How to Freeze Peaches - Plus Recipes and More! (2024)

Table of Contents

How to Freeze Peaches Step One: Step Two: Step Three: Step Four: How Long Do Frozen Peaches Last? Additional Ways to Preserve Peaches Canning Peaches Freeze Drying Peaches Delicious Peach Recipes PIN THIS FOR LATER Even More Food Preservation Posts: This post is part of the blogger roundup Preserving the Harvest. Preserving Vegetables (in alphabetical order) Preserving Fruit (in alphabetical order) FAQs References

Freezing peaches is a wonderful way to enjoy them all year long! Learn how to freeze peaches the easy way!

3 years ago our peach trees really started producing enough peaches to "put up". Before that, we might get enough for one peach cobbler, or to eat fresh over a few days.

But as soon as we were getting hundred pounds of peaches all at once, it was time to start preserving those peaches for later!

How to Freeze Peaches

Though I am a big fan of canning, I do also like to freeze things from time to time!

Generally, I will can about 1/3 of the peaches, freeze another 1/3, and then enjoy 1/3 of them fresh!

Fortunately, freezing peaches is pretty darn simple!

Step One:

First, harvest or buy all the peaches you would like to freeze and check them for ripeness.

If you have harvested your own peaches (versus store bought) you might need to wait on some of them, as they might be a little too green for peak deliciousness.

Gently squeeze the peach in your hand, it if gives well and doesn't feel rock hard, then it is likely ready to preserve. If parts of the peach are still green, let them sit on the counter for an extra day or two to continue ripening.

Step Two:

Take all the ripe peaches and wash them well.

Be careful with very ripe peaches that you don't tear the skin when washing them.

Dry the peaches well. This helps them from sticking together as much during the freezing process.

Step Three:

Now it's time for the fun part!

Slice all the peaches as desired for freezing. I like to slice them in large cobbler slices, but you can also dice them if you'd like.

Place the sliced peaches on a lined baking sheet. Feel free to pile them high! The natural sugars in the peaches keep them from freezing too hard and they break apart easily after freezing.

So, don't worry about freezing them in a single layer.

NOTE: Keep the peach pits to start growing your own peach trees!

Step Four:

Once you've filled up a tray or sliced all the peaches, place your baking tray into the freeze. Keep the tray flat, if possible.

Freeze the peaches for 4-8 hours, or until completely frozen. Break them up and store the frozen peaches in gallon freezer bags until you're ready to use them!

How Long Do Frozen Peaches Last?

Some people would say that you'd need to use your frozen peaches within 3-6 months. However, we regularly use them up to a year after initially freezing them with excellent results!

Use your judgement when baking with or eating your frozen peaches and I would say eat them within a year!

Additional Ways to Preserve Peaches

If you are like me and run out of freezer space easily, there are additional ways you can preserve peaches!

Canning Peaches

I adore canned peaches in light syrup, and I have ever since I was a little girl. It wasn't until I was about 18 that I started home-canning my own peaches!

Two of my favorite recipes for canned peaches are Brandied Whole Peaches and Peach Pie Filling - both of which I share in my Quick Start Guide to Water Bath Canning.

Or check out how to can peaches in light syrup here!

Freeze Drying Peaches

Another fabulous way to preserve peaches is to freeze dry them!

Last year I finally bought my own freeze dryer and it has been the best thing ever! One of the very first things I tried were peaches, and they became an instant favorite.

All the tart sweetness of the peach, along with the crisp snap of freeze dried fruit.

Like I said, instant classic!

You can learn more about how easy it is to freeze dry food at home in this post on home freeze drying!

Delicious Peach Recipes

Now, once you have all your peaches preserved, how should you go about using them?

Here are a few of my favorite peach recipes for you to try!

Southern Peach Cobbler: A classic recipe for peach cobbler with pie crust. Perfect for any occasion. Serve with vanilla ice cream for the full experience!

Peach Iced Tea: Another Southern classic, peach tea is a staple in most households down here. Make your own with this simple recipe!

5 Minute Peach Crumble: When you want a delicious dessert in a hurry, this peach crumble really shines! Oven ready in just 5 minutes and on the table in less than 30!

PIN THIS FOR LATER

Even More Food Preservation Posts:

Bulk Food Storage for Small Spaces

How to Make Squash Flour

Canning Tomatoes

How to Can Homemade Grape Juice

This post is part of the blogger roundup Preserving the Harvest.

Do you love preserving the harvest as much as we do? Click the links below and get detailed instructions for preserving 23 of the most popular fruits and vegetables

Preserving Vegetables (in alphabetical order)

How to Preserve Carrots by Freezing, Canning, and More from Oak Hill Homestead

4 Easy Ways to Preserve Cauliflower from Dehydrating Made Easy

Cucumber Fresh Pack Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe from The Self Sufficient HomeAcre

Make Your Own Garlic Powder and Other Ways to Preserve Garlic from Learning & Yearning

How to Freeze Your Green Bean Harvest from The Reid Homestead

How to Preserve Leafy Greens from Homespun Seasonal Living

Preserving Okra by Freezing, Canning, Fermenting, and Dehydrating from Schneider Peeps

5 Ways to Preserve Onions for Storage from Rockin W Homestead

How to Dehydrate Parsnips & Make Parsnip Chips from The Purposeful Pantry

3 Ways to Preserve Peppers from Grow a Good Life

5 Ways to Store Potatoes from A Modern Homestead

Ways to Preserve Radishes from The Purposeful Pantry

How to Freeze Squash (and Other Preservation Methods) from Our Inspired Roots

Freezing Tomatoes for Preserving Later in the Year from Stone Family Farmstead

3 Easy Ways to Preserve Zucchini from Grow a Good Life

Preserving Fruit (in alphabetical order)

Guide to Preserving Apples from Oak Hill Homestead

3 Ways To Preserve Fresh Summer Berries from Better Hens & Gardens

How to Make Cherry Jam from Scratch from The Self Sufficient HomeAcre

3 Quick Ways to Preserve Grapes from Homestead Lady

3 Best Ways To Preserve Mulberries from My Homestead Life

How To Preserve Oranges On The Homestead from 15 Acre Homestead

How to Freeze Peaches from A Modern Homestead

How To Preserve Strawberries On The Homestead from 15 Acre Homestead

FAQs

How to Freeze Peaches - Plus Recipes and More!? ›

But don't worry, I have a super easy fix for this: lemon juice! Toss 1 lb of peaches in 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice to prevent browning. The ascorbic acid in the lemon juice acts as a barrier between the air and the peaches.

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What is the best way to freeze fresh peaches? ›

Step-by-Step Instructions

Wash and dry the fruit.
Cut in half and remove the pit.
Slice into evenly sized peach slices.
Add to a freezer bag. Remove as much air as you can, lay flat, and seal.

Jun 13, 2022

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How do you keep peaches from turning brown when freezing? ›

How much sugar to add to peaches before freezing? ›

Freezing Peaches in a Syrup Pack

Very Thin Syrup: Use 1 cup sugar and 4 cups water to yield about 4 cups syrup.
Thin Syrup: Use 1 ⅔ cups sugar and 4 cups water to yield about 4 ¼ cups syrup.
Medium Syrup: Use 2 ⅔ cups sugar and 4 cups water to yield about 4 ⅔ cups syrup.

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Jul 11, 2024

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Is it better to freeze peaches with or without sugar? ›

WITH OR WITHOUT SUGAR– It's much healthier to NOT use sugar. Plus you'll save yourself a step. Freezing them with sugar produces a sweeter result and releases the peach juices.

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How to freeze peaches in ziploc bags? ›

Skip the work of peeling and slicing altogether and freeze whole peaches with their skins left intact. Just wash and dry your produce before placing in a zip-top plastic freezer bag. It's that simple. They will take longer to freeze up than slices, however, and they will need to be thawed before they can be pitted.

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Do fresh peaches have to be blanched before freezing? ›

I prefer to peel my peaches before freezing because it makes them more versatile to use later. The easiest way to do this is by blanching, a cooking process that involves scoring the bottom of each peach with a paring knife and quickly dunking it in a pot of boiling water and then an ice bath.

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How long will peaches last in the freezer? ›

Add the date on the bag before placing it in the freezer. Frozen peaches will last for 6-12 months. After this time the peaches will begin to get freezer burn and will lose a large majority of their flavor.

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How do you remove the skin from peaches before freezing? ›

Place the peach in a pot of boiling water for 10-15 seconds. Remove from boiling water and place directly into an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Once cool, use a pairing knife to catch the corner of skin at the base of the X and peel towards the stem. The skin will come right off!

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Can you use vinegar to keep peaches from turning brown? ›

Or you can combine the peaches with acidic fruits like pineapple chunks or cut tangerines. The acidity in these fruits inactivates the PPO enzyme that starts the whole process. The third method involves adding a food-quality acidic ingredient that will prevent browning, such as vinegar.

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Should frozen peaches be thawed before baking? ›

Frozen peaches don't need to be thawed before adding them to baked dishes because the oven's heat will gently defrost them as the recipe cooks. You may want to add extra thickener to absorb the excess liquid, though, or let the recipe bake for an extra 5 minutes to cook off the extra moisture.

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Which is better, canning or freezing peaches? ›

When you freeze your fruit, you can make the most of your purchase. Plus, you'll always have peaches on hand for baking. Freezing your peaches takes less time, energy and equipment than canning them. Just make sure you have a bit of free time and space in your freezer.

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What preservative is used in freezing peaches? ›

Freezing Peaches (Sugar Pack)

Dissolve ¼ teaspoon ascorbic acid in 3 tablespoons cold water and add to each quart of peaches to slow darkening.
Add ⅔ cup sugar to each quart (1⅓ pounds) of prepared fruit.
Stir gently until sugar is dissolved or let stand 15 minutes. Place into containers.
Seal, label and freeze.

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How much lemon juice to use when freezing peaches? ›

Soak the peach slices in a lemon juice bath for 5 minutes. 4 cups water + 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Drain. Either dump the peaches into a colander or scoop them out with a slotted spoon.

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Why do frozen peaches taste different? ›

Freezing and thawing also breaks down the fruit's cells, making them taste more juicy — even if they aren't as sweet as those song-worthy peaches.

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How to freeze fresh peaches for pies? ›

Transfer peaches to a 9 inch foil-lined pie plate. Cover with another piece of foil and freeze immediately to prevent peaches from discoloring. Once frozen solid, remove peaches from pie plate, with foil, and transfer to a zipper locked plastic bag for later use.

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How do you store fresh peaches so they last longer? ›

Your best option for long-term storage is to place your peaches in the freezer. Properly storing your peaches in the freezer will allow them to stay fresh for a few months. If you use this method, be sure to thaw your peaches before use.

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How long do fresh frozen peaches last in the freezer? ›

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Are frozen peaches good? ›

Frozen peaches are uncooked—just like fresh peaches—so they're a perfect substitute for fresh produce when it's out of season. They're particularly great for smoothies, but you can use frozen peaches in any baked recipe as well.

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