Preserving Peaches: Canning, Freezing, Jam or Salsa

Peaches are blanched to remove skins before preserving.
Rebecca Baxley, ©2019, Clemson University Extension

South Carolina-grown peaches provide vitamins A and C, are a good source of fiber, and are low in calories—35 calories per 2½” peach. There are many ways to preserve the goodness of peaches well past the harvest season. Examples include canning peaches, freezing them, making salsa, or making preserves. For more recipes, see the sources at the end of this tip.

Getting Ready to Preserve Peaches

• Choose ripe, mature peaches of ideal quality for eating fresh or cooking. Peaches should be firm or “give” slightly and should have a strong, sweet smell and a yellowish-golden background color.
• To peel, dip peaches in boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds until the skins loosen. Dip quickly in cold water and slip off the skins.
• Cut in half, remove pits, and slice, if desired.
• To prevent darkening, keep peeled peaches in an ascorbic acid solution (1 teaspoon or 3000 milligrams ascorbic acid or vitamin C per gallon of water), or use a commercial ascorbic acid mixture according to directions on the package. Drain when ready to process.

Canning Peaches (Halved or Sliced) Yields: Approximately 2 to 2½ pounds of peaches for a 1-quart jar.

Prepare and boil syrup, using ½ cup (very light), 1 cup (light), or 1¾ cup (medium) sugar per quart of water, depending on desired sweetness. Or pack peaches in water, apple juice, or white grape juice.

Hot Pack:

1. Place drained fruit in a large saucepan with syrup, water, or juice and bring to a boil.
2. Fill jars with hot fruit and cooking liquid, leaving ½-inch headspace.
3. Place halves in layers with the cut side down.
4. Adjust lids and process in a boiling-water canner: 20 minutes for pints, 25 minutes for quarts at altitudes up to 1,000 feet.

Raw Pack:

1. Fill hot jars with raw fruit, cut side down, and add hot water, juice, or syrup, leaving ½-inch headspace.
2. Adjust lids and process in a boiling water canner: 25 minutes for pints, 30 minutes for quarts at altitudes up to 1,000 feet.

Freezing Peaches (Sugar Pack):

1. Dissolve ¼ teaspoon ascorbic acid in 3 tablespoons cold water and add to each quart of peaches to slow darkening.
2. Add ⅔ cup sugar to each quart (1⅓ pounds) of prepared fruit.
3. Stir gently until sugar is dissolved or let stand 15 minutes. Place into containers.
4. Seal, label, and freeze.

Peach Jam (Yield: About 8 half-pint jars)

1. Sterilize canning jars by boiling them for 10 minutes.
2. Combine 2 quarts crushed, peeled peaches and ½ cup water; cook gently for 10 minutes.
3. Add 6 cups sugar; slowly bring to boiling, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves. Cook rapidly until thick, about 15 minutes; stir frequently to prevent sticking.
4. Pour hot jam into sterilized canning jars, leaving ¼–inch headspace.
5. Wipe jar rims and adjust lids.
6. Process jars in a boiling water bath canner for 5 minutes at altitudes up to 1,000 feet. Add 1 minute of processing time for each additional 1,000 feet.

Peach Jam with Added Pectin:

Make easy peach jam by buying your favorite pectin and following the manufacturer’s directions.

Peach Apple Salsa (Yield: About 7 pint-sized jars)

• 6 cups (2¼ pounds) chopped Roma tomatoes (about 3 pounds tomatoes)
• 2½ cups diced yellow onions (about 1 pound or 2 large)
• 2 cups chopped green bell peppers (about 1½ large peppers)
• 10 cups or 3½ pounds chopped hard, unripe peaches (about 9 medium peaches or 4½ pounds as purchased)
• 2 cups chopped Granny Smith apples (about 2 large apples)
• 4 tablespoons mixed pickling spice
• 1 tablespoon canning salt
• 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
• 3¾ cups (1¼ pound) packed light brown sugar
• 2¼ cups cider vinegar (5%)

1. Wash and rinse pint canning jars; keep hot until ready to use. Prepare lids.
2. Place pickling spice on a clean, double-layered, 6-inch-square piece of 100% cheesecloth. Bring corners together and tie them with a clean string.
3. Wash and peel tomatoes (place washed tomatoes in boiling water for 1 minute, immediately place in cold water, and slip off skins). Chop into ½-inch pieces. Peel, wash, and dice onions into ¼-inch pieces. Wash, core, and seed bell peppers; chop into ¼-inch pieces. Combine chopped tomatoes, onions, and peppers in an 8- or 10-quart Dutch oven or saucepot.
4. Wash, peel, and pit peaches; cut into halves and soak for 10 minutes in an ascorbic acid solution (1500 mg in half-gallon water). Wash, peel, and core apples; cut into halves and soak for 10 minutes in ascorbic acid solution. Quickly chop peaches and apples into ½-inch cubes to prevent browning. Add chopped peaches and apples to the saucepot with the vegetables.
5. Add the pickling spice bag to the saucepot; stir in the salt, red pepper flakes, brown sugar, and vinegar. Bring to boiling, stirring gently to mix ingredients. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the spice bag from the pan and discard.
6. With a slotted spoon, fill salsa solids into hot, clean pint jars, leaving 1¼-inch headspace (about ¾ pound solids in each jar). Cover with cooking liquid, leaving ½-inch headspace.
7. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace if needed. Wipe rims of jars with a dampened, clean paper towel; apply two-piece metal canning lids.
8. Process in a boiling water canner for 15 minutes at altitudes of up to 1000 feet, or for 20 minutes at 1,001 to 6000 feet.

Sources:

1. E.L. Andress and J.A. Harrison, Eds. 2006. So Easy To Preserve. Georgia Cooperative Extension/The University of Georgia.
2. Everything about Peaches http://www.clemson.edu/extension/peach/
3. HGIC 4253 Using and Storing Peaches
4. HGIC 3140 Preserving Peaches
5. How do I? … Can Salsa. Preparing and Canning Salsa. Peach Apple Salsa. National Center for Home Food Preservation http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_salsa/peach_apple_salsa.html
6. USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning. 2009. Can be downloaded from the National Center for Home Food Preservation at http://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html