Do Peaches and Nectarines Taste the Same?
Peaches and nectarines have a LOT in common. Both are stone fruits. Both are ripe for picking in the summer. Both have yellow-and-red skins. Fresh Georgia peaches can be used in recipes that call for fresh nectarines, and vice versa. Botanically speaking, the two fruits are practically identical – in fact, the only real difference between them would seem to be that peaches have downy skins while nectarine skins are smooth. On occasion, they can even grow on the same tree!
But do they taste the same?
What to Keep in Mind When Cooking with Peaches
The difference in taste between a nectarine and a peach is so subtle that determining which fruit is sweeter depends on who you ask. Some claim that nothing can be sweeter than fresh Georgia Peaches, while others insist a ripe Nectarine is the sweeter fruit (after all, “nectar” is part of its name). One thing’s for sure, though…both fruits are delicious, and summer wouldn’t be the same without them!
The one thing you should keep in mind if you buy Georgia peaches to use in recipes, however, is that a peach’s fuzzy skin can toughen when it’s cooked. It’s for this reason that most peach recipes call for the peaches to be peeled before cooking. Thanks to their smoother, thinner skins, you don’t need to take that extra step with nectarines.
Nectarine and Peach Health Benefits
When you order Georgia peaches and fresh nectarines from Pittman & Davis, you’re also stocking up on a healthy snack! Both fruits are not only high in vitamin C, they’re also rich in beta-carotene (this is what gives the fruits their signature red-and-yellow coloring). Our bodies convert beta-carotene into the much-needed vitamin A, which is vital to the immune system as well as eye and skin health. Both fruits are also loaded with antioxidants, so when you take advantage of the nectarines and fresh Georgia peaches for sale at Pittman & Davis, you won’t lose out on nutrition by going with one over the other. But both are so good, you may just want to get both!
How to Tell if a Nectarine is Ripe (or a Peach!)
Ripe peaches and nectarines should be fragrant, feel firm to the touch, and “give” slightly when gently squeezed. Unlike citrus fruits, these stone fruits will continue to ripen after they’ve been harvested if you store them at room temperature. But if you order nectarines or peaches online from Pittman & Davis, you won’t have to worry about it because ours are always picked at the very peak of ripeness, when they’re extra-juicy, extra-sweet, and wonderfully fragrant. They are then rushed to you so you can enjoy them at their very best!
How to Store Peaches and Nectarines
When we ship Georgia Peaches and fresh Nectarines to you, they’re ready for eating as soon as they arrive, so if you order peaches or nectarines from Pittman & Davis, don’t store them on the counter – keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to use them. And don’t wait too long to use them – even in the fridge, these fruits don’t last long, so what you can’t eat, you can preserve to enjoy all year long.
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