Don’t throw away fresh peaches! Here’s how to freeze peaches while they’re still perfectly ripe, so you can use them all year in your favorite peach recipes.

It’s peach season, one of my favorite times of year! The only downside to this season is how quickly it passes and how I never feel like I’ve eaten enough peaches.

This year, I chose to freeze fresh peaches in order to enjoy peach treats throughout the year! Before we get started with the recipe, I wanted to address some frequently asked questions so you can freeze peaches with confidence. Avoid being intimidated! It’s a simple process that’s well worth the effort if you want peaches all year.

Is it possible to freeze peaches without blanching them?

Yes! I’ve included two freezing options below – one with blanching and one without. Blanching is an incredibly simple method for removing the skin prior to freezing. If you don’t mind the skin on your peaches, you can slice and freeze them.

When freezing peaches, do you leave the skin on?

It is entirely up to you! While you can freeze peaches with the skin on, some prefer to remove it after freezing for greater versatility – for example, if you’re planning to make a recipe that calls for peeled peaches! I’m going to demonstrate how to remove the skin and how to keep it on. You have the opportunity to create your own adventure.

How to Prevent Frozen Peaches from Turning Brown

Like avocados, frozen peaches can turn brown when exposed to air. But fear not, I have a super simple solution for this: lemon juice! To prevent browning, toss 1 pound of peaches with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Lemon juice’s ascorbic acid acts as a barrier between the air and the peaches.

Peaches: How to Freeze Them

Option 1:

With the Skin This is my preferred method because I’m a busy mama who uses frozen peaches primarily for smoothies and doesn’t mind them having the peel on. This three-step process is extremely simple:

Step 1: Freeze the peaches whole, halved, or sliced! Simply wash the peaches thoroughly and pat them dry. If using halves or slices, pit and cut the peaches into half or slices. Personally, I prefer freezing peaches in slices because I typically use 1-2 cups at a time and it’s easier to remove a small portion at a time when they’re cut into slices. Additionally, halves or slices of peaches are already pitted, which is advantageous for certain applications.

Step 2: Arrange the peaches in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze for approximately 4-8 hours, or until solid. Slices take 4 hours, halves take 6 hours, and whole peaches take around 8 hours.

Step 3: Transfer the frozen peaches to a freezer-safe half-gallon bag labeled with the date. I prefer to do this with my reusable Stasher bags. Close the bag tightly, sucking out as much air as possible. Return the container to the freezer.

Option 2: Blanched + Peeled

This is the best option if you want the peaches peeled so they can be used in a variety of future recipes. While it does require a few additional steps, it is still quite simple.

Step 1: Prepare an ice water bath by bringing a pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Make a small, shallow X at the bottom end of each peach with a paring knife. Submerge the peaches in boiling water for 30 seconds.

Step 2: Transfer the peaches to the ice water bath using a slotted spoon.

Step 3: Gently rub the peach skin off with your hands.

Step 4: Peaches can be frozen whole, halved, or sliced. If using halves or slices, pit and cut the peaches into half or slices.

Step 5: Arrange the peaches in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze for approximately 4-8 hours, or until solid. Slices take 4 hours, halves take 6 hours, and whole peaches take around 8 hours.

Step 6: Transfer the frozen peaches to a freezer-safe half-gallon bag labeled with the date. Close the bag tightly, sucking out as much air as possible. Return the container to the freezer.

Making Peach Puree and Freezing

It Another method for freezing fresh peaches is to make peach puree and then freeze it in ice cube trays. This is the technique I employ when preparing peach baby food.

How to Use Frozen Peaches Frozen peaches

So many uses for frozen peaches! Some ideas:

• Smoothie – no need to peel peaches for smoothies! Simply combine sliced frozen peaches and your favorite smoothie ingredients in a high-powered blender for a refreshing snack.
• Peach oats – add them to hot oatmeal or overnight oats!
• Peach jam – I’m already fantasizing about peach jam making this fall and winter! In a saucepan, combine 1 1/2 cups of frozen peaches and 1 tablespoon of coconut sugar and cook, stirring occasionally, until the peaches are broken up.
• Peach crisp – in the off season, do you crave peach crisp? This year, there will be no such issue! Here is my go-to recipe for peach crisp.
• Combine frozen peaches with wine or cocktails – add a couple of frozen peaches to a glass of white wine or create a delectable peach cocktail.

What Is the Shelf Life of Frozen Peaches?

Peaches will keep for six months to a year in the freezer. Check them periodically to ensure that the peaches do not develop freezer burn… When this occurs, the peaches lose their flavor.

How to Thaw Frozen Peaches

Okay, so you’ve frozen your peaches; now what? While many recipes call for frozen peaches (such as my peach smoothie), if you need thawed peaches for a recipe, you have a couple of options!

The frozen peaches can be thawed in the refrigerator. Place the frozen peaches you wish to defrost in a dish and place them in the refrigerator until they defrost. If you need to quickly defrost your peaches, you can use a water bath. Simply place the frozen peaches in a sealed bag and place the bag in a bowl of cool water. Check the peaches frequently and change the water as necessary until they have defrosted.