Can you eat the peach skin? - The complete guide

If you live in an area where peaches are grown, every year you can smell the harvest in the air for a few weeks. Chances are, at the first whiff, you’ll dash to your local farmer’s market or grocery store and come home with a 7-12 pound box of this stone fruit.

Most of us instinctively bite into the fruit without any qualms, or peel it, according to what our parents taught us as children. We have never questioned it, we have only followed the tradition.

But just for the fact that you eat it or not regularly, you should ask yourself if you can eat the skin of the peach.

The happy answer is that yes, it is perfectly safe and even advisable to eat the skin of peaches. The only thing to remember is that peaches need to be washed before eating to remove any pesticides from the skin.

Throughout this article, we’ll explain exactly why you should eat the outside lightly peeled, as well as give you some tips to avoid it if you prefer that option.

Can you eat the skin of a peach?

When a fruit is hairy, your first instinct may be to assume you shouldn’t eat the skin, but it’s perfectly safe. Many peach lovers even think that the skin contributes to the unique flavor and texture of the peach, increasing the enjoyment of the fruit.

Peach skin is edible and can be safely eaten, although it is absolutely necessary to wash it first. Peaches are a very delicate fruit and are a crop that is regularly treated with pesticides to protect them.

Peach fuzz can pick up chemicals, so you’ll want to be sure to wash it thoroughly before biting into it.

Even if you buy organic fruit , wash the peaches first to remove bacteria, bugs, dust, and other debris that may have accumulated on the furry skin as well.

Is peach skin good for you?

There is a difference between whether you can eat the peach skin and whether you should eat the peach skin. Is peach skin good for you?

Yes, peach skin is really good for you . Most of the fiber in fruit is found in the skin, which helps your body process the sugars in the fruit pulp more efficiently, which means you won’t have as many insulin spikes and crashes. of sugar.

Many of the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants are also found in the skin of the fruit, so if you don’t eat it, you’re missing out on a good chunk of nutritional value.

Why do peaches have fuzz?

If peach fuzz is irritating to you, imagine how a little bug would react. The fuzz on a peach is a natural deterrent to many different insects and pests.

If they don’t want to step on the fruit, they are not likely to make it their home or lay their eggs in it.

Peach fuzz is also helpful in protecting the fruit against rot. The skin of a peach is very thin and is not as good a barrier as an apple or pear.

The fluff helps wick away moisture just like your favorite sports jersey. Since bacteria love moisture, letting the rain run off the fruit helps prevent bacteria from colonizing on the fruit.

However, it’s not a foolproof solution, and peaches tend to be short-lived, especially compared to fruits like apples and pears that we’ve mentioned above.

types of peaches

Depending on where you live, the type of peach you can get locally can vary.

Peaches are generally divided into clingstone peaches or freestone peaches, but can also be divided in terms of color, white vs. yellow.

Clingstone Peaches Vs. Freestone

As he himself suggests, clingstone peaches cling to the pit in the center of the fruit.

It can be much more difficult to remove the pit, and the area of the peach that is directly in contact with the pit tends to be a bit more fibrous and woody.

Freestone peaches, on the other hand, give up the pit quite easily.

If you like to have pretty slices, try finding freestone peaches.

If you’re going to bake your peaches or puree them in some way, clingstones are fine, but they can be a bit trickier to prepare.

White Peaches vs. Yellow Peaches

You might think that peaches aren’t exactly white or yellow. They are supposed to be peach, or pink.

White peaches tend to have lighter skin, and pink is much more muted and pastel in color.

Yellow peaches, on the other hand, develop a much darker pink, even red, hue to their skin, but there is almost always some yellow.

Inside the peach is where the real difference is noticed.

Yellow peaches have a deeper yellow flesh, which tends to be more tart or tart, although the riper the peach, the sweeter it will be.

White peaches have much lighter flesh and the characteristic sweet peach flavor develops earlier, so whether the peach is hard or soft with age, it will be sweet.

White peaches tend to be more delicate and bruise more easily than yellow ones. The differences in flavor are subtle, but white peaches are usually eaten fresh and raw, while yellow ones are prized for cooking or baking.

The best peach substitutes

If you can’t stand the touch of peach fuzz and don’t want to bother peeling the fruit before eating it, what’s the best peach substitute?

The best substitute for fresh fruit is nectarine. 

Peaches and nectarines are genetically almost the same fruit, but they have a very important difference in gene expression:

Peaches express a dominant gene that makes them hairy, while nectarines express the recessive gene that gives them a smooth outer skin.

Since nectarines do not have the protective fuzz, they are much more susceptible to damage. They are usually harvested when they are slightly smaller and denser, but otherwise they taste almost exactly the same as peaches.

You can easily substitute nectarines and peaches in recipes, and when eating them fresh, the only difference you’re likely to notice or care about is the fluff factor.

How to eat the peach fruit

You can eat peaches raw, straight from the tree, but you always want to wash them first to remove any bacteria, bugs, or pesticide residue.

Once cleaned, you can eat a peach much like you would an apple, although they are a bit juicier, so having a napkin nearby is handy.

You may find it easier to first use a sharp knife to trace a circle the length of the peach , starting at the top where the stem was. Turn each half in the opposite direction and the peach should split in half, like an avocado .

Freestone peaches give up the pit easily, allowing you to eat the peach in half or slice it. Clingstone peaches may require a few more slices to be cut before they give up the pit or you can just eat around it.

Of course, you can also cook or bake with your peaches or can or freeze them for off-season use.

How to wash a peach

If you pick a fresh peach from a tree, you’ll notice that it has a lot more fuzz than peaches sold in the supermarket. This is because manufacturers realize that the lint may be unappealing to some buyers, and they wash some of the lint away.

Peaches are delicate fruits, so care must be taken when washing them, although if you’re not very sensitive to fuzz, you can wash them long enough to remove most of the fuzz without damaging the fruit.

Always wash the peach just before eating it, not before. You want to prevent the peach from getting soggy if it is going to be stored, but you also want to make sure that you remove any possible bacteria or dirt that may be attached to the fruit.

Fill a bowl with cold water and add a small amount of white vinegar to the water. Vinegar has enough acetic acid to neutralize most bacteria.

Use your hands to gently rub the entire skin of the peach with the vinegar water.  This will remove most of the fuzz, but be careful not to rub or press the fruit too much, as you’ll break the skin and bruise the flesh.

Once the peach is clean, rinse it under cold water to remove the vinegar taste.

How to peel a peach

If you have peaches and are determined to peel them, whether for cooking and baking or to enjoy eating them fresh without the annoying peeling skin, it’s surprisingly easy to peel them if you know the trick.

You can use a knife or a vegetable peeler, but you will lose a lot of juice and it will be a messy process.

There is a much easier way.

The easiest way to remove the skin from peaches is to quickly heat them in boiling water, a process called blanching. You don’t want to cook them, just warm them enough for the skin to flake off.

How to Blanch Peaches to Remove the Skin

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil and have a large bowl of ice cold water ready next to the pot.
2. Using a sharp knife, cut the peaches in an X shape, starting at the stem and running the knife around the peach in two perpendicular cuts. Cut just the skin, not the pulp.
3. Add the peaches and leave them in the water for only 30 - 45 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, scoop them out and immediately put them in the ice bath.
4. After letting them cool for 15 - 30 seconds, take them out of the water and place them on a towel. Don’t let the peaches sit in the water too long, whether it’s hot or cold.
5. The shell should flake off in quarters where it has been scored with almost no effort.

For a visual version of these instructions, be sure to watch Kendra Lee’s video. It will show you exactly how to peel peaches using the blanching method.

Peach nutrition table

Frequently Asked Questions About Peaches

Peaches during pregnancy, are they safe?

This is a hot topic because in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine peaches are considered “hot” or “warm” foods and therefore should be avoided during pregnancy.

If you are following an alternative medicine protocol for your pregnancy, the best advice would be to talk to your nutritional advisor about what is right for you.

For most pregnant women, enjoying peaches during pregnancy is a surefire way to boost your iron and zinc intake, get a little boost of vitamins A and C, and even add some protein to your day for very little. calories.

As a fruit, the peach is a natural source of sugar, so if you’re craving a sweet treat, the peach is definitely a healthier alternative to candy bars.

Your digestive system can be more sensitive than usual when you’re pregnant, so it’s a good idea to eat peaches and all other fruits or new food groups in moderation to see how your system adjusts, which can change with each pregnancy.

Are Canned Peaches Good For You?

As with most canned goods, the answer to whether canned peaches are good for you is “it depends.” Some peaches are canned in syrup, which dramatically increases the sugar content compared to peaches that are canned in water. .

Some manufacturers also add various chemical ingredients that may or may not be healthy. There is also much debate about the possible toxicity of aluminum cans.

It is possible to can fresh peaches and retain the nutrition, but the quality of the fruit will largely depend on the canning process.

Can you eat the skin of the apricot?

Yes, the skin of the apricot can be eaten. It has a fuzzy texture similar to peaches, so if you don’t like the mouthfeel or it sticks to your teeth, you can peel it the same way you would peel a peach, as described above.

If you are baking with apricots, you can also remove the skin, as it will change the texture of your baked goods.

Can you eat the skin of nectarines?

Yes, the nectarine skin is completely safe and edible. It is a very thin skin and most people will enjoy the fruit with the skin on.

The skin of the nectarine tastes slightly more bitter than the flesh of the fruit and has a light texture, so you can peel the skin off before eating the fruit.

It comes off more easily if the fruit is at room temperature or warmed in the sun, rather than cold from the fridge.

Can dogs eat peach?

Yes, peaches are generally safe for dogs to eat, but, as with most foods you feed your furry family member, there are a few precautions you should take. First, and most obviously, remove the bone.

Dogs can not only choke on it, but it can also cause damage by going down and into their stomach if they eat a bone, so don’t let them get it.

Next, cut the peach into bite-sized pieces that are the right size for your dog. Dogs can get excited and you don’t want them to choke. Lastly, don’t give too much at one time.

Anything new in your dog’s diet can affect his digestive system in unique ways, so it’s best to start with small amounts to avoid the consequences of an upset stomach.