Fruit lovers know that mid-July is a season of ripe peaches. Since I really like these juicy fruits, I always buy them more than I can eat. The obvious solution has always been to make jam, smoothie, compote, etc. from them. But this year I wanted to enjoy them much longer and, as nature intended, whole and fresh. Below I will share ways that will help extend the life of these magical stone fruits.
How to store ripe peaches
Ripe peach fruits do not tolerate storage and transportation. Very quickly they overheat and rot. If you find that your peaches are mature and for some reason you are simply not ready to eat them, put the fruits in the refrigerator in a freely sealed plastic bag. Cooler temperatures slow down the fruit's natural ripening.
Peaches are not very sensitive to temperature changes, so they can be stored anywhere in the refrigerator. Depending on the stage of fruit ripening, they can be stored from 5 days to 4 weeks. The optimal storage temperature is from -1 ° C to 0.5 ° C. Lower temperatures can damage the fruit, although the freezing point of peach is from -2.5 to -3.0 ° C. Fruits stored at temperatures from 3 ° C to 8 ° C can undergo physiological diseases, manifested in changes in the structure of the pulp, which becomes cloudy and softens, although the skin color remains green.
Temperatures between 5 ° C and 8 ° C should be avoided even while transporting fruit. Peaches can easily lose water as a result of transpiration, since they have virtually no wax coating, so high humidity is recommended during storage. It should be at least 90-95%. Ventilation should be about 1.5 cubic meters per minute. Unfortunately, such storage conditions can be stored in special refrigerators.
Cold air can dehydrate peaches, so keep an eye out for wrinkles on them. If you notice wrinkles on a chilled peach, try to eat it as soon as possible or put in the freezer for future use.
How to store immature peaches
If your peach is far from perfect maturity, and you want to keep it fresh, put the fruit in a sealed paper bag with holes for 1-3 days before ripening. Peaches (and other fruits such as bananas, avocados) emit a gas called ethylene, which speeds up the ripening process. Keep in mind that ethylene is present even when the peach bag is not hermetically sealed, and this may affect the ripening of other nearby fruits.
If your peaches are hard to touch, just store them at room temperature (separate from other fruits), and they should ripen for 3-5 days.
How to store chopped peaches
If you cut your peach and cannot eat it all at once, you should sprinkle it with acidic citrus juice (for example, lemon or orange juice). This will help prevent oxidation.
Once you chop the peach, oxidation can begin to break down vitamins. For this reason, cut them as close to your meal time as possible.
How to freeze fresh peaches
If you want to enjoy these delicious fruits far beyond their short summer season, you can freeze them. Ripe (not soft) fruits are best suited for freezing. Peach the peaches, cut them into slices, then freeze on a baking sheet or plate. After freezing, put them in a plastic bag and put them back in the freezer. So they will retain their sweet taste and orange tint.Defrost them as needed for anything from smoothies to cakes. So they can be stored for several months.
Now you know how to keep peaches fresh longer.