peeled peaches   Credit: Casey Barber

While biting into a fresh, ripe peach is one of the great pleasures of summer, there are lots of other moments when you might prefer a peeled peach. For pies and cobblers, jams and other canned goodies or smoothies, you might not want any of the fuzzy skin on your peach slices. Luckily, there’s an easy way to peel peaches that doesn’t require any special knife skills. The best way to peel peaches is to use both boiling and freezing water to remove the skin, and it’s shockingly easy. Even better, you can peel a whole peck of peaches this way. Step by step, here’s how to peel peaches. How to Blanch & Peel Peaches The easiest way to peel peaches is by blanching them briefly in boiling water, then quickly chilling them in an ice bath to separate the skin from the peach. scoring peaches with a paring knife Credit: Casey Barber Step 1 Bring a large pot of water to a boil and have a large bowl of ice water at the ready next to the stove. While waiting for the water to come to a boil, use a paring knife to lightly score the bottom of each peach (not the stem end) with an X. blanching peaches Credit: Casey Barber Step 2 Carefully submerge the peaches in the boiling water just until the edges of the X start to loosen. Ripe peaches will be ready in 20-30 seconds; firmer peaches may need up to 1 minute until the edges start to peel back. Pulling peaches out of water with spider Credit: Casey Barber Step 3 Use a strainer, slotted spoon or tongs to transfer the peaches to the ice bath. peaches in ice bath in bowl Credit: Casey Barber Step 4 Let the peaches cool in the ice bath for 5 minutes. peeling skin off peaches Credit: Casey Barber Step 5 Gently pat the peaches dry with a kitchen towel, then peel the skins off the peaches with your fingers. How to Peel Peaches with a Peeler For firm or slightly underripe peaches, you can use a sharp vegetable peeler. peeling peaches with vegetable peeler Credit: Casey Barber Step 1 Make wide strokes from the stem to the bottom of the peach to remove the skin. How to Pit and Slice Peeled Peaches Once your peach is peeled, use a paring knife to slice all the way around the fruit. The peach will be slippery, so be careful. halving peeled peaches with paring knife Credit: Casey Barber Step 1 Carefully cut the peach to remove the pit. halving peeled peaches Credit: Casey Barber Step 2 Gently twist the peach in half to separate, then remove the pit with your fingers or the paring knife. Slice the peach and use any way you please. For more on peaches, learn how to store peaches.

peeled peaches   Credit: Casey Barber

peeled peaches Credit: Casey Barber

peeled peaches

Credit: Casey Barber

While biting into a fresh, ripe peach is one of the great pleasures of summer, there are lots of other moments when you might prefer a peeled peach. For pies and cobblers, jams and other canned goodies or smoothies, you might not want any of the fuzzy skin on your peach slices. Luckily, there’s an easy way to peel peaches that doesn’t require any special knife skills. The best way to peel peaches is to use both boiling and freezing water to remove the skin, and it’s shockingly easy. Even better, you can peel a whole peck of peaches this way. Step by step, here’s how to peel peaches.

How to Blanch & Peel Peaches

The easiest way to peel peaches is by blanching them briefly in boiling water, then quickly chilling them in an ice bath to separate the skin from the peach.

     scoring peaches with a paring knife     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 1   Bring a large pot of water to a boil and have a large bowl of ice water at the ready next to the stove. While waiting for the water to come to a boil, use a paring knife to lightly score the bottom of each peach (not the stem end) with an X.             blanching peaches     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 2   Carefully submerge the peaches in the boiling water just until the edges of the X start to loosen. Ripe peaches will be ready in 20-30 seconds; firmer peaches may need up to 1 minute until the edges start to peel back.            Pulling peaches out of water with spider     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 3   Use a strainer, slotted spoon or tongs to transfer the peaches to the ice bath.            peaches in ice bath in bowl     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 4   Let the peaches cool in the ice bath for 5 minutes.               peeling skin off peaches     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 5   Gently pat the peaches dry with a kitchen towel, then peel the skins off the peaches with your fingers.

How to Peel Peaches with a Peeler

For firm or slightly underripe peaches, you can use a sharp vegetable peeler.

     peeling peaches with vegetable peeler     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 1   Make wide strokes from the stem to the bottom of the peach to remove the skin.

How to Pit and Slice Peeled Peaches

Once your peach is peeled, use a paring knife to slice all the way around the fruit. The peach will be slippery, so be careful.

     halving peeled peaches with paring knife     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 1   Carefully cut the peach to remove the pit.              halving peeled peaches     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 2   Gently twist the peach in half to separate, then remove the pit with your fingers or the paring knife.

Slice the peach and use any way you please. For more on peaches, learn how to store peaches.

    scoring peaches with a paring knife     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 1   Bring a large pot of water to a boil and have a large bowl of ice water at the ready next to the stove. While waiting for the water to come to a boil, use a paring knife to lightly score the bottom of each peach (not the stem end) with an X.   

    blanching peaches     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 2   Carefully submerge the peaches in the boiling water just until the edges of the X start to loosen. Ripe peaches will be ready in 20-30 seconds; firmer peaches may need up to 1 minute until the edges start to peel back.   

    Pulling peaches out of water with spider     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 3   Use a strainer, slotted spoon or tongs to transfer the peaches to the ice bath.   

    peaches in ice bath in bowl     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 4   Let the peaches cool in the ice bath for 5 minutes.   

    peeling skin off peaches     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 5   Gently pat the peaches dry with a kitchen towel, then peel the skins off the peaches with your fingers.   

  scoring peaches with a paring knife     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 1   Bring a large pot of water to a boil and have a large bowl of ice water at the ready next to the stove. While waiting for the water to come to a boil, use a paring knife to lightly score the bottom of each peach (not the stem end) with an X.  

 scoring peaches with a paring knife     Credit: Casey Barber

Step 1

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and have a large bowl of ice water at the ready next to the stove. While waiting for the water to come to a boil, use a paring knife to lightly score the bottom of each peach (not the stem end) with an X.

scoring peaches with a paring knife     Credit: Casey Barber

scoring peaches with a paring knife

Credit: Casey Barber

scoring peaches with a paring knife

Step 1

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and have a large bowl of ice water at the ready next to the stove.

While waiting for the water to come to a boil, use a paring knife to lightly score the bottom of each peach (not the stem end) with an X.

  blanching peaches     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 2   Carefully submerge the peaches in the boiling water just until the edges of the X start to loosen. Ripe peaches will be ready in 20-30 seconds; firmer peaches may need up to 1 minute until the edges start to peel back.  

 blanching peaches     Credit: Casey Barber

Step 2

Carefully submerge the peaches in the boiling water just until the edges of the X start to loosen. Ripe peaches will be ready in 20-30 seconds; firmer peaches may need up to 1 minute until the edges start to peel back.

blanching peaches     Credit: Casey Barber

blanching peaches

blanching peaches

Step 2

Carefully submerge the peaches in the boiling water just until the edges of the X start to loosen. Ripe peaches will be ready in 20-30 seconds; firmer peaches may need up to 1 minute until the edges start to peel back.

  Pulling peaches out of water with spider     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 3   Use a strainer, slotted spoon or tongs to transfer the peaches to the ice bath.  

 Pulling peaches out of water with spider     Credit: Casey Barber

Step 3

Use a strainer, slotted spoon or tongs to transfer the peaches to the ice bath.

Pulling peaches out of water with spider     Credit: Casey Barber

Pulling peaches out of water with spider

Pulling peaches out of water with spider

Step 3

Use a strainer, slotted spoon or tongs to transfer the peaches to the ice bath.

  peaches in ice bath in bowl     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 4   Let the peaches cool in the ice bath for 5 minutes.  

 peaches in ice bath in bowl     Credit: Casey Barber

Step 4

Let the peaches cool in the ice bath for 5 minutes.

peaches in ice bath in bowl     Credit: Casey Barber

peaches in ice bath in bowl

peaches in ice bath in bowl

Step 4

Let the peaches cool in the ice bath for 5 minutes.

  peeling skin off peaches     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 5   Gently pat the peaches dry with a kitchen towel, then peel the skins off the peaches with your fingers.  

 peeling skin off peaches     Credit: Casey Barber

Step 5

Gently pat the peaches dry with a kitchen towel, then peel the skins off the peaches with your fingers.

peeling skin off peaches     Credit: Casey Barber

peeling skin off peaches

peeling skin off peaches

Step 5

Gently pat the peaches dry with a kitchen towel, then peel the skins off the peaches with your fingers.

    peeling peaches with vegetable peeler     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 1   Make wide strokes from the stem to the bottom of the peach to remove the skin.   

  peeling peaches with vegetable peeler     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 1   Make wide strokes from the stem to the bottom of the peach to remove the skin.  

 peeling peaches with vegetable peeler     Credit: Casey Barber

Make wide strokes from the stem to the bottom of the peach to remove the skin.

peeling peaches with vegetable peeler     Credit: Casey Barber

peeling peaches with vegetable peeler

peeling peaches with vegetable peeler

Make wide strokes from the stem to the bottom of the peach to remove the skin.

    halving peeled peaches with paring knife     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 1   Carefully cut the peach to remove the pit.   

    halving peeled peaches     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 2   Gently twist the peach in half to separate, then remove the pit with your fingers or the paring knife.   

  halving peeled peaches with paring knife     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 1   Carefully cut the peach to remove the pit.  

 halving peeled peaches with paring knife     Credit: Casey Barber

Carefully cut the peach to remove the pit.

halving peeled peaches with paring knife     Credit: Casey Barber

halving peeled peaches with paring knife

halving peeled peaches with paring knife

Carefully cut the peach to remove the pit.

  halving peeled peaches     Credit: Casey Barber      Step 2   Gently twist the peach in half to separate, then remove the pit with your fingers or the paring knife.  

 halving peeled peaches     Credit: Casey Barber

Gently twist the peach in half to separate, then remove the pit with your fingers or the paring knife.

halving peeled peaches     Credit: Casey Barber

halving peeled peaches

halving peeled peaches

Gently twist the peach in half to separate, then remove the pit with your fingers or the paring knife.