Has a recipe ever asked you for peeled peaches? And you didn’t think twice about it until you were standing the kitchen, peach in hand, thinking “well crap!?“
Learn how to peel a peach in just a minute! It is super easy without cooking the peach. Perfect technique for sauces, salads, pies, cobblers, and salsas!
I’m here to help, my friend. Peeling peaches is not as hard as it may seem. It is actually pretty easy, but it does take a little longer than taking out a Y peeler for a carrot or zucchini. Can’t win them all and well worth a touch of extra effort.
Make sure to PIN How to Peel a Peach!
If you have ever peeled a tomato, it is basically the same process as that. Four easy steps: cut an “X” into the bottom, drop into a quick hot water bath, plunge into an ice bath, and then peel with ease.
In all honesty, boiling the water takes the most amount of time. You’ll be a peach peelin’ pro in no time at all! Here the easy, step-by-step instructions on how to peel a peach in a little more depth.
Fill a medium saucepan halfway with water, bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.
While you are waiting for that to do its thing, fill a medium mixing bowl with cold, cold water and some ice cubes.
Using a sharp paring knife, score an “X” at the bottom of each peach. These cuts should not go very deep.
When the water comes to a boil, drop 1-2 peaches into the saucepan. Putting more than 1 to 2 peaches in the water at a time will crowd them – not good – and will bring the temperature of the water down. Also, not good. Boil for 30-45 seconds.
A bit of background, the “X” you cut into the peach will serve as tabs later to help with the peeling process. The quick trip into the hot water will help to loosen the skin from the meat of the peach without cooking it.
Using tongs, remove the peaches and plunge into ice water. Allow them to sit for 1 minute before removing to a plate. Repeat this process for as many peaches as the recipe calls for.
Use your fingers or carefully use the edge of a paring knife to gently lift the skin away. It should come away easily. If not, plunge the peach back into the boiling water for 20 more seconds and repeat the ice bath.
Peaches will not be cooked, but kind of slimy. Easy to just pull the skin off.
Use peeled peaches in peach salsa, savory recipes that call for peaches like Peaches and Cream Sponge Cake, peach cobbler, Sparkling Peach Sangria or my Southern Peach Pie!
You can even hop over to our instructions on how to peel a tomato, where there is an easy to follow video shows the whole process! happy peach peeling!
Tools for peeling peaches:
Small Saucepan – Small saucepans are great for sauces, reheating and peeling just a couple of peaches!
Paring Knife – Every kitchen needs a good paring knife. You don’t think you need one… until ya do!
How to Peel a Peach
Ingredients
- 6 peaches
Instructions
- Fill a medium saucepan halfway with water, bring to a boil.
- While waiting for the water to boil, fill a medium mixing bowl with cold water and few ice cubes.
- Using a sharp paring knife, score an “X” in the bottom of each peach.
- When the water comes to a boil, drop 1-2 peaches into the saucepan. Before careful to not crowd the pot. Boil for 30-45 seconds.
- Using tongs, remove and plunge into ice water. Allow to sit for 1 minutes before removing to a plate.
- Skin should easily peel off the peach. If not, plunge back into the boiling water for 20 more seconds.
- Peaches will not be cooked, but kind of slimy. Easy to just pull the skin off.
- If you’ve tried out method, come back and let us know how it worked out for you!
Love how you explain it. Will be using this method every time. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Worked like a charm! Thank you so much!
Wow – thanks for this peach peeling tutorial! It made it super simple and quick for me!
So helpful! We always get so many peaches at the end of the summer.
I had no idea boiling was the trick to peeling a peach so effortlessly! Thanks for the detailed tips and technique! xoxo