Summer fruits are by far our favorites—with all the berries, melons, and stone fruits, there’s so much variety. But, some fruits like nectarines and peaches are just so similar to each other. What’s the difference between these fruits and which ones should you use in your recipes?
You may be surprised to learn that nectarines are a type of peach. These two fruits taste about the same, and the easiest way to differentiate them is by the skin. Nectarines are smooth and have a slightly firmer texture than peaches, which makes them great for grilling. They work well when paired with cheese, served in a salad, or over ice cream.
Peaches have fuzzy skin and are usually softer than nectarines. There are different varieties of peaches and each has a different flavor. The yellow-fleshed ones are better for canning and the white-fleshed ones are sweeter. Fresh peaches are great in savory recipes like salads and salsas or they are amazing in peach pie.
When deciding which to buy, get whichever is fresher and smells more fragrant. If the peaches or nectarines are unripe, store them in a brown paper bag on the kitchen counter. When they’re ripe, be sure to eat them in a few days or to store them in the fridge.
