All About: Peaches
Purchasing and Storing
Tips
Ripe, succulent peaches are a delicious end-of-summer favorite. A good source of vitamins A and C, this sweet-flavored treat can be eaten whole or sliced, poached, frozen, grilled, or baked. Peaches are often categorized as clingstone, freestone, or semi-freestone, which refers to how tightly the stone, or pit, adheres to the fruit's flesh.
Georgia may be called "The Peach State," but China is where peaches originated. Ancient legend even suggests that the Chinese thought eating the fruit granted immortality. The peach eventually spread to Persia where it was mistakenly named prunus persica, or "Persian plum," by the Romans. Spanish explorers introduced peaches to the Americas in the Sixteenth Century, and by the 1800s, when commercial farmers started growing the fruit, peaches had already grown in popularity.
Purchasing and Storing
Unlike most fruits, color is not always a good indication of whether or not a peach is ripe, although you will want to avoid ones with wrinkled or bruised skin. To choose the perfect peach, gently squeeze the fruit to test for firmness—if it yields too much to the pressure, look for another one. Also, pass on ones that are rock-hard. Smell the fruit to determine its sweetness: Peaches become softer and juicier with age, but do not increase in sweetness after harvest. To soften firm peaches, store them at room temperature for a couple of days. To speed the ripening process, place your peaches in a paper bag. Refrigerate ripe peaches for no more than five days, and use overripe peaches immediately.
Back To Top
Tips
- To easily remove peach skin, immerse the fruit in boiling water for one minute.
- Keep peach slices from browning by coating with lemon juice.
- Use peaches to boost your breakfast: Mix with cold cereal or oatmeal, top waffles and pancakes, or blend with yogurt and granola.
- For added sweetness, gently cook peaches with some brown sugar.
- Sauteé peaches with onions and drizzle the mixture over cooked chicken for a delightfully different main dish.
- Combine peaches with blueberries and a dollop of rich cream, mascarpone cheese, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a tasty dessert.
Back To Top