Maybe I should have titled this post “How I Peel Peaches” because I’m not actually an authority, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express this weekend!
Okay, sorry for rehashing that joke. But I did learn a very effective way to peel peaches this weekend. Here are the steps I followed.
1. Bring a large pot of water to a gentle boil (a little more than a simmer)
2. Cut “x”s in bottom of each peach
3. Add peaches to boiling water and cook for exactly one minute.
4. Remove peaches from boiling water and plunge into a bowl of ice cold water to stop cooking.
5. Using your fingers or a sharp knife and starting at the spot where you made the “x”. Peel away the skin. It’s a great feeling when a whole sheet of it comes of at once!
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Great tips!
That’s what I do except I don’t put the “x” on the fruit first. Next time I need to peel peaches I’ll try it your way!
Thank you so much. I’m canning peaches today. I knew you could do this with tomatoes, just never thought about it with peaches.
Cool! That’s how I do my tomatoes!
Great to know! Thank you Holiday Inn Express!
you peeled this so beautifully! i thought it was an orange at first!
I find this a very satisfying activity, too. I love the look of the naked peaches.
That’s cheating–I thought your Holiday Express ability had to be a NEW gift, not cooking related!
Actually, I just realized your problem yesterday–your Holiday Express stay temporarily sucked your cooking and baking ability away for a day. I would write a letter of complaint, if I were you!
I wasn’t sure the “X” would really help, but a few people suggested it and it really did help. What happens is the skin at the center of the “X” folds bag a tiny bit and gives you a pull tag. The peaches I had made the “X” in were definitely easier to peel. I think it also depends on the ripeness of the peach. Some were riper than others and the skin nearly fell off.
I don’t know if they are breeding hybrid peaches to be easy to peel or what, but I bought some at Costco last month and the peel came off so easily, just raw. I was amazed. I don’t even mind eating the peach skin so I’m not easily amazed.
btw, your title reminded me of “How to Pick a Peach” by Russ Parsons.
ya…i do this everytime i peel peaches. it works gr8! thanks