FRESH PEACHES
When Picking, handle fruit carefully
because peaches bruise very easily and decay develops rapidly.
When Selecting, look for peaches with a
creamy to gold undercolor that best indicates ripeness. The amount of red blush
on fruit depends on the variety and is not always a sign of ripeness. Two other
indicators of ripeness are a well-defined crease and a good fragrance. Select
fruit that has begun to soften for immediate use. Firm, ripe fruit can be held
a few days at room temperature to ripen further. Never pick peaches with a
green undercolor since they will not ripen well. They will shrivel, become
flabby and never achieve a good flavor.
When Storing, peaches should be held
at 32-35°F in high humidity. Fully ripened peaches should be refrigerated
immediately and kept there until ready for consumption. Sound and mature, but
not overripe, peaches can be expected to hold 1-2 weeks at 32-35° F with little
adverse effects. Peaches deteriorate rapidly when stored for longer periods.
When Ripening, a room temperature of
65-70°F is best for mature peaches. There is no gain in sugar content once a
peach is picked from a tree. Its ripening process consists primarily of
softening, developing juiciness, and developing flavor. So the riper a peach is
at harvest, the more sugar it will contain. Remember, once a mature peach
begins to ripen, it never stops; but you can slow the rate of ripening by
storing it in low temperatures.
When Preparing, wash peaches gently,
peel, and remove pits. Handle carefully to avoid bruising. To peel a peach, dip
it in boiling water for 30 seconds, then in cold water. The peel should slide
off easily. To keep sliced peaches from darkening, dip in lemon juice or
ascorbic acid.
NUTRITIONAL VALUE
A medium-sized fresh peach is full of
vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C, riboflavin, and beta
carotene. Peaches are also low in calories, fat-free, sodium-free, and
cholesterol-free.
|
Serving
Size 1 Medium Peach |
|
|
Calories |
40 |
|
Protein |
0.6g |
|
Carbohydrates |
10g |
|
Fat |
0g |
|
Cholesterol |
0mg |
|
Sodium |
0mg |
|
Dietary Fiber |
1.5g |
|
Vitamin A |
47RE |