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Up until recently, I've had a tenuous relationship with fresh peaches. Before moving to North America, I'd only ever had canned peaches in the Philippines. So, as you can imagine, I was totally at a loss when I came across the crates of the fresh, plump, sunset-hued fruit in grocery stores. I never learned how to pick peaches, let alone know when they are at their prime.
I'd always assumed that the perfect peach was meant to look as close to the emoji as possible: a perfect seam down the middle, uniform "cheeks" with a pinkish color. I quickly discovered, though, that looks can definitely be deceiving when it comes to picking peaches. The first one I ever picked from the grocery store tasted like nothing, and I was extremely disappointed - so much so, that it deterred me from buying fresh peaches again.
But this year I am determined to make the most out of the glorious summer produce season. For this, I enlisted the help of New York fruit expert Tristan Kwong. As he tells me, there are several factors that go into selecting choice peaches. And there is one simple way to remember the proper technique: "You've got to treat it like a baby's head."
How to Pick the Best Peaches This Summer, According to a Fruit Expert
"If it smells good, and it's a little soft, you're good to go," Kwong explains. A lot of the taste of peaches is linked to their aroma, so it definitely is a big factor in choosing. And having a slight give is indicative of the fruit's texture. It shouldn't be mushy, nor should it be rock-solid.
"A good peach is juicy and tender," he tells me. So look for that balance when going through the selection at your local grocery store or farmers market. Of course, when sniffing and feeling out the fruit, you need to be gentle - not quite as gentle as you would be with a baby's head, but close enough.
Kwong emphasizes that, still, timing is the most important factor in getting the best of the best peaches. Although they should be good June through August, the true peak season - for New York and the East Coast - is during the first two weeks of July (so now!).
Testing the "Baby's Head" Rule
I put the "baby's head" peach rule to the test out in the real world. I was intimidated by the amount of the stone fruit currently in stock at my local fruit market, but I felt more confident armed with a fruit sommelier's advice. I picked up a few peaches, first looking for that sweet, almost floral scent at the top of the fruit, and then giving it an oh-so-gentle squeeze to see if it had the right amount of give.
Admittedly, the ones I ended up taking home were not the prettiest of the bunch, but I felt good about my picks. Lo and behold, my first taste of one of the peaches proved that this rule works! The peach was sweet and juicy, but also had a good bite to it.
I cut up a couple more peaches - with some from a different shop - to see if the trick actually worked and that I didn't just get lucky. And, sure enough, they tasted great; I had learned how to pick good peaches! This is definitely a tip that I'll be using for all summers to come.
What's your foolproof way to pick produce? Tell us about it in the comments.
