How to Freeze Peaches

Learn how to freeze peaches like a pro with this easy step-by-step guide! Including the benefits of freezing peaches, different ways to use frozen peaches, freezing with and without the skin, and all without sugar! Everything you need to know to enjoy summer’s best fresh peach flavor all year long!

*This article was originally published Sep 7, 2012. But has been updated over the years with new photos and perfected techniques for your convenience to make the process even easier. 

I love peach season! But it always seems to pass too quickly, leaving me craving more of summer’s delightfully juicy fruits. When we lived in Utah, we had our own peach tree. So I always had an abundance of peaches. I would can my peaches, and make peach jam, peach butter, and peach pie. And still, be left with plenty of peaches to freeze and share with neighbors.

Now, I no longer have a peach tree, so whenever I find a farmers market with fresh peaches, I always have to get a bushel to restock my freezer so I can experience that fresh peach taste year-round, even long after peaches have gone out of season!

Sure you can buy frozen peaches from the grocery store, but they just don’t taste the same. They often lack flavor. So I’m going to share the secret to freezing peaches and having them retain their delicious fresh peach flavor! And best of all, it’s all without sugar!

Don’t be intimidated! It’s an easy process and 100% worth it for peaches all year.

You can do this with any type of peach, but really the easiest and in my opinion, the best-tasting peaches are ripe Freestone peaches. The pits are easier to remove and it still leaves a great flavor behind.

🧐 Why Freeze Peaches

There are many reasons why you should freeze peaches. Here are just a few:

• Less waste. Peaches are seasonal fruit, so they can be hard to find outside of their peak season. Freezing peaches is a great way to preserve them so you can enjoy them all year round.
• Extend the shelf life of peaches. Peaches are a perishable fruit, so they don’t last very long in the refrigerator. Freezing peaches is a great way to extend their shelf life for up to 1-3 years.
• Save money. Peaches can be expensive, especially when they are in season. Freezing peaches is a great way to save money by buying them in bulk when they are on sale and freezing them for later use.
• Have peaches on hand for recipes. There are many delicious recipes that call for peaches. Freezing peaches is a great way to have them on hand when you need them for a recipe, no matter the season. I absolutely love having the ability to make a fresh Peach Pie for Thanksgiving, simply by using my frozen peaches.
• Preserve the flavor of peaches. Freezing peaches helps to preserve their flavor and nutrients. This means that you can enjoy the fresh taste of peaches even when they are not in season.
• Freezing peaches is easy. Even kids can do it! It’s a great way to build memories in the kitchen and teach them valuable ways to save money on produce and how to store peaches. Plus, it only takes a few minutes of your time!

🥧 How to Use Frozen Peaches

The great thing about frozen peaches is that you can still use them like fresh peaches once you let them thaw. Or you can keep them frozen for delicious treats. There are so many ways to use frozen peaches! Here are a few ideas:

• Fruit Smoothies
• Oatmeal – In this recipe, I add frozen slices of peaches at the same time as the strawberries. The kids LOVE it.
• Peach Jam
• Peach Fruit Leather
• Peach Crisp
• Peach Pie
• Canned Peach Pie Filling
• Peach Muffins
• Peach Ice Cream
• Make Peach Compote for an ice cream topping
• Peach Slush Punch Drink – trade out the raspberries in this recipe for peaches!
• Raspberry Peach Fluff Fruit Salad
• Mix into yogurt
• Peach Sorbet

👩🏻‍🍳 Needed Supplies

Some of the links below are Amazon affiliate links, which means that I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase through them. This helps me to keep this blog running and to provide you with free content.

• Baker’s half sheets
• Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Sheets. I prefer using silicone baking sheets.
• Freezer bags. You can use Silicone Freezer bags, heavy-duty freezer bags, or vacuum sealer bags. I prefer vacuum-sealed bags because they will last even longer in the freezer.
• Vacuum sealer (optional)
• Silicon Flexible Turner – this is great for lifting the peaches off the cookie sheet to be portioned without freezing your hands.
• Freezer Labels (optional)
• A Sharpie for labeling bags

🍑 How to Freeze Peaches

There are a few ways to freeze peaches. You can freeze with the skin on or blanched and peeled. It is really up to your personal preference. I prefer to remove the skin for more versatility after freezing, like for use in a recipe that calls for peeled peaches. After the initial prep work, the remaining steps are all the same.

🫶🏻 With The Skin

Wash, dry, and pit your fresh peaches.

You can cut them into halves or slices, but I recommend slices because they are more versatile and freeze faster and more evenly. They are also easier to use after freezing if they are in slices.

🔪 Blanched + Peeled

First, you begin by blanching or peeling the peaches. If you already know how to do this, you can keep going. If you need help, click over to see the detailed tutorial on how to blanch peaches.

Cut the peaches in half, remove the pit, and then slice them into your desired size chunks. I place them into a bowl as I go.

After all the peaches are cut and ready, I do a quick rinse. The next step is the soak. Whether you are freezing peaches with the skin or without, the rest of the steps are the same.

🍋 Lemon Juice Soak

This is the essential trick to keeping the peaches fresh and from turning brown when you freeze peaches.

Place the peaches in a water mixture of 1 Tablespoon lemon juice for every 2 cups of water. You don’t need to let the peaches soak in it long. Really I just put the peaches in, stir a bit to ensure that each peach is coated, and then drain.

🧊 Flash Freezing Peaches

Spread the peaches out on a lined baker’s half sheet, making sure they have room so they don’t freeze together in a clump.

Now the hard part; finding room in your freezer for the cookie sheets to sit while you freeze peaches! That’s usually my biggest trial; clearing out space in my freezer.

You need to make sure the cookie sheet is level so the peaches don’t slide into a clump and freeze together. You also need to make sure nothing will squish the peaches while they freeze.

Flash-freeze your peaches for 4 hours (up to 24 hours), or until the peaches are solid.

Using a spatula turner, gently separate the frozen peaches from the baker’s sheet.

🧊 How to Store Frozen Peaches

Portion the frozen peaches into freezer-safe bags.

Remove as much air as possible from the bag and seal. Be sure you can get a good seal when you close the bag.

You don’t need to worry about the peaches freezing together since they were flash frozen, they will remain in individual chunks unless you allow them to thaw slightly and get a “wet” coating which will refreeze them into one large chunk.

Label each bag with the contents and date.

Place back into the freezer.

For storing the peaches you can use any kind of freezer-safe container.

Resealable Freezer Bags: These are affordable and you can get them at every grocery store. While they work, they will only keep your food safe for about 8-12 months and are easy to puncture when you go shuffling around in the freezer. 

I used to use thick freezer Ziploc bags. It was great because it was quick and the bags were easy to get.

The drawback is that they were easy to puncture and get holes while kids are rummaging around in the freezer. They don’t prevent freezer burn. They don’t last as long as a vacuum-sealed bag.

Vacuum Sealing Bags: These save the most space out of all the storage options. They also will allow your frozen rhubarb to last up to 2-3 years! That’s double the time as a regular freezer bag. They protect from freezer burn and they are more durable in the freezer and resist being punctured. The only downside is that they are a little more expensive and you need a vacuum sealer. But in the long run, it is worth the investment. This is my favorite method for freezing peaches. 

🕰️ How Long Do Frozen Peaches Last?

You can store frozen peaches in the freezer for 6-12 months in an airtight freezer bag. 

It will last for up to 2 to 3 years if vacuum-sealed. You can understand why I prefer to use my Foodsaver when I freeze peaches right?

💧 How to Thaw Frozen Peaches

There are a few different ways to defrost peaches. The best method for you will depend on how much time you have and how you plan to use the peaches.

❄️ Refrigerator defrosting

This is the most common method for defrosting peaches. Simply place the frozen peaches in the refrigerator overnight or for several hours, until they are thawed. This method will take longer than other methods, but it is the safest and will help to preserve the flavor of the peaches. It will typically take anywhere from 6 to 8 hours for the peaches to thaw completely.

🔥 Microwave defrosting

This method is faster than refrigerator defrosting, but it can also be more dangerous. To defrost peaches in the microwave, place the frozen peaches on a microwave-safe plate and cook on high for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between, until the peaches are thawed. Be careful not to overcook the peaches, as this can make them mushy.

💦 Cold water defrosting

This method is similar to refrigerator defrosting, but it is faster. To defrost peaches in cold water, place the frozen peaches (while still sealed in the freezer bag) in a bowl of cold water and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour, until they are thawed. This method is a good option if you are short on time.

Once the peaches are thawed, you can use them in any recipe that calls for fresh peaches.

Do not use warm water. Warm water will start to cook the peaches, which will make them mushy.

💡 Pro Tips

Lining The Baker’s Sheet: I prefer to line my baker’s sheet with a silicone baking sheet. This prevents the peaches from sticking to the baker’s sheet. They remove incredibly easily. You can also line it with parchment paper, but I have had issues with the parchment paper sticking to the frozen peaches. Then I had to manually peel off ripped pieces of parchment paper off of individually frozen peaches. Not so much fun. It’s a lot easier with silicone baking sheets.

Spacing Peaches for Flash Freezing: You will want to make sure your peaches are spaced well enough that they have room to fully freeze in individual pieces. You don’t want them to freeze to each other. It will ensure all the peaches freeze evenly, but it is also very helpful if you will be using the peaches for single-serving items like fruit smoothies, or as toppings to ice cream or yogurt. You are then able to just pull a few of the chunks out of the freezer and not have to defrost the entire bag to get your few peaches.

💭 FAQs

Please note: Every child is different, so it is important to use your own judgment when deciding which tasks are appropriate for your child. These are just suggestions, and you may need to adjust them based on your child’s individual abilities and needs. It is also important to remember that younger children will require more direct supervision than older children.

🥫 Other Food-Preserving Ideas

• How to Freeze Currants
• How to Freeze Rhubarb
• How to Freeze Raspberries
• How to Store Radishes to keep them Fresh and Crisp.
• How to Freeze Chicken Breasts
• Canned Peaches with Honey
• How to Can Peaches