How to Freeze Peaches

September 05, 2021

Freezing peaches is the best because they can be used in EVERYTHING! If you want to enjoy delicious peaches all year round then look no further because, with this recipe, you can have juicy, delicious peaches whenever you want!

Some fruits you just have to have when they are in season and peaches are one of them. Freezing them makes sure that you have the ability to have the most amazing ones at the drop of a hat! Peaches can go in smoothies, cobblers, and crisps! These recipes will preserve that juicy flavor all year long!

How to Freeze Fresh Peaches

A perfectly ripe peach in season is one of the most delicious fruits out there! But the keyword in that sentence is in season. If you buy peaches that are off-season, they are hard and flavorless. You lose out on so much of that amazing peach taste so they are just not worth using. The way around that is to buy all the peaches during the peach season and freeze them!! Frozen peaches are the absolute best and easiest way to preserve that summery, peach flavor. It only takes a few steps and you will have ripe, juicy peaches at your fingertips all year long!

Frozen peaches are the perfect solution for a peach-loving person (me!). Because some of my all-time favorite recipes call for peaches, they are a must to have for easy access. Using peaches with my favorite desserts, breakfasts, and even brunch is something that I make often! So having off-season peaches is not an option for me! When you freeze peaches, they retain their beautiful color as well as their flavor! This recipe is so simple and is an absolute must for any lover of peaches. Try it out and after this, I am positive that you will be having delightfully ripe peach recipes all year long, just like me!

Ingredients for Frozen Peaches

The absolute best part about this recipe is that there are only TWO ingredients. That’s right, two. So there is absolutely no reason for you NOT to be biting into delicious, juicy peaches all year long! See the recipe card below for exact ingredient measurements.

Peaches: Of course frozen peaches need one specific thing…peaches! Make sure they are ripe!
Lemon Juice: The lemon juice helps in preserving the look and taste of your peaches!

How Do I Freeze Peaches?

There is very little prep work involved in freezing peaches! So get out those peaches and let’s make sure that you have them for all of your delicious foods all year long!

Boil and blanch: Bring a large pot to a boil. Slice the peaches in half and carefully put into the pot of boiling water. Blanch for 1 minute until the skin is loose.
Ice bath: Place the peaches in an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Peel the peaches and slice into about 8 slices. Toss in a bowl with lemon juice.
Lay out and freeze: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay the peaches in a single layer onto the baking sheet. Freeze for 4 hours or overnight until they are completely solid.
Ziplock bag: Transfer from the sheet and put into a freezer safe gallon size bag to freeze.

4 step by step pictures of cutting and boiling peaches.

Frozen Peach Questions

In order to have the best peaches all year long, you need to know how to pick out the best peaches in the first place! Here are a few quick tips that will help you with the common questions that people have and will help you to make the most out of this recipe!

Which kinds of peaches do I get? You will typically see two kinds of peaches at your grocery store or farmers market: Freestone and Clingstone. Clingstone peaches get their name from the fact that the pit “clings” to the skin better. When you are eating peaches fresh, it doesn’t matter which ones that you eat. But when you are freezing them, you should get Freestone peaches. This is because the pit will come off more freely making this process easier for you! Ask your grocers or the local farmer and they will be able to tell you which ones they have!
How do I remove the pit? Slice your peach in half around the pit line all the way around the peach. Twist the peach halves in opposite directions and open the peach apart. Then pull out the pit!
Can I freeze peaches whole? Yes! Just slide the entire peach in a ziplock bag and freeze! Keep in mind that in order to use a peach that has been frozen whole, you have to wait for the entire peach to thaw before you can remove the pit! So, I prefer sliced peaches because they are more versatile and quicker to use.

Peaches lined up on parchment paper on a baking sheet.

Peach Picking Tips

I know that I definitely want to be able to use peaches whenever I want! If that is your goal and you want to join me in making tried and true peach recipes no matter what the season is, then here are a few tips to making that happen!

Texture: To pick a ripe peach, it’s all about how it feels. Pick it up and if you can squeeze it a bit then it’s ready. You don’t want a peach that is too firm because then its not ripe enough but too squishy and you won’t be able to use it! Gently squeeze and if it gives a little, that’s your peach!
Color: A ripe peach has a dark yellow color. You will see that some peaches are red but that doesn’t determine if it’s ripe, that just mean it’s had sun exposure!
Smell: If you can smell the sweetness of a peach when you pick it up, thats a sign that it’s ripe enough to eat!
Shape: Did you know that as a peach ripens, it becomes more round? The shape will help you in the picking process as well!
Bruising: Make sure that you aren’t squeezing the peaches too hard to cause bruising. Also make sure that any peaches that you pick out don’t already have bruises!

Frozen, sliced peaches in a ziplock bag.