We just got back from our annual summer vacation in B.C.’s beautiful Okanagan Valley. By far, my favorite part of the Okanagan are the hundreds of fruit stands and markets that line the roads, selling freshly-picked fruit and vegetables. The variety of produce is amazing and the fruits are so sweet, still warmed from hot afternoon sun. One of my ultimate scores is to buy a huge box of peaches to bring home. I feel such a sublime joy when I bite into a juicy, warm peach and the juice runs down. There is no way to eat a peach without getting sticky.
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Preserving these beautiful little peaches is a great way to enjoy them year round. There are a number of recipes and ways to preserve fresh fruits but probably the easiest and most functional for me is freezing them. I am left with a freezer full of peach slices that I can quickly toss into my morning smoothies, pop them into the blender for a quick frozen treat or for a Sunday morning pancake topper. I also like to save a few and make my quick 3-Ingredient Peach Jam that is refined-sugar free and has no pectin.
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This recipe is quick and easy, most importantly, there is no peach-peeling to be done. As a busy working mom, when I see a recipe that calls for peeling stone fruits I usually move on. Who has the time for that? I also like to keep the skins on the peach for the fiber benefits. Just be sure, when you are keeping the skins on, to wash them well. Try this Apple Cider Vinegar Produce Wash to clean your peaches of unwanted residue. Use this simple method with all your beautiful fresh fruits to enjoy them year long.
How to Freeze Fresh Fruit: Peaches
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds fresh peaches approx. 12 peaches
- 3 cups filtered water
- 1 lemon Juice of one lemon
Instructions
- After peaches are clean cut them into slices
- Pour water and lemon juice into a bowl large enough to hold all your peach slices. The lemon juice helps maintain the color of the peaches and avoids brown spots. I let them sit for a 5 minutes.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place peach slices onto the tray. You don't want the peaches touching or they will freeze together, so leave a little space between them.
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer and let them freeze for about 1-2 hours.
- Remove peaches with a spatula or wooden spoon and place them into a freezer friendly, airtight container and store them for up to a year in your freezer.