It's all about using your fingers—not a peeler.
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Kirsten Nunez is a writer who focuses on food, health, nutrition, and DIY. She has a master's degree in nutrition, and has been writing professionally for nearly 10 years for digital and print publications, such as Martha Stewart, Shape, Real Simple, Healthline, and SELF. She also creates original recipes, which have appeared on product packaging in stores.
Updated on August 4, 2023
In This Article
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In This Article
- Preparation
- Peeling
- Cutting
Enjoying a super ripe peach as a snack is easy—you simply take a bite and enjoy. But what about peeling peaches for use in desserts and baked goods? It might surprise you, but that's also easy, assuming you you know the right technique. A vegetable peeler, like you'd use to peel an apple, might seem the most logical tool for the job, but it's not actually the best or fastest way to peel peaches. Though using one might work just fine for firm peaches, a ripe, juicy peach won't hold up to the peeler, and you'll likely lose a lot of the tasty flesh in the process.
The best way to peel a peach is to actually place it in boiling water for about 30 seconds, then simply remove the loosened skin using your fingertips. In our step-by-step guide, we'll will show you how simple the process actually is—and also teach you how to cut a peach, whether you peel it or not.
Preparing Peaches for Peeling
There are three simple prep steps to ensure you are ready to get peeling. First, bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Using a paring knife, score a shallow "X" in the bottom of each peach. Create an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice water. This will help stop the cooking process and cool the peaches so they are easier to handle.
How to Peel Peaches
To peel peaches, follow these steps:
- Using a slotted spoon, carefully lower each peach into the water (working in batches if necessary, adding no more than four peaches to the pot at a time).
- Boil just until the skins start to soften and separate where the peach was scored, about 30 seconds to a minute.
- Use the slotted spoon to remove the peaches from the boiling water, lowering them directly into the prepared ice bath.
- Let them cool for about a minute.
- Now, starting where the X was scored, peel the skins back away from the peach. It should be easy enough to do using your fingertips or a paring knife and just the peel should come off.
In just a few minutes, you have perfectly peeled peaches ready for a savory salad or peach cobbler.
Here's one troubleshooting tip: If a patch of stubborn skin won't come off the peach easily, return the fruit to the boiling water and repeat the boiling and ice bath process.
How to Cut Peaches
The juicy texture of peaches can make them very slippery, so consider cutting them over a large bowl. Start by holding a peeled peach in one hand and sharp paring knife in the other. Cut the peach in half, working from end to end and straight down to the pit. Twist apart the halves and remove the pit using your fingers or the tip of the knife. Place the peach halves on a cutting board and slice into wedges or cubes.
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