Summer is fleeting and so are its luscious stone fruits. But freezing nectarines will provide sun-drenched flavor when winter's dreary days arrive. It's easy to do with our handy tips.
How to Freeze and Store Nectarines
Updated on Mar. 14, 2023
It doesn’t take much effort to start freezing nectarines now and store them for later. For just a little work, your reward will be a blast of summer flavor in a fruit smoothie or one of our sweet nectarine desserts.
The ripe nectarines stashed in your freezer will be like gold come winter!
How to Freeze Nectarines
Step 1: Prep
Choose nectarines that are ripe (slightly soft) and free from blemishes or bruises. A ripe nectarine separates easily from the pit, making prep easy.
- Rinse the fruit—and don’t forget to remove labels. You may want to give your nectarines a baking soda bath.
- Remove the skin. Blanch the whole fruit by gently placing it in boiling water for 30 seconds (I like using a slotted spoon). Cool. Then slide off the skin.
Editor’s Tip: You may not need to remove the skin. It all depends on how you plan to use the fruit. Once frozen, nectarine skin becomes tough. For smoothies, this isn’t a big deal. For other uses, you’ll be glad you removed the skin.
Step 2: Slice the fruit
Can you freeze nectarines whole? Nope! When frozen, the pit becomes bitter and taints the flavor. Cut the nectarine in half and remove the pit.
Leave the fruit in halves, or cut it into slices. As you cut the nectarine, dip the pieces into a wash of lemon juice and water. (I mix 3 tablespoons of lemon juice into 1 quart of water.) This prevents the fresh-cut fruit from browning.
Step 3: Freeze
Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper. Place cut fruit on the sheet with space between each piece to prevent it from sticking together. Freeze until solid.
Step 4: Pack it up
Place the frozen fruit in zip-top bags, like these reusable freezer storage bags. Label each bag with the fruit name and date. Lay bags flat in the freezer. For extra tips, check out our handy guide for freezing food.
Editor’s Tip: Use your frozen fruit within three months for optimum flavor.
How to Use Frozen Nectarines
Frozen nectarines are perfect for smoothies, directly from the freezer, and work great in baked or cooked recipes. However, a frozen nectarine’s texture is different from fresh, once thawed. For this reason, they won’t do as well in fresh applications, such as a salad. But in January, a cobbler filled with summer’s finest fruit is nothing short of stellar!
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