Want to know how to store peaches? Let us show you…

Storing peaches properly ensures they maintain their juicy sweetness and delightful texture until you’re ready to enjoy them.  Understanding the importance of ripeness, temperature, and air circulation can all make a significant difference in preserving the flavor and quality of your  peaches. Below you will find our many tips and tricks to help the shelf life of your peaches.

How To Tell If a Peach Is Ripe

Understanding if a peach is ripe and ready to eat is key to enjoying its full flavor and sweetness. To check if a peach is ripe, you should gently press it near the stem end with your fingertips. A ripe peach will yield slightly to gentle pressure. Avoid squeezing too hard, as this can bruise the fruit. 

A ripe peach will also have a fragrant aroma at the stem end. That’s right, smell the peach. If the peach is ripe, you will enjoy a “peachy” sweet aroma. If it smells like a peach, it will taste like a sweet peach!

Additionally, ripe peaches often are vibrant in color. Plus, many say to look at the ground color (background color) of the peach. It will be yellow at peak ripeness.

How To Ripen A Peach

If you brought home peaches that are not yet fully ripe, don’t panic. There are a few methods you can use to ripen them at home:

Room Temperature: Place the peaches in a single layer on the counter at room temperature. You want to keep them away from direct sunlight. Check them daily. They should ripen within 2-3 days.

Paper Bag Method: Put the peaches in a paper bag and loosely fold the top over to partially seal it. This traps the ethylene gas that the peaches naturally produce, which helps accelerate the ripening process. Check them daily, as they typically ripen faster.

Ripening with Other Fruit: If you have another ripe fruit like bananas or apples, place them in the same paper bag or fruit bowl as the peaches. These fruits also release ethylene gas and can help speed up the ripening process of the peaches.

Should You Refrigerate Peaches?

Do not refrigerate unripe peaches as this slows down the ripening process. Once they are ripe, you can refrigerate them. Refrigeration slows down further ripening and can extend their shelf life for several days.

How To Store: Refrigerating Whole Peaches

Place the whole peaches in a single layer in a perforated plastic bag or a container that allows for air circulation. If you have a lot of peaches, you can layer them between sheets of paper towels to absorb excess moisture.

How To Store: Refrigerating Cut Peaches

Start by washing the peaches thoroughly. Then, cut them into slices, wedges, or chunks, depending on your preference.

Next, place the cut peaches in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag. Make sure the container is appropriate in size to prevent excessive air exposure, which can cause the peaches to dry out.

You will want to use the cut peaches within a few days because they typically stay fresh for about 2-3 days. 

How to Store Unripe Peaches

Storing unripe peaches properly can help them ripen evenly. It is important to assess the peaches to determine ripeness and know what you have on hand. The most important thing is to not wash or cut an unripe peach.

If you are not in a hurry, store the unripe peaches at room temperature on a countertop or shelf. You will want to lay them in a single layer and avoid stacking since that can cause bruising or uneven ripening.

Check the peaches daily to monitor their ripening progression. They should gradually soften and develop their characteristic peach aroma.

If you are not trying to hurry the ripening process, then you should avoid putting the peaches ith other fruits and vegetables. Peaches release ethylene gas as they ripen, which can speed up the ripening process of nearby fruits. If you want to slow down the ripening, keep them away from other ethylene-sensitive fruits like apples or bananas.

How to Store Ripe Peaches

Room Temperature Ripening: If you prefer your peaches to ripen further before eating, you can leave them at room temperature for a day or two. Keep a close eye on them to ensure they don’t over ripen.

Refrigeration: Ripe peaches should be stored in the refrigerator to slow down further ripening and preserve their freshness. You can leave them whole or cut them into slices or wedges. See above for refrigeration tips.

Freezing: If you have ripe peaches that you won’t be able to use in time, you can freeze them. Slice or chop the peaches, spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, and then transfer them to a freezer bag or container for long-term storage in the freezer.

Can You Use Overripe Peaches?

Yes, you can still use overripe peaches, although their texture and flavor might be different from perfectly ripe ones. Here are some ways to use overripe peaches:

1. Pureeing or Sauce: Overripe peaches are great for making purees or sauces. Simply blend them in a food processor or blender until smooth. You can add a bit of lemon juice or sugar to balance the flavor if needed. Use peach puree as a topping for yogurt, pancakes, ice cream, or as a base for smoothies.
2. Baking: Overripe peaches can be used in baking recipes where their soft texture won’t affect the outcome. Consider making peach cobblers, crisps, crumbles, muffins, coffee cakes or bread. The natural sweetness of overripe peaches can enhance baked goods.
3. Jam or Preserves: Overripe peaches are perfect for making homemade jam or preserves. Cook them down with sugar and a bit of lemon juice until thickened. This can be canned for longer-term storage or kept in the refrigerator for immediate use.
4. Smoothies: Overripe peaches blend well into smoothies. Combine them with other fruits, yogurt, milk or juice, and ice for a refreshing drink.
5. Salsa: Dice overripe peaches and combine them with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, lime juice, and a bit of jalapeno for a sweet and spicy salsa. This can be served with grilled meats, tacos, or as a dip.
6. Fruit Leather: This sweet chewy treat is a great alternative to candy, and you can use your aging fruit. Making your own fruit leather can save you a few bucks and it allows you to have complete control over the ingredients.

While overripe peaches may not be ideal for eating fresh due to their softer texture and intensified sweetness, they can still be delicious in various culinary applications. They often impart a more concentrated peach flavor, which can be desirable in certain dishes.

More of Our Favorite Peach Recipes

• Peach Caprese
• Grilled Peach Salad
• Peach Tart
• Waffles with Peaches and Cream
• Peach Coffee Cake
• Stone Fruit Pizza
• Peach Salsa

Follow us on Instagram and Pinterest to learn more ways to select, store and serve all your favorite fruits and vegetables.