Twice a year, John and I organize an organic, vegan dinner in our backyard for the whole neighborhood.
As you probably know, my family eats animal products, but we recognize the benefits of a vegan diet, and this is our way of showing appreciation for it.
On these occasions, I make numerous vegan dishes, and I hope it serves as inspiration and encouragement for anyone who is considering switching to such a dietary plan.
At the same time, I believe these vegan-themed parties of ours can battle negative vegan-related stereotypes and prejudice.
However, except for preparing vegan recipes, my hubby and I also offer organic, raw food.
Can you Eat Peach Skin?
This usually means we buy a lot of delicious fruit at the local market, wash it, and leave it for our guests to enjoy. Our neighbors, friends, and family are well-aware of this tradition, and they are all happy to participate.
A few months ago, a new family moved to our block, and we invited them to our last vegan dinner. They have a gorgeous 8 years old daughter Molly, and she had fun eating fruit and playing with other children.
However, when Molly reached for a peach, her mother came to me panicking. She wanted to know how I could let my guests each peach skin.
To be honest, I was a little surprised, but I explained my standpoint to her, and now I am sharing it with you too! 🙂
The Health Benefits of the Peach Skin
So, can you eat the peach skin?
My answer to Karren, Molly’s worried mother, was this: “Yes, but…”
I guess there is always a “but” when it comes to cooking and nutrition, nothing is straightforward.
So, yes, you can definitely eat the peach skin, but you need to wash it properly first.
Because of the natural fuzzy texture and a mildly tart flavor, some people prefer to peel the peach before they eat it. Also, there is a reason to be concerned about GMOs and the usage of various pesticides, coatings, and other chemicals on fruits.
Peaches are delicious and incredibly healthy. They are a potent antioxidants; they fight and prevent cancer and dangerous heart-related conditions. At the same time, they reduce inflammation, treat gut disorders, destroy candida fungus, and support healthy eyes.
I know that the saying goes, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but this might be applied to peaches as well. 😉
As long as you wash your fruit thoroughly, you are not in any kind of danger. People often think that peach’s hairy skin might irritate their gastrointestinal tract, but that’s just another myth.
In fact, if you peel the skin, you will end up affecting the fruit’s nutrient profile.
Peach skin is full of fibers, and it contains significant amounts of vitamins C and A. Peach’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties come mainly from its skin.
So, why would you deprive anyone, especially a developing child, of such an important and healthy part of the fruit?
You may avoid the fuzzy texture by selecting white peaches or nectarines, both of which have smooth skin.
Still, I feel it necessary to emphasize once more the need of giving the peaches a good scrub before eating them.
Once I told Karren that my hubby and I have a special technique for washing peaches, she calmed down and took a full bite of a fuzzy fruit herself. I will present our method step-by-step to you so you could be sure your fruit is clean and safe for eating.
Related: Learn How To Choose New Frozen Fruit Blender
How to Clean Peaches?
I suppose you already know how to wash peaches, and no one needs to teach you, but this is a foolproof way, so I’ll share it with you anyway.
Unfortunately, a rather large number of people got used to peeling peaches instead of cleaning them, so this guide might serve them well once they decide to try this fruit with its fuzzy, delicious skin on.
First, here’s the list of things you’ll need:
- Bowl,
- Kitchen towel (preferably) or paper towels,
- Soap,
- Tap water.
Instructions
- Start by removing all of the stems and leaves that are present on the peaches.
- Next, brush away any visible dirt using your hands.
- Once this is done, take the bowl and fill it with water. It is best that you do this in your kitchen sink so that you wouldn’t make an unnecessary mess. Add a small amount of soap into the water as the bowl fills.
- Once the bowl is filled and the water is foamy, place the peaches in it. Rub the surface of each fruit with your hands to remove the dirt and residue.
- After you’ve washed all of the peaches you plan on using, rinse them in cold running water.
- Use a kitchen towel or paper towels to dry the peaches. Make sure to perform this step gently. At last, place the peaches on a clean sheet and let them air dry.
Friendly warning
Make sure to use only your hands as you clean the peaches. Many people will recommend you to use a vegetable scrub brush to get all of the dirt off. However, when it comes to peaches, using this tool is unnecessary. This delicate fruit will bruise or peel under the brush’s impact, and you wouldn’t want that to happen.
Delicious Peach Skin Recipes
No matter how much I rattle about peach skin’s health benefits and the fact it is supposed to be eaten, there will always be a group of people who prefer to avoid it.
If you are a part of this group, that’s okay; I have a solution for you too.
Peach skin and its nutrients don’t have to go to waste. These two recipes will give you an opportunity to use the peeled peach skin and make something delicious out of it.
Let’s dive in!
1. Sweet Peach Peel Jelly
List of ingredients
- 4 qt. of peach peels and seeds
- 3 cups of sugar
- 1 package of dry pectin
Instructions
- Take a heavy pan and place four quarts of peach seeds and skins in it. Pour the water to cover them and bring the mixture to a boil. Simmer for the next 30 minutes.
- Leave the cooked peel, seed, and water mixture to stand overnight. In the morning, strain the liquid through a cheesecloth.
- Take a pan and put three cups of the peach liquid and one packet of pectin in it. Heat the mixture until it starts boiling, and add the sugar. Cook the juice until it starts dripping off the spoon. Make sure to discard the foam.
- Finally, pour the mixture you’ve made into sterilized jars to 1/2 inch from the top. Close the jars tightly and leave them in a water bath for five minutes.
I also have suggested pans for the recipe.
2. Unique Peach Skin Syrup
List of ingredients
- Peach peels and pits, leftover from canning
- Tap water
- Sugar
Instructions
- Place peach skins and pits into a pot and add just as much water as you need to keep it from burning. Set the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil. Then, turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer for 45 minutes.
- In the meantime, wash your jars and put them in the oven at the lowest temperature. They need to be hot to seal. Place the flats in a small saucepan, cover them with water, and bring it to a boil.
- Use a cheesecloth to drain the juice into a large measuring bowl. Make sure to keep the peels and pits out. Once you are done draining, don’t squeeze the leftovers because they will make your syrup cloudy.
- Determine how much juice you’ve made. Pour it into a clean pot, turn on the medium-high heat, and add twice as much sugar. Cook for 3-5 minutes, continually stirring until all of the sugar is dissolved. The syrup needs to be extremely hot for the next step.
- Place a towel on the counter next to your stove. Make sure to use an oven mitt and remove hot jars from the oven. Put a funnel into the jar and use a ladle or a measuring cup to scoop syrup in it. Once the jars are full, remove the hot flats from the boiling water using a fork and set them on the jars, and screw on the rings. Leave the syrup to stand for 12 hours. Once the jars are cool enough, check if they are adequately sealed. This syrup goes perfectly with German pancakes.
Conclusion
So, what did we learn today?
Peach skin is great! Healthy, delicious, and versatile, as long as you properly wash it.
Fortunately, you’ve learned how to do that too. 🙂
A few weeks after our vegan dinner party and my talk with Karren, the doorbell rang.
When I opened the door, young Molly came in with a jar of homemade peach skin jelly. I think we both grew and learnt from this experience, and we made a new buddy.
I pray you’ll follow Karren’s lead and fall in love with peach skin.