How to Ripen Peaches: 3 Tips for Ripening Peaches

There are two major methods for ripening peaches, each depending on their current level of ripeness. Peaches that are on the cusp of ripening can be placed in direct sunlight (like on a windowsill) on their shoulders, which is the part near the stem. They will ripen within a day or two. It’s best to use the paper bag method for peaches that take slightly longer to ripen. Here is how to ripen peaches in a paper bag.

1. 1. Arrange the peaches in a paper bag. Similar to ripening an avocado, the fastest way to ripen your fresh peaches is by using a brown paper bag. Arrange the peaches on their shoulders in a single layer inside of the bag, keeping a bit of space between the fruits.
2. 2. Close the bag. Loosely roll down the top of the bag to trap in the ethylene gas and encourage ripening. Leave the bag on the kitchen counter at room temperature, and be sure to check on it after 24 hours to make sure the fruit isn’t overripe. Avoid moving the bag around to keep the peaches adequately spaced apart.
3. 3. Add another fruit. Adding another fruit to the bag like apples or bananas will help produce more ethylene gas to speed up the ripening process.

The bright red color of peaches you see in the grocery store can be misleading. Just because a peach is bright red doesn’t mean that it is ripe. There are a few simple ways to know if your peaches are ripe.

1. 1. Give them a light squeeze. Much like other summertime stone fruits like plums, nectarines, and apricots, you can test a peach for ripeness by pushing gently near the stem. Soft skin with some give means that a peach is ready to be eaten or used in your favorite fresh peach recipe. A mealy, overripe peach will feel too squishy in your hands. Conversely, rock-hard peaches mean the fruit is still underripe, and will not be as flavorful.
2. 2. Feel their weight. A ripened peach is filled with more juices than an unripened peach. If you’re trying to decide between two peaches, pick them both up and feel their weight in your hands. A ripe, juicy peach will feel slightly heavier and denser than an unripe peach.
3. 3. Look at the color. When checking the color of a peach, look for the yellow undertones rather than the bright red highlights. The yellow base color should be saturated or golden, not pale or white (however, white peaches will have a creamier-looking base). Green peaches mean the fruit is underripe.
4. 4. Smell near the stem. A ripened peach will have a pleasant, peachy aroma. Smell your peach near the shoulders. If it has a sweet, fragrant smell, it’s ready to eat.

A peach is a versatile fruit that complements both sweet and savory dishes. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your peaches.

1. 1. Pick peaches while they’re in season. In the United States, the peach season lasts from mid-spring to fall. Summer is the peak peach season.
2. 2. Make them into a chutney. Chop up your fresh peaches and mix them with apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and other spices to make a delicious peach chutney. You can use fresh or frozen peaches for this and store them in your fridge for a few months.
3. 3. Make them into a dessert. Fresh peaches can be used for peach pie or peach cobbler, or turned into ice cream or syrup. Follow your favorite peach recipe to make use of your freshly plucked peaches.
4. 4. Can them. If you have more ripened peaches than you know what to do with, you can preserve them by canning them in a syrupy mixture or turning them into preserves.
5. 5. Refrigerate them. Store peaches by placing them in the refrigerator once they’ve reached peak ripeness. This will halt the ripening process, keeping your peaches in perfect eating shape for longer.
6. 6. Freeze them. Freezing peaches is a simple way to have access to ripened peaches all year round. Cut your peaches into slices, soak in lemon juice, then place in a plastic bag and transfer to the freezer to prep your fresh peaches for later use.

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