Freezing peaches in the summer time is lots of fun and will provide you with delicious peaches for months to come. The process is very simple and well worth the time. Frozen peaches retain almost all of their flavor and will bring back the tastes of summer time when you enjoy them in the winter. I love to freeze and eat peaches, so follow this freezing method for some delicious frozen peaches.
To freeze peaches you will want to buy specially packed crates of peaches that are specially picked for canning and freezing. These peach crates are sold at your local grocery store. The difference between these canning peaches and the normal eating peaches is the water content and texture. The texture is firmer and they contain less water. They hold up to the canning process well and freeze excellently. One crate of canning peaches will freeze up to 8 quarts.
You will also need to buy some Fresh Fruit preservative. Fresh Fruit will prevent the discoloring and browning of the peaches once they are peeled and sliced. Lemon or orange juice will also be used in the freezing process.
You can use freezer containers, freezer bags or vacuum seal the peaches to preserve them in the freezer. I like to use freezer containers because they provide the most protection and once the peaches are thawed you can store them in the same container in the fridge. Bags and vacuum sealers also work great for freezing peaches.
Now that you have your stuff ready, you can begin the freezing process. First you will want to bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling place the peaches in the water for one minute. This will cause the skin to separate from the fruit and can be easily peeled.
Prepare a mixture of water and Fruit Fresh in a large bowl. Fill the bowl 1/3 of the way full and add 2 tablespoons of Fresh Fruit to the cold water. You will use this mixture to slice the peaches into, so use a large bowl!
Remove the skins from the peaches and slice the peaches into the Fresh Fruit water mix. By putting the peaches in the water you will prevent them from browning. You do not need to cut off the red flesh along the pit of the peach, but you may do so if you like.
After you have filled the bowl, drain the peaches. Return the peaches to the bowl and add some sugar and some more Fresh Fruit. The amount of sugar depends on your liking, but a 5 quart size bowl can have about 2 tablespoons of sugar. Use about the same amount of Fresh Fruit and stir the peaches to equally distribute the ingredients. Allow the peaches to sit for about half an hour and then fill your containers and place them in the freezer!
You are now complete with the freezing process and will have peaches in your freezer for months to come. By freezing the peaches you will retain all the nutrients that may be lost through the canning process. Try this freezing method and see for yourself how easy it is and how delicious the peaches taste!
