Find the most important etiquette rules on how to serve and eat peaches and tips to be the ideal host or the perfect guest at the dining table.

how to serve and eat peaches

What peach etiquette is

Peach etiquette is the set of rules to properly serve and eat peaches. Such rules help avoid behaviors that can disrespect hosts or guests, or make you look unpolite.

If you are hosting, follow peach etiquette to serve it to your guests appropriately.

If you are a guest, respect peach etiquette rules to properly eat and enjoy it.

What you should know about peaches

A peach is a fruit from the eponymous tree. China is the largest producer, accounting for 60% of the peaches in commerce. Other large producers are Italy, Spain, Greece, and Turkey.

There are hundreds of varieties. In general, peaches are round in shape, with soft, fuzzy, and velvety skin. The color of the skin ranges from yellow to deep orange or red. While their flesh is a pale yellow to bright orange. They have a juicy and fragrant texture, with a delicate and sweet flavor. Inside, peaches have a single large stone.

Etiquette tips to serve and eat peaches

1) How to store peaches

Store whole peaches out of the fridge if they are not ripe. Store them in a cool place. Away from sources of heat or direct light. Keep them there for 1 to 3 days, until they ripen.

Store ripe peaches in the fridge. Avoid placing them in a sealed container. Do not wrap them in plastic. They will last about 4 or 5 days. Sliced peaches can last up to 2 or 3 days.

In the freezer, peaches will last for 10 or 12 months.

2) How to clean peaches

It is a good hygiene norm to wash an uncut peach before eating it or slicing it. Even a quick wash decreases the risk of contamination from pesticides or other chemicals. 

Place the peaches in a bowl of water. Leave them there for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, wash them under running water. Dry them on a kitchen cloth.

3) How to prepare peaches 

Cut the peach in halves with a knife. Slice the fruit all around the stone. Follow the line of the dimple. Then, separate the two halves and remove the stone. Finally, remove the skin and slice the fruit into chunks.

Fresh peaches are perfect for making jam, sauces, or chutneys. Use them in fruit salads, tarts, crumbles, pies, or cheesecakes. You can add them on top of ice cream or mix them with yogurt and cereals. They are also a great ingredient for fresh juices, smoothies, or milkshakes. 

Squeeze fresh, sliced peaches with lemon juice to prevent them from turning dark. 

4) How to serve & present peaches

You can serve peaches for breakfast, a snack, or as a fruit course after a meal. 

If you serve them whole, do not remove the skin. Serve them washed, in a serving bowl. 

If you serve them in chunks, it is ideal to remove the skin. Present sliced peaches with a serving spoon. Alternatively, you can serve sliced peaches in small individual cups. You can accompany them with cream, whipped cream, yogurt, mascarpone, or ice cream. 

Serve peaches slightly chilled or at room temperature. Take them out of the fridge between 10 and 30 minutes before serving. 

5) Food and wine to pair peaches with

Peach aroma matches well with many flavors. Vanilla. Cinnamon. Basil. Caramel. Ginger. Mint. Honey.

You can combine peaches with savory food. Such as Prosciutto or poultry meat. Peaches can go well with fish or in a seafood cocktail. They are a great pairing for dairy. Kefir. Cream. Ice cream. Mascarpone. Yogurt.

Peaches go well in fruit salads. Combine them with citric fruits, such as lemon, lime, or orange. Berries such as blackberries, blueberries, or raspberries. Other stone fruits, like apricots, apples, plums, or cherries.

They pair well with nuts too. Such as almonds, pecans, pistachios, or hazelnuts.

Peaches pair well with sparkling wines. Such as Champagne or Prosecco. You can accompany them with spirits or liqueurs. Such as brandy, bourbon, rum, Cassis, Kirsch, or Grand Marnier.

6) How to eat peaches

When peaches are served whole, place one on your plate. Cut the peach in halves with a knife. Slice the fruit all around the kernel. Cut along its natural dimple. Then, separate the two halves and remove the kernel. You can discard the skin, or keep it and eat it. Eat the peach with a fork and a knife.

Eat a whole peach in bites only on very informal occasions. 

If the peaches are served in chunks, eat them with a small spoon or a fork. 

Peach etiquette: the worst mistakes

Avoid the worst peach etiquette mistakes. 

  • 8/10. Serving spoiled or overripe peaches.
  • 8/10. Serving unwashed peaches.
  • 7/10. Eating peaches in bites on formal occasions.
  • 7/10. Serving unripe peaches.

Additional information for properly serving peaches

How many calories per serving?

Counting calories is important to stay healthy and to correctly plan a menu.

Peaches contain 39 calories per 100 grams. A single raw peach weighs around 145 grams and contains around 57 calories.

How to buy the best peaches

A crucial factor in peach etiquette is to serve the best product possible to your guests.

Season and availability 

The season for peaches is from July to the end of September.

Choose the best

Ripe peaches should be yellow around their stem. The aroma should be delicate and fragrant. The skin should not be wrinkled or too soft. When you touch them, peaches should feel firm and yield just a slight give.

Alternatives to peaches

The best substitutes for peaches are nectarines or apricots. 

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