If you have a peach tree or access to reasonably priced peaches (hit up the farmers market), then chances are you are going to want NEED to know how to peel a peach. Make it quick and easy with this simple tutorial on the best way to peel a peach, and get a big batch done in no time.
This recipe has been updated from the original August 2015 version in order to provide a better experience for our readers.
This recipe is a bit of a doozy, but this method for how to peel a peach has totally changed my life so I just had to share it with you. I recently had 200 peaches ripen on my tree within 3 days, so I had to preserve as many as possible in as little time as possible before the squirrels chewed them all up.
This my friends meant that I spent an entire afternoon peeling 200 peaches...Not the most fun you can have with a blunt stick, but setting up a little production line, and getting the littles involved, made it so much quicker (note: I lie - the toddler definitely did not make it quicker).
Just in case you too have to peel 200 peaches I thought it only nice to share this quick and easy method with you to make the whole process as stress-free as can be.
Here We Go: How to Peel A Peach
- Using a sharp knife, score the bottom of your peaches with an X;
- Add the scored peaches to rapidly boiling water for about 45 seconds;
- Using a slotted spoon, remove the peaches from the boiling water and pop them into a little ice bath (a large bowl filled with water and ice);
- Once cool, remove the peaches from the ice bath with a slotted spoon and peel. The skin should just come right away
Why Will I Need to Peel a Peach?
A lot of recipes will call for peeled peaches to give you a smoother result. Also, if you want to can your peaches or you want a nice smooth peach butter, then a peeled peach is going to be key.
Sometimes peaches can have bitter skin, or be super fuzzy, in which case you are going to want to enjoy them naked. Our peaches are homegrown and have a pretty thick, chewy skin, which I just don't enjoy, so I find it better to just peel them and enjoy the yumminess inside.
What Do I Do With My Freshly Peeled Peaches?
- Make some Peach Butter;
- Enjoy this No Churn Vegan Peach Ice Cream;
- Whip up some Fresh Peach and Honey Lemonade.
Make sure to pin this hack in case you ever need to peel a peach or a huge amount of peaches 🙂
Recipe
How to Perfectly Peel a Peach
Ingredients
- Peaches
- Saucepan of boiling water
Instructions
- Add water to a large saucepan and bring to a rapid boil
- Using a sharp knife score the bottom of your peaches with an X
- Add the scored peaches to rapidly boiling water for about 45 seconds
- Remove from the boiling water with a slotted spoon and pop them into a little ice bath (a large bowl filled with water and ice)
- Remove them from the ice bath with a slotted spoon and peel - the skin should just come right away
Kim says
this has always been the way i did this however my peach skins are not sliding off. Could it be that the peaches are too hard and not ready ?
Donna says
Hi Kim, Yes I find this can happen if the peaches aren't ripe enough!
Amanda says
This is such a good technique! I remember how much I used to fumble with peeling peaches--it was such a mess, and I lost out on so much of the juicy fruit! The skins really do slip right off with this method. And, I love making ALL THE THINGS with peaches in the summer, so it makes life a lot easier and more delicious! 🙂
Sean@Diversivore says
Works like a charm! I make canned peaches most years and this is definitely the way to go - especially if you're doing big batches. I personally find the ice bath seems to make the most impact. Works well for nectarines too, though I'm sure that's not too terribly surprising! 😀
Donna1 says
Haha not surprising for me, although when I first inherited my nectarine tree it would have been a different story!
Sarah says
I've used this trick to peel tomatoes before, but I've never peeled a peach! Also I am incredibly jealous of your peach tree 😀 And I love peaches- I should plant a peach tree of my own!!!
Donna1 says
You should!! Unless you have squirrels - then you will have to get a dog and still spend half your life fighting squirrels off to get to the peaches before they take one bite and throw them on the ground, making you die a little inside 🙂
Dana says
This post is oh-so-helpful. Thank you! I really really hate how much fruit gets wasted when they're hard to peel, but you have no hack to refer to. And now I'm craving peaches 🙂
Donna1 says
Lucky it is peach season 🙂
Kathy McDaniel says
This is a wonderful tutorial and the right way to cut a peach. This is exactly how they teach you at culinary school! I love peaches and they are so plentiful and sweet right now so I will be making all things peaches!!!
Donna1 says
Oh good, I am glad I am passing on the right information, it was my older neighbor that taught me how to do it when we first moved in and the peaches all ripened at once 🙂
Amy Nash says
I love this tutorial! It's so handy and I'm totally using it to make peach jam this summer with allllll the peaches! They are my favorite fruit and it's so awesome to be able to peel them so quickly and easily!
Donna1 says
Peach jam is so yummy!!! We just finished all the stuff I canned last summer, and now starting a new batch with this years crop 🙂
Carmy says
That's genius!!!!! I have long given up and would just cut off chunks where I couldn't peel it with a knife. It was never a round peach after I was done with it LOL. This method is just perfect for getting the skins off easily!
Donna1 says
Haha I used to do the exact same thing 🙂
Amanda says
I wish I had a peach tree. I never thought about peeling peaches like this before, but I imagine it would be so nice for galettes, pies, and so so so much more
Donna1 says
Yes, definitely good for when you want them to look pretty instead of hacked to pieces 🙂
Marisa Franca says
You are so lucky to have a peach tree. Sometimes we get peaches when they are plentiful at the Farmer's Market. I used to can peaches and make peach preserves. I remember I used to do the same thing as you do. Excellent tips. It was so long ago I'd forgotten.
Donna1 says
I know, it was part of the reason we bought our house - so many beautiful established fruit trees!!
Tracy Koslicki says
First of all, I am SO JEALOUS of your peach tree!!! Second, THANK YOU for the tips on how to peel a peach! You just saved me SO much time (and fruit!) when I pick up my next bushel from the farmers market. But again, can I say how jealous I am of your tree?! 😛
Donna1 says
Haha I know right, it was pretty much the only reason we bought our house - established peach and nectarine trees - so lovely!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed says
We've got peaches! This looks like such a refreshing way to use them!
Erin Clarkson says
Such a handy wee post! I swear not enough people know how to do this!
Donna1 says
I know I had no idea up until a few years ago, my cut peaches would end up being hacked to pieces every time 🙂
Gloria says
What a great post. Peaches can be such a PITA to peel (along with hard boiled eggs). I will have to give this handy little trick a try next time I pick up a basket of fresh peaches at the market.
Donna1 says
Haha, I still hate peeling hard boiled eggs - I swear I have tried every trick under the sun and they still end up a mess every time!
Stef says
Great tip! I've learned that lots of commercial peaches actually have the fuzz removed before you even buy them. But, I love the one's from the farmer's market that are super juicy and fuzzy so this is great to know. Thanks!
Donna1 says
I had no idea they did this with commercial peaches, I will have to have a look next time i am at the supermarket! The ones at the farmers market are so good though, I definitely cant go back to buying the supermarket versions!
Nichole aka CuppaGeek says
I need to try this!
Gina says
Thank you so much for this hack! Definitely going to try it out -- love peaches!!
Whole Food Bellies says
You are very welcome! I am totally in love with peaces too 🙂
lifestyletalks.wordpress.com says
Had a good laugh reading your post Donna...Sorry! I use this method to peel tomatos! However it never crossed my mind to apply it for peeling peaches. Great idea!
Whole Food Bellies says
I use it for my tomatoes as well 🙂 I am glad I was able to give you a laugh!
Joscelyn | wifemamafoodie says
You may think this is random, but it is such timely advice for me! I've been needing to figure out how to quickly peel peaches for this recipe I want to make. I remember seeing something similar to this on Martha Stewart years ago and had forgotten the exact method. This will definitely speed up the peeling process, thanks so much for sharing!
Whole Food Bellies says
Oh you are so welcome, I am so glad it will come in handy for you! I ummed and ahhhed about adding it to the blog, but it has been so useful for me, I had to share 🙂