Peaches—Tips, Tricks, My Grandmother’s Peach Cobbler

And just like that, it’s peach season. That’s a big deal where I live in northern Colorado in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. We love peaches and enjoy Peach Street Fairs, Palisade Peach Festivals; peach fruit piled high in every store’s produce department and featured on nearly every restaurant’s menu. While they’re in season, fresh peaches are relatively cheap, too.

Freestone or cling?

While there are many varieties of peaches, basically there are two types: If a peach is “freestone,” it means the stone falls right off of the flesh when it’s cut. A “clingstone” or cling peach’s flesh will stick to the pit.

Freestones are larger, juicier, sweeter, and more comfortable to work with since the pit pops right out of a ripe peach. Many store-bought yellow and white peaches fall into this category. The most famous freestone peaches are Georgia and Palisade peaches

Clingstone peaches—peaches that are harder to pit because the pit firmly adheres to the flesh—are mostly used for canning.

Fresh peaches are abundantly available throughout North America starting in late July through September.

Is it ripe?

Peaches are “climacteric fruit.” That means that peaches will ripen (get softer and sweeter) after they are harvested. Other fruits, for example, grapes, cherries, strawberries, and raspberries are “non-climacteric fruit”; once harvested, they never ripen further.

The only way to know for sure if a peach is fully matured is by delicately feeling it to test for ripeness. Very gently, hold a peach between your thumb and middle finger and press very lightly at the stem end of the peach. Be careful not to squeeze the peach as it will bruise easily. One delicate squeeze is all that is needed. If the fruit indents slightly, the peach is fully ripe and ready to eat!

Speed things up

If you want to speed things up with a peach that’s not quite perfectly ripe, pop it in a paper bag and close it. The bag will capture the ethylene gas the fruit gives off, which hastens the ripening process. Want to speed things up even more and ripen peaches even faster? Add a banana to the bag for even more ethylene action.

Good for you

Peaches are an excellent source of vitamin A and dietary fiber, according to the popular website, Healthline. Peaches are packed with nutrients and antioxidants. Peaches may even lower risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

How to store

• On the kitchen counter unripe: 1 to 3 days or until ripe
• In the refrigerator once ripe: 3 to 5 days
• In the freezer or canned: Up to 1 year

 

READ: 6 Gifts of Summer to Make for Christmas

Peel a peach

Set a big pot of water on the stove over high heat. While you’re waiting for it to come to a boil, fill the sink or large bowl with ice water, so it’s ready to go.

With a sharp knife, cut an X in the bottom of each peach. Drop the peaches into the boiling water and count to 30. That’s it, just 30 seconds. Carefully remove them from the boiling water and immediately drop them into the ice water. Watch what happens. The skins will split open and nearly fall off all by themselves. It’s quite fun to watch and oh, what a time saver.

• MORE: 10 Surprising Ways Lemons Can Make Your Life Easier

How to pit a peach

Removing the peach pit (seed) is a no-brainer, especially if you have a freestone variety peach. Using a paring knife, pierce the peach where the stem was attached, slicing it along the seam all the way around the fruit. Your knife will naturally hit the pit and it will become your guide for stabilizing the cut. Place each half of the peach in either hand. Twist the halves in opposite directions. Pull the halves apart to reveal the pit. Pull the pit away from the flesh with your fingers.

Grilled peaches

Peaches take to the grill like fish to water. Dip a peeled and pitted fresh peach half into brown sugar and set it on the grill, cut side down. Allow it to remain there long enough to show grill marks. That’s it!  The quick cooking over live flames brings out peaches’ natural juiciness and intensifies their deep summer sweetness—perfect for an arugula salad or served with ice cream for dessert.

Peach  Cobbler

It’s hard to hate, that’s for sure! Served warm with a dollop of ice cream, homemade peach cobbler is such a great comfort food. My grandmother, Mamie Schwartz, the most beautiful and humble woman I have ever known, could have taught even Martha Stewart a thing or two, including how to make the peach cobbler. Recipe below.

Peach freezer jam

Any kind of freezer jam is fabulous, but when it’s peach jam? Be still my heart! It’s that good.

Basically, start with fresh peaches, add sugar, a touch of lemon juice, and pectin. Load it into jars or containers of your choice and … freeze it! No canning, water-bath processing required. Results are amazing. Recipe below.

First published: 8-1-18; Updated 9-8-21

More from Everyday Cheapskate

Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief,
and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines

Caught yourself reading all the way 'til the end? Why not share with a friend.