Smell Peaches When Checking For Ripeness

Here are some tips on how to pick, ripen and keep peaches to perfection:

Smell each peach first. Since peaches are a member of the rose family, they’ll give off a sweet, fruity aroma when ripe and ready.

A reddish hue, or “blush,” isn’t a sign of ripeness; it’s a sign of the variety. Instead, look at the undercolor, which should be creamy gold or yellow, not green.

The perfectly developed peach will have a crease running from stem to point.

Peaches should be soft, but not mushy. You may buy firm peaches and allow them to ripen. To ripen a firm peach, place it on the counter for about a day or two. Always refrigerate ripe peaches. Once ripe, they’ll keep for only about a week.

To peel a peach, blanch it in boiling water for 30 seconds; run under cold water, and the peel comes off easily. To keep sliced peaches from darkening, squeeze on some lemon juice.