Here’s a completely tutorial on how to preserve fresh summer peaches at home so that you can enjoy them year round!

How to preserve peaches | completelydelicious.com

Canned peaches were a staple in my house growing up and I have fond memories of my mother putting up the peaches every fall.

Looking back, I remember the canning process consuming the kitchen and I translated that into an assumption that it must be difficult. Messy? Yes. Difficult? Not at all! And the reward is seasonal fruit that can be enjoyed all year long, well worth the small price in my opinion.

In this post I’m going to walk you through the steps and prove to you just how easy and doable it is. If you’ve got access to fresh peaches and a large pot, you’re halfway there.

How to preserve peaches | completelydelicious.com

How to can peaches, Step by Step

Step 1: You start with fresh, ripe peaches. You don’t want them to be rock hard, and you also don’t want them overripe and mushy. They should be ripe, but firm.

How to preserve peaches | completelydelicious.com

Step 2: Use a small knife to carve an X into the bottom of the peaches. This will help you peel them later.

How to preserve peaches | completelydelicious.com

Step 3: Dip (or “blanch”) the peaches, working with a few at a time, into a large pot of boiling water. Count to 30 and remove them promptly. This cooks the peels and very outer layer of flesh, which helps the peels to slip right off.

How to preserve peaches | completelydelicious.com

Step 4: Dunk (or “shock”) them in a large bowl of ice water to immediately stop the cooking process. Repeat the “blanch” and “shock” steps with all of the peaches.

How to preserve peaches | completelydelicious.com

Step 5: Take each peach individually and use your finger to rub at one corner created by the X. The peels should come off easily, but a small knife may be necessary for any stubborn peels.

Place the peeled peaches in a bowl filled an anti-browning solution of water and lemon juice (see recipe below for amounts).

How to preserve peaches | completelydelicious.com

Step 6: Slice the peaches and remove pits. You may also want to scrape out the inner red flesh as it will brown over time and become unsightly. Keep the peaches in the anti-browning solution whenever you’re not working with them.

How to preserve peaches | completelydelicious.com

Step 7: To make the syrup that the peaches will be preserved with, combine the water and sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sometime I add a vanilla bean or vanilla extract for extra flavor, but that’s completely optional.

How to preserve peaches | completelydelicious.com

Step 8: Remove the peaches from the anti-browning solution and place them in the syrup. Bring it all to a boil. Then, ladle and pack the peach slices into sterilized pint jars and cover with the syrup.

Step 9: Place lids and rings on each jar and process in a water bath for 20 minutes. Let cool and test seals before storing in a cool, dry place.

How to preserve peaches | completelydelicious.com

How to Store Canned Peaches

Jars should be stored in a clean dry place away from direct sunlight. Temperatures should ideally be between 50° and 70°F.

How long do canned peaches last?

If properly preserved and stored, canned peaches should last for 1-2 years.

If you see signs of mold, discoloration on the peaches, or if the jars show signs of leaking or rust, your peaches have likely gone bad and they should be thrown out.

Need more Canning Help?

For lots more info on canning and preserving, check out my posts for home canning tips and resources and my favorite canning tools.

How to preserve peaches | completelydelicious.com

Shop tools for this recipe

How to Can Peaches
5 from 4 reviews

How to Can Peaches

Servings: 5 pint jars
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Here's a completely tutorial on how to preserve fresh summer peaches at home so that you can enjoy them year round!

Ingredients
 

  • 4 lbs peaches (1.8 kg)
  • 1 tablespoon bottled lemon juice
  • 2 cups granulated sugar (400 grams)
  • 1 quart water (950 ml)
  • 1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • With a paring knife, slice a shallow "x" into the bottom of each peach. Fill a large bowl with cold water and ice.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Drop a few peaches into the boiling water for 30 seconds. Use a slotted spoon to remove the peaches from the water and immediately place them in the ice water. Repeat with the remaining peaches.
  • Fill another large bowl with water and add the lemon juice.
  • Starting with the corners of the "x" on the bottom of the peaches, use your fingers to peel the skin off. Place the peeled peaches in the lemon water to prevent them from browning.
  • Slice the peaches and discard the pits. If desired, scrape the red flesh from the cavities (as it browns over time). Return the peaches to the lemon water while you prepare the syrup.
  • In a large saucepan, combine the quart of water and 2 cups of sugar over medium heat and stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the vanilla bean, if using. Add the sliced peaches and bring to a boil, then turn off the heat.
  • Place the sliced peaches in sterilized jars, packing them fairly tightly. Pour the hot syrup over the peaches into the jars, leaving 1/2 inch head space. Discard vanilla bean. Wipe the tops of the jars clean and cover with lids.
  • Process jars in a large pot of boiling water for 20 minutes, making sure the jars are completely covered with water the entire time.
  • Let cool completely. Then store in a cool dry place and consume within a year.

Notes

Guidance for this post provided by Joy of Cooking: All About Canning & Preserving.
Calories: 451kcal, Carbohydrates: 115g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 10mg, Potassium: 689mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 110g, Vitamin A: 1183IU, Vitamin C: 24mg, Calcium: 27mg, Iron: 1mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Snack
Author: Annalise
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