How to Peel and Cut Peaches the Right Way (2024)

It's all about using your fingers—not a peeler.

By

Laura Rege

How to Peel and Cut Peaches the Right Way (1)

Laura is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com.

and

Kirsten Nunez

How to Peel and Cut Peaches the Right Way (2)

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

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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.

How to Peel and Cut Peaches the Right Way (3)

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:

  1. 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).
  2. Boil just until the skins start to soften and separate where the peach was scored, about 30 seconds to a minute.
  3. Use the slotted spoon to remove the peaches from the boiling water, lowering them directly into the prepared ice bath.
  4. Let them cool for about a minute.
  5. 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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How to Peel and Cut Peaches the Right Way (2024)

FAQs

How to Peel and Cut Peaches the Right Way? ›

If your peaches are ripe, you may not even need a knife, just peel it with your fingers. Find the natural indent of the peach, start at the stem and cut the peach in half. With your hands, gently twist each side of the peach in opposite directions and the peach should pull apart in to two halves. Remove the pit.

Can you peel peaches without boiling? ›

Alternative Method – Peeling Peaches with a Vegetable Peeler

First, wash peaches to remove dirt and debris. Place a sharp vegetable peeler towards the stem end, away from the bottom of each peach. Using light but firm pressure, press into the peach while pulling down to remove the peel.

How do you peel and slice peaches for cobbler? ›

Start by holding a peeled peach in one hand and a 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.

Should you wash peaches before peeling? ›

Before blanching your peaches, make sure to thoroughly wash them as their fuzzy skin can easily pick up dirt and other debris. Before blanching peaches to peel them, boil a large pot of water. If your pot isn't large enough to fit all your peaches at once, work in small batches until each fruit is ready.

How do you peel peaches with a knife and fork? ›

Place the peach in boiling water for about 60 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, remove the peach from the boiling water and place it into a a bowl filled with ice and water. As soon as the peach is cool enough to handle, use a paring knife to remove the softened skin.

Does blanching peaches make them easier to peel? ›

Blanching peaches loosens their skin and makes them super easy to peel. The heat helps separate the skin from the peaches so the peels slip off, rather than being needed to be cut off. Put the peaches in the boiling water, making sure they are entirely submerged. Blanch them for 40 seconds.

Can you peel peaches with a potato peeler? ›

A potato peeler usually takes an too much fruit along with the peel, and a spiral apple peeler/slicer ends up ripping the peach itself to shreds. What to do? Truly, the easiest and best way to peel ripe peaches is to blanch them.

Why won't my peaches peel after blanching? ›

If your peach skin will not peel away easily after blanching, they have not been boiled long enough.

Can you peel peaches in the microwave? ›

Yes, people report success blanching peaches, one at a time, in the microwave. Cut the x on the bottom, and then microwave for 30 seconds. Test the peel for looseness. Zap for a few more seconds if necessary.

How to can peaches without sugar in water? ›

Remove skins and pits and discard. Ladle juice over peaches, leaving 1/2 an inch of headspace. Adjust lids and process in a boiling water canner, with jars covered by 2 inches of water, for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove jars from canner, allow to cool for 12 hours.

Do you have to peel peaches before baking with them? ›

Can You Leave the Skin on Peaches for Cobbler? Yes! Since the skins on the sliced peaches will soften during baking, they'll be very tender in the final dish. But if you'd rather not have them in your cobbler or other peach recipes, it's perfectly OK to peel the peaches first.

Do you peel a peach or eat the skin? ›

Just like peach flesh, the skin of a peach is edible and nontoxic. So yes, you can eat peach skin. However, people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) usually avoid high-fructose fruits like peaches, apples, and cherries because they can exacerbate gastrointestinal disorder symptoms.

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