Tips

Should I choose big or small peaches when buying to get sweet and juicy fruit?

It's peach season, discover this secret to choose the tastiest peaches.

23 January, 2024

158

Summer is the peak season for harvesting delicious peaches, with peach stands offering a wide variety of sizes, colors, and types flooding the market. Choosing a sweet, juicy, and ripe peach can be confusing for many consumers. With countless types of peaches available, people often wonder whether they should choose peaches with pointed tips or round tips. Each type of peach has its own distinct characteristics that can help you make an informed decision.

Firstly, it is important to understand that the appearance of a peach does not completely determine its quality. However, it provides valuable information.

5 Things to Consider When Choosing Delicious Peaches

1. Look at the color

When buying peaches, most people prefer visually appealing and bright-colored fruits. Ripe peaches are typically a uniform shade of reddish-pink. Naturally ripe peaches may have uneven patches of red and yellow. The color of the peach should be vibrant, with no spots, blemishes, or wrinkles. The stem should have a light brownish-green color. Avoid choosing peaches that are uniformly red and visually appealing, as they may have been treated with ripening agents.

Many peaches have a white and green bottom, and that is normal.

Whether you are buying peaches with pointed or round tips, the general rule is to look for smooth and crack-free skins. Additionally, look for peaches with even and smooth skin.

Choose peaches that are still attached to the stem, as it indicates freshness.

2. Look at the stem

You can assess the freshness and ripeness of a peach by looking at its stem. If the area around the stem is greener, the fruit is less ripe. If this area is reddish or orange, it indicates that the peach is fully ripe and sweet.

Choose peaches that still have part of the stem attached, as it shows that they are fresh. Peaches that have fallen off the stem are usually either overripe or have been harvested for a long time and may not be as fresh as other fruits.

3. Smell the peach

Ripe peaches have a distinct sweet aroma. When you hold a peach close to your nose, if it emits a sweet, fragrant smell, it indicates that it is a delicious peach.

4. Feel the peach

A ripe and fresh peach should not be too firm or too soft, and the flesh should have some elasticity when pressed. A slightly firm peach with good elasticity is a delicious peach, while a peach that is too firm is not yet ripe, and a peach that is too soft should be avoided.

In addition, many people dislike peaches with fuzzy skin, so they often choose smoother peaches. However, this is a misconception because fresh peaches usually have fuzzy skin, and this fuzzy layer protects the fruit’s freshness and juiciness.

The white fuzz on the peach indicates it was recently picked from the tree.

Fuzz on peaches that have been harvested for some time will either be very thin or almost nonexistent. Therefore, you can assess whether the peaches were harvested a long time ago or are still fresh based on the fuzz on the skin.

5. Weight of the peach

The weight of the peach is also an important criterion when choosing to purchase. In general, a ripe peach will be heavier, while a lightweight peach may not be ripe or may be mushy. For example, if two peaches are of similar size, the heavier one will contain more juice and have a sweeter and juicier taste. Therefore, choose heavier peaches to ensure freshness and ripeness.

Should you choose peaches with pointed or round tips?

If you want to enjoy a peach with a rich and sweet flavor, peaches with pointed tips are an excellent choice. Pointed-tip peaches tend to have a strong and juicy taste because they typically grow high on the tree, where they receive more sunlight and nutrients. This makes them juicier and sweeter.

Pointed-tip peaches have a crisp texture, while round-tip peaches have a smooth and soft texture.

However, if you are interested in a delicate and sweet flavor with a soft texture, round-tip peaches are the top choice. Round-tip peaches have relatively smooth and soft flesh. Compared to pointed-tip peaches, round-tip peaches grow lower on the tree, receiving less sunlight and nutrients. As a result, they may not have as bold a flavor as pointed-tip peaches, but their texture is more delicate.

Although peaches are available year-round due to imports, the summer is when a large quantity of peaches is ripe and readily available. It is also the time when peaches have a fragrant and delicious taste and are relatively inexpensive.

Guide to preserving fresh and delicious peaches

During the peach season, many people buy peaches to make peach tea or preserve them. However, if they are not stored properly, the peaches can become less fresh, soft, or even spoiled. Therefore, preserving peaches requires skill, and they should not be placed directly in the refrigerator.

Wrap each peach tightly with paper and then wrap them again with plastic wrap. While wrapping, try to remove excess air from inside the wrapping to create a relatively vacuum-sealed environment for the peaches. Use paper towels because they have good moisture-absorbing properties, which can keep the peaches dry and separate them from oxygen, allowing them to stay fresh for longer.

Before wrapping the peaches, do not wash them and remove any damaged, soft, or cracked fruits. Do not remove the peach fuzz on the skin. After wrapping with plastic wrap, place the peaches in a bag, seal it tightly, and then store it in the refrigerator’s cool compartment. By doing so, the peaches will stay fresh for a longer period while maintaining their delicious taste.

Guide on how to clean peaches

Many people are allergic to the white fuzz on the peach skin, which can cause itching or sneezing. Before eating, it is important to wash the peaches properly.

Add an appropriate amount of water to a basin and rinse the peaches normally, then discard the initial water. Add some flour or cornstarch to the water, and use this mixture to scrub the peaches. Then, add salt to the water and rinse the peaches again to ensure they are clean.