common towards the end of the growing season than they are in the earlier months.
How to best prepare peaches?
To prepare peaches, give them a good wash under cold water and they are ready to be enjoyed. Simply eat raw whole or cut around the pit and cut them up. Peaches are great for smoothies, salads, cobblers, pies, salsa, jams/compote, as so many other applications. Peaches are fantastic raw, but also are great when they are quickly grilled or charred in a pan, cooked down into a jam/compote, or even baked in the oven in a dessert. Peaches pair well with balsamic, herbs like mint or basil, and dairy like mozzarella, ice cream, whipped cream. Peaches also work well pairing with other fruit like strawberries or even pairing with vegetables like cucumber, tomato, jalapeno for more savory applications.
How to best store at home?
Peaches are best stored on the counter or in a cool dark place. they can be stored in the refrigerator to help preserve them a bit longer, but if stored for too long they have a tendency to turn mealy. If you have an excess of peaches you can try making jam/compote/sauces or slicing and freezing. Canning peaches is very popular as well, but be sure to guarantee you are canning properly.
What is the best season?
Peaches are a summer fruit and vary based on region and climate on when they are best in season. The typical season is from late May through August with the peak season in June/July. Warmer climates can see peaches as late as October. The top states for growing peaches in the United States are California, South Carolina, and Georgia.
Nutritional Benefits
Peaches are low in calories and can be a good source of fiber. They are also packed full of micronutrients nutrients like vitamins C,A, and E as well as minerals such as potassium and magnesium.
