Nectarines

How to Select Nectarines

• Choose nectarines with a round full shape. New varieties are being harvested weekly, so if you are disappointed with a purchase try again in a week or two, it will likely be a different variety you may enjoy more than the last.
• Look for richly-colored nectarines. They can be red, yellow, or a mix of both. Avoid any with a portion of green skin.
• Often times the sweeter nectarines are speckled. The specks amount appear to be tiny dots about the size of a pinhead.
• Nectarines should be plump and firm. Avoid any that are rock-hard, overly soft, or shriveled.

How to Store Nectarines

• Nectarines are ripe when picked and some even prefer them with a slight crunch to them. If you like yours on the softer side, leave them on your counter until they reach your desired firmness, then refrigeration them until are ready to eat them. The nectarines will taste sweeter once they soften because the acid level or tartness will drop as the fruit softens.
• Nectarines are best when not refrigerated, but ripe nectarines can be refrigerated for up to five days.
• Nectarines can be frozen for up to a year. Flash freeze nectarines by washing and slicing them, then placing the slices in a single layer on a baking sheet in the freezer. Allow them to freeze for two hours before transferring them to a sealed plastic bag.

How to Serve Nectarines