Peaches would define summer. Sweet, juicy peaches are a summer staple we all deserve. How else can we endure the heat? A nice peach is ripe, but to an inexperienced sight, all peaches look the same.
Unless you live near an orchard, most of us buy peaches from the farmers market or grocery store, so we chose them ourselves. Learn the brown stem rule.
One of the finest peach ripening indicators is stem color. A green stem means the peach isn't ripe and won't be as tasty. A dark stem indicates a perfectly ripe peach.
Yes, this is simple. The color should be at the bottom of the stem where it emerges from the fruit. Is it green? Return the peach. Is the stem brown from top to bottom? The ideal peach is found.
When peaches have a smaller stem, check the surrounding hue. Seeing green? Not your peach. Additionally, check creases. Ripe peaches with strong, sweet flavors have wrinkles, especially around the stem.
Sweetness Depends on Peach Variety. Did you realize the US has over 300 peach varieties? Selecting the right peach requires distinguishing between yellow and white peaches. White peaches are sweeter and softer, excellent for sugary peach fans.
Enjoy them fresh or in a delightful drink. Donut peaches are sweet. Yellow variations are firmer and tangier. Peaches are excellent fresh and baked, as shown in this peach galette dish.
What if you unintentionally get unripe peaches? With patience, peaches continue to mature after being picked, so don't buy them too early.
Peaches will mature in a few days on the kitchen counter, not in the fridge. Closing the peaches in a brown paper bag speeds up the process. They normally ripen in two days. Find out how to choose the best peaches and keep them fresh.