Peaches

Heaven for the senses—discover new twists on this old favourite

Best to buy
Peach season is at its peak from June until the end of September.

Cut & clean
Thoroughly rinse the soft, velvety skin immediately before eating. Easily remove the stone by slicing from top to bottom and giving a slight twist.

Power food
Peaches are a good source of vitamin C.

Also indexed as: Donut Peach, Elberta Peach

Preparation, uses, and tips

You can slice, poach, candy, dry, cook, can, or freeze peaches. To peel peaches, blanch them in boiling water for a few seconds, then plunge them into cold water until they are cool enough to handle; the skin will slip right off. Add them to yoghurt, ice cream, fruit salads, tarts, or breakfast cereal. Peaches work well as the single fruit in cobblers, pies, turnovers, crepes, sorbets, soufflés, jams or jellies, marinades, and juiced. Spiced peaches make an excellent side dish with winter meals. Peaches can also be distilled in brandy and liqueurs.

Buying and storing tips

Peach season is at its peak from June through September. Aromatic, slightly soft or semi-firm red and yellow peaches with velvety skin are best. Avoid fruit that has a green hue or that feels very hard, as it will not ripen. Bruises can accelerate and reveal spoilage. Use ripe peaches as soon as possible, or store them for three to four days at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Wash peaches only immediately before serving to preserve the integrity of the fruit.

Varieties

Although numerous varieties of peaches are grown, they are often categorized according to the way the flesh of the fruit is attached to its pit. Clingstone peaches have flesh that clings firmly to the stone, while freestone peaches allow the stone to separate easily from the fruit. The most popular variety of peach is the Elberta (a freestone); it makes up about half of the peach harvest. Some of the newer varieties of peaches on the market today include a peach with creamy white-flesh, and a short, rather flattened variety called a Donut peach; both have excellent flavour.

Nutrition Highlights

Peach, 1 large (raw)
Calories: 67.5
Protein: 1.1g
Carbohydrate: 17.4g
Total Fat: 0.14g
Fiber: 3.1g
*Good source of: Vitamin C (10.3mg)

*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value, based upon United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the USDA Recommended Daily Value. Nutritional information and daily nutritional guidelines may vary in different countries. Please consult the appropriate organization in your country for specific nutritional values and the recommended daily guidelines.

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The information presented in the Food Guide is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of US–registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or chemist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires August 2007.