3 Ways to preserve peaches that will help you enjoy luscious Summer peaches year round. All easy, all you need are peaches, lemon juice, water, sugar freezer safe bags and jars.
With the end of summer arriving the only thing I really miss is the fruit especially peaches. With these 3 methods you can keep summer alive by preserving peaches. Another summer fruit to easily preserve are Strawberries.
Recipe Ingredients
- Peaches – firm and ripe
- Lemon – the juice of the lemon
- Water
- Sugar – granulated sugar
Cooking Equipment needed
- Large Pot
- Jars – if you plan on storing the peaches, then you need sterilized jars and you will need to do a water bath.
- Plastic bags – I like to use re-sealable bags
- Bubble Remover – this helps remove bubbles before canning
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What are the best peaches to use
The best peaches to use should be firm but ripe, also make sure to use Freestone peaches and not clingstone. Freestone will come away easily from the pit whereas clingstone will cling and you will end up with a mess in your hands.
How to blanch peaches
Blanching peaches is done to easily remove the skin without cooking them.
While the water is boiling in a large pot, rinse the peaches. Once the water boils place the peaches in the water and let them boil for 1 minute. With a slotted spoon transfer them immediately to a large bowl of ice water for approximately 2-3 minutes. Remove the skin, cut in half and remove the pit. Depending on which method you use you can leave the peaches in half or cut into slices.
How to sterilize jars
To Sterilize the jars, first wash them in hot soapy water, then rinse well and drain. Place the jars in a large pot of boiling water for 10 minutes. Drain the jars upside down on a clean tea towel to dry.
How to tell if the jar is sealed properly
- When pressed down in the middle of the lid there should be no give, if it springs up instead then it hasn’t sealed properly.
- Or with the bottom of a spoon tap the lid and there should be a high pitched ringing sound.
- If you hold the jar eye level the lid should have a slight concave depression from the edge to the middle.
If you find the jar has not been sealed properly it will have to be prepared again. Or you can just consume the peaches immediately. Be sure to store in the fridge and use within 2-3 days.
How to prepare the jars a 2nd time
Remove the lid and replace with a new lid, the used lid cannot be reused. Re do the canning process again with 24 hours.
How to Preserve peaches step by step 3 ways
Water bath canning method
Place the halved peaches in a large bowl toss with the lemon juice, then place them cut side down in the sterilized jars. Pour the syrup over the peaches in the jars until they are completely covered, be sure to leave 1/2 inch of headspace. Shake the jars to allow any air bubbles to escape or use a bubble remover tool, this keeps the peaches from floating to the top, close the lids tightly.
In a large pot place a large cloth on the bottom and the filled jars on top of the cloth, place some of the cloth between the jars dividing them so they do not collide and break with each while they are boiling.
Fill the pot with water, be sure to cover the jars. Bring the water to boil then continue to boil for 30 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the jars cool completely before removing, dry the jars and store them in a cool and dry place. They will keep for up to one year if stored properly. Once opened they must be refrigerated and consumed in 2-3 days.
Preserving peaches in the freezer
The Easiest Way
After the peaches have been blanched, skin removed, cut in half and the stone removed, then slice each half into slices, thin or thick as you like. Place the slices well spaced in a single layer on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet, place the cookie sheet in the freezer and freeze until the slices are completely firm.
Once they are firm divide the slices into a freezer safe bag or container, in a single layer, if using a container place parchment paper between each layer. This way they won’t stick together.
The peach slices will keep in the freezer for 8-10 months. Peach slices thawed in the fridge will keep for 2-3 days, if thawed in the microwave or cold water they should be used immediately.
Preserving sweetened sliced peaches in the freezer
After the peaches have been blanched, skin removed, cut in half and the stone removed, then slice each half into slices, thin or thick as you like.
Place the slices in a large bowl and toss the juice of 1/2 a lemon and 3-4 tablespoons of sugar.
Place the slices in freezer safe re-sealable bags or containers. They will keep for up to 8-10 months in the freezer. Thaw in the refrigerator and consume in 2-3 days.
FAQs
Canned peaches can be consumed as soon as the jar cools or they can be stored in a cool dry area for up to one year. Once a jar is opened it should be refrigerated and eaten within 3 days.
White peaches are higher in pH or lower in acid than the yellow types, which makes them not a good fruit for canning because they aren’t safe for the boiling water canning method. The best method would be freezing.
When air bubbles are not removed, it will lead to too much headspace which could result in the jar not sealing properly. The jar will have to be prepared again.
What to make with canned peaches
We didn’t even wait to store our peaches we decided to indulge immediately by placing a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of a halved peach. This can also be done with the sliced frozen sweetened or plain slices as well. Or you could make this tasty Italian Peach Crumb Cake, a delicious Peaches and Cream Swirl Bread or why not try this popular Peach Upside Down Cake.
So I hope if you are looking to preserve some peaches this year you find this helpful. Enjoy!
More Preserving Recipes
3 Ways to Preserve Peaches
Ingredients
FOR THE CANNING METHOD
- 3 pounds peaches (8-9 medium/large peaches)
- 1 whole juice of 1 lemon
- 3 cups water
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
FOR THE EASY FREEZER METHOD
- 1½ pounds peaches (4 medium/large peaches)
FOR THE SWEETENED FREEZER METHOD
- 1½ pounds peaches (4 medium/large peaches)
- ½ whole lemon juice
- 3-4 tablespoons granulated sugar
Instructions
- While the water is boiling in a large pot, rinse the peaches. Once the water boils place the peaches in the water and let them boil for 1 minute. With a slotted spoon transfer them immediately to a large bowl of ice water and let them sit for approximately 2-3 minutes. Remove the skin and gently cut each peach in half, remove the pit. Depending on which method you use they can either be left halved or sliced.
FOR THE CANNING METHOD (ALL JAR MUST BE SEALED PROPERLY BEFORE STORING)
Sterlizing the Jars
- To Sterilize the jars, first wash them in hot soapy water, then rinse well and drain. Place the jars in a large pot of boiling water for 10 minutes. Then drain the jars upside down on a clean tea towel to dry.
Making the Syrup
- In a medium pot add the water and sugar, bring to a boil and continue to boil for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat, let cool 15-20 minutes.
PUTTING IT TOGETHER
- Place the halved peaches in a large bowl toss with the lemon juice, then place them cut side down in the sterilized jars. Pour the syrup over the peaches in the jars until they are completely covered, be sure to leave 1/2 inch of headspace. Shake the jars to allow any air bubbles to escape or use a bubble remover tool, this keeps the peaches from floating to the top, close the lids tightly.
- In a large pot place a large cloth on the bottom and the filled jars on top of the cloth, place some of the cloth between the jars dividing them so they do not collide and break with each other while they are boiling.
- Fill the pot with water, be sure to cover the jars. Bring the water to a boil then continue to boil for 30 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the jars cool completely before removing. Remove and dry the jars, store them in a cool dry place. They will keep for up to one year if stored properly. Once opened they must be refrigerated and consumed in 2-3 days.
FOR THE EASY FREEZER METHOD
- After the peaches have been blanched, skin removed, cut in half and the stone removed, then slice each half into slices, thin or thick as you like. Place the slices well spaced in a single layer on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet, place the cookie sheet in the freezer and freeze until the slices are completely firm. If you wish you can toss the slices with the juice of half a lemon, this will keep them from browning.
- Once they are firm divide the slices into a freezer safe bag or container, in a single layer, if using a container place parchment paper between each layer.
- This way they won’t stick together. The peach slices will keep in the freezer for 8-10 months. Peach slices thawed in the fridge will keep for 2-3 days, if thawed in the microwave or cold water they should be used immediately.
FOR THE SWEETENED FREEZER METHOD
- After the peaches have been blanched, skin removed, cut in half and the stone removed, then slice each half into slices, thin or thick as you like.
- Place the slices in a large bowl, sprinkle with the lemon juice and toss with 3-4 tablespoons of sugar. Place the slices in freezer safe re-sealable bags or containers. They will keep for up to 8-10 months in the freezer. Thaw in the refrigerator.
Notes
- When pressed down in the middle of the lid there should be no give, if it springs up instead then it hasn’t sealed properly.
- Or with the bottom of a spoon tap the lid and there should be a high pitched ringing sound.
- If you hold the jar eye level the lid should have a slight concave depression from the edge to the middle.
Loretta Erickson says
You say to fill the jar with syrup. A simple syrup? How much sugar?. Then just fill with water?
Rosemary says
Hi Loretta, I forgot to include the amounts, I corrected it. Thanks let me know how it goes.