Home Canned Spiced Peaches (My Grandma's Recipe) - Mirlandra's Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What spices are good with peaches? ›

Spices and Herbs

Ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, clove and nutmeg give warmth and gentle spice to peaches, while herbs like basil, tarragon, thyme and rosemary add earthy notes to peach desserts.

How long? When you are finished canning peaches, be sure to store them properly. They will store for 12-18 months (at best quality), and are often safe eating even longer after that.

Firm fruit has less air trapped in it than soft, ripe fruit. It also absorbs less liquid during the canning process. You may see a little fruit float when you take the jars out of the canner; do not despair. Over time as the fruit absorbs the sugar syrup, the fruit will sink in the jar.

Sugar and spice help make peaches nice!

If your peaches are not super juicy, tossing them with sugar will help draw out the liquid and make them seem juicier. And spices like cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, Aleppo pepper or even black pepper all pair really nicely with peaches and can jazz up the flavor nicely.

Peach flavor affinities: Almonds, hazelnuts, pecans; apricots, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, red currants, plums, citrus fruits (lemon, lime, orange); basil, cinnamon basil, Mexican tarragon; cinnamon, cloves, ginger, vanilla; brown sugar, caramel, honey, maple syrup; bourbon, brandy, Cassis, ...

Mix 3 tablespoons of lemon juice in each quart of cold water. (You can also use 1/4 teaspoon crystalline citric acid instead of lemon juice.) Dip the prepared fruit in the solution and let sit for 1 to 2 minutes. Drain and pack with water, sugar, syrup or fruit juice.

Yellow peaches are acidic enough on their own that you don't need to add more acidity with lemon juice or citric acid to safely can them. However, you'll want to use either lemon juice or Ball® Fruit Fresh to treat the peaches before canning to prevent browning.

So, should you rinse your canned fruit? Absolutely. It will help lower the sugar content more than not rinsing at all. But ultimately, if you are watching your sugar intake, the better option is to opt for fruit packed in light syrup, just juice or water, labeled with no added sugar, or fresh and frozen varieties.

Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the 'best by' date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor.

The longest-lasting will be oil-filled (e.g. sardines). Vegetables packed in a salt solution might begin to see electrolysis with hydrogen production after some years, later than the acid foods, but still possible. Much depends upon the specific food, canning quality, and storage condition.

Why do my canned peaches taste sour? ›

There are a group of harmless organisms called thermophiles which can survive canning. This results in the defect knows as “flat-sour,” a harmless, but very undesirable flavor.

By preserving your peach slices—or halves or whole fruits, if you like—in water or syrup, you can keep them frozen for up to 10 months. Wash, peel, and remove pits from peaches. Place peaches into a freezer-safe container, leaving at least 1/2 inch of headspace. Pour water or syrup over the peaches to cover.

Fermentation, gas formed in jar—seal may be broken. Bubbles usually apparent and there may be a cheesy, alcoholic odor. Yeast.

Thankfully, with so many varieties that can be grown in a number of regions through the U.S., you can get fresh-picked fruit for much of the year. But summer is the peak peach picking season, and that generally means May through late September.

Peach is a shade that doesn't always get a lot of love. While it works easily with muted tones like beige and off-white, the color also works wonders with brighter hues, from mustard yellow to tangerine orange. It even pairs well with colder colors, like darker greens or crystal blues.

And my Sweet & Sour Tajín Peaches & Strawberries may just be my favorite way to eat them yet. They are a little sweet, a little salty, and a little spicy, for a flavor that truly cannot be beat!