How to Freeze Peaches- the Lazy Girls Way

Freezing summer ripe peaches is a great way to lock in their amazing flavor and use them all year long. Freezing peaches also happens to very easy to do- very beginner friendly.

I am going to show you the lazy/easy way to freeze your summer peaches.

I am ways pressed for time. I’m sure you are too. I also want to eat as healthily as possible; which includes eating what’s in season-while also trying to minimize my food waste. With my busy schedule accomplishing both of these things can be challenging.

Thankfully, I have found freezing can be the perfect remedy for eating what is in season without letting it go to waste.

And when it comes to peaches- there is nothing like having access to that juicy taste of summer all year round!

Let me help you keep those ripe peaches from going to waste and start enjoying them all the time by freezing them the right way.

Freezing Peaches is Easy

Locking in the summer sweetness of peaches for use all year round is easy to do and uncomplicated- but it is important to do it correctly.

This process is perfect for any food storage beginner.

My way of freezing can be done with the peach skin on or off. I usually do a batch of each.

Blanche or Not to Blanch

Before I explain this- the part of the peach commonly referred to as “the skin” is technically the peach cheek and the delicious juicy part of the peach is the flesh. I’ll use those terms as we go through our freezing instructions.

If you choose to remove the skin before freezing your peaches- you can blanche the peaches or you can peel them. I recommend blanching.

Blanching allows you to easily, gently peel the cheek off the peach off without losing any of the peach flesh.

However, you do not need to blanch. If you are patient-and good with a knife-you can gently peel the fuzzy peach cheek off of the flesh without sacrificing much of the flesh. This is similar to peeling an apple- but the squishiness of the peaches makes it more challenging than peeling an apple. So I often-unfortunately- end up losing some peach flesh when I attempt this method.

How to Freeze Peaches:

First prep several cookie sheets or jelly roll pans with parchment paper or wax paper. I have found both to be equally effective.

2. Wash the peaches. This is as simple as running your peaches under running water and gently rubbing them while under the water. Once rinsed- then you can go about peeling the fruit.

For those leaving the fuzz on the peach, skip to slicing the peaches.

3. For removing the Peach Cheek:

You can use the blanching method of peeling, which is very effective, but it does take a good amount of time.

Or you can carefully cut the skin off. You may lose a little more meat with that method, but no boiling is necessary, no ice bathes either, which is a real time saver.

Learn how to blanch peaches here.

4. Next slice the peaches. 

*If you chose to blanch- you would blanch first- then slice.

I would slice the peaches to the width that you like to use when baking with them. This way they will be ready to use when the time comes- whether it be for baking or smoothies.

If chunks are your thing, go ahead and do it!  These are your peaches!

5. After slicing the peaches, simply lay them on the wax or parchment paper covered trays.

I do not add anything to them. No sugar. No ascorbic acid. Simply sliced fruit on a tray.

6. Pop the trays into your freezer. 

Freezing overnight should guarantee the peach slices are frozen all the way through and not freezer burnt.

7. Remove peaches from the paper. 

They pop right off the papers easily. Then add the peaches into a freezer bag. Gently hug it to get any extra air out- then seal the freezer bag.

*I like to separate my peeled from my unpeeled peaches to help me better organize them because I do find that both are great for smoothies– however I prefer unpeeled peaches for baking.

For baking, I like working with peeled peaches. I find when baking with unpeeled peaches- the cheek does not soften like peach flesh does and is kind of chewy. It distracts from the dish.

8. Lastly, write the date on your peach bag or bags. They should keep in the freezer for about 8 to 12 months.

Peaches Frozen- Now What?

Frozen peaches can be used in pies, sangria, Bellini’s, tarts, smoothies, cobblers, puree’s, and so much more.

What will you be using your peaches for?

Tools For the Job: