His question led to discovering several great home-living websites and lots of ideas for peach peelings. Turns out, peach peelings wear LOTS of hats! So don’t throw them away. For instance:
The next day, strain the peachy water through a cheesecloth or jelly bag. Just strain, don’t squeeze, as this will make your jelly cloudy.
Mix peach liquid with pectin; stir well to dissolve all pectin. Bring to a rolling boil, then add sugar. Stir well again. Remove all foam that appears with a large spoon. Ladle the hot syrup into hot pint jars. Preserve pints in a water bath for 20 minutes; remove jars to and let cool. Store up to a year.
Then there’s another beverage-oriented use—Peach Pit Iced Tea. Before I go on with the instructions, let’s clear something up. Over time there’s been some worry bubble up over the fact that peach pits contain cyanide. This fact has led to fear of poisoning if you use peach pits for anything. Research shows, though, that you’d need a HUGE amount of peach pits to create any toxic danger. For this recipe you’re only using 1 pit per cup of tea. There’s just no need to worry about the cyanide issue.
When it’s time to make tea, steep a handful of pits (about 1 per cup of tea wanted) in boiling water. Steeping them overnight will yield the most flavor. The next day, discard the pits and use this peach-flavored water to make either iced tea or a cup of herb tea.
Peach season is finally here! These sweet juicy stone fruits are an absolute treat during the summer months. However once you devour the tasty flesh, you’re often left with a hard, inedible peach pit. Before tossing them in the trash, consider these 12 creative ways to make use of peach pits.
Grow Your Own Peach Tree
The most obvious use for a peach pit is growing your own tree! Peach trees grow best in USDA zones 5-8. To get started, clean off any remaining peach flesh from the pit and let it dry completely. Next, place the pit in a plastic bag and store it in your refrigerator for 8 weeks. This cold stratification mimics winter conditions and stimulates germination. Plant the pit in a pot with soil, water regularly and place it somewhere with lots of sun. Once the risk of frost has passed, transplant your young tree outdoors. With proper pruning and care, you could be enjoying homegrown peaches in 3-5 years.
Make Peach Pit Tea
The peach pit contains a hard almond-like core called a noyaux. This noyaux has a lovely perfumed aroma similar to almond extract. Simmer cleaned, cracked peach pits in water for 15 minutes to infuse the water with flavor. Strain and enjoy this peach pit “tea” on its own or use it to lend a subtle peach essence to baked goods like cakes.
Peach Syrup
You can make a sweet syrup using peach pits along with the skins and flesh. Cover pits, skins and fruit scraps with water in a pot. Simmer for 45 minutes, then strain out the solids. Measure the liquid, return it to the pot and add an equal amount of sugar. Boil briefly until the sugar dissolves. Bottle the syrup and enjoy drizzled over pancakes, mixed into drinks or used in desserts.
Peach Pit Jelly
If you have a lot of extra pits consider making a batch of peach pit jelly. Crack the pits open and extract the noyaux. Cover with water and boil for 15 minutes. Strain out the pits. For every 2 cups of liquid add 1⁄4 cup lemon juice and 31⁄2 cups of sugar. Boil until it reaches the gel stage at 220°F on a candy thermometer. Ladle into jars, seal and store. Spread on biscuits, scones and more.
Peach Pit Body Scrub
The coarse gritty texture of peach pits makes them ideal for exfoliating skin. Grind dried pits into a powder using a food processor blender or mortar and pestle. Mix the powder with coconut oil, almond oil or olive oil along with essential oils if desired. Apply the scrub to roughen areas like elbows, knees and feet to slough off dead skin. Rinse clean.
Peach Pit Potpourri
Here’s a fragrant way to fill your home with peach perfume. Clean and dry pits thoroughly, then break them open to extract the noyaux. Place noyaux in an ovenproof dish and bake at 200°F until dried out, about 1 hour. Allow to cool completely, then break into smaller pieces. Transfer to a jar along with whole cloves, cinnamon sticks and your favorite dried flowers or herbs. Enjoy the fresh, fruity aroma.
Peach Pit Fire Starters
Peach pits are very flammable when dry due to their high oil content. Save up pits over the season, cracking them open to expose the noyaux Allow pits and noyaux to dry out completely Then place them in cardboard egg cartons and pour melted wax over the top to hold everything together. These make excellent fire starters for your fireplace or campfire.
Peach Pit Beads for Jewelry Making
The oval shape and pretty color of peach pits make them perfect for crafting into beads for necklaces, bracelets or keychains. Clean and dry pits well, then paint or stain them with acrylic craft paint if desired. Glue a jewelry bail to the top of each pit using strong epoxy glue. String together with other beads for a handmade, natural accessory.
Activated Peach Pit Charcoal
Turn your peach pits into activated charcoal, which has many uses. Preheat your oven to 250°F. Place pits on a baking sheet and bake for 2 hours. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Increase oven temperature to 450°F and bake pits for another 30 minutes. The pits will become black and crispy. Grind into a powder and store in an airtight container. Use to whiten teeth or make homemade soap.
Flavor Grilling Glazes
Cherry or peach pits can be used to add flavor to grilling glazes for meat, fish and veggies. Simmer cleaned pits in red wine, sugar and water. Allow to infuse overnight in the fridge. Strain out pits then brush glaze on foods before and during grilling.
Infuse Vinegars
Place cleaned peach, plum or cherry pits in a mason jar and cover with white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Allow to steep for 2-3 weeks, shaking periodically. Strain and use to brighten up salad dressings, marinades and sauces.
Boost Nutrition of Garden Soil
Don’t throw away pits when making compost! Adding fruit pits boosts the nutritional value of garden soil. Their nutrients feed beneficial microbes and worms that keep soil healthy. Peach pits take 1-2 years to break down fully.
Natural Dye for Fabrics
The tannins in peach pits make them perfect for dying fabric and other materials. Simmer pits in water for an hour, strain then soak fabric in the liquid for 30-60 minutes. Different natural dyes can be layered for unique effects.
Whimsical Wind Chimes
Let breezes carry peach perfume by crafting wind chimes from pits. Clean and dry pits fully then paint and decorate as desired. Attach several pits to a wooden dowel with string or twine. Hang outside and enjoy the cheerful sound.
Don’t let those peach pits go to waste next time you enjoy some fresh peaches. With a little creativity, you can transform them into something useful for your home, health or kitchen. Growing your own tree, making teas and syrups or crafting jewelry are all great ways to make the most of peach pits this summer.
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Alice Osborne Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2006 Email the author! [email protected] Please enable JavaScript to view the
How to Grow a Peaches from a Seed | creative explained
FAQ
Can I do anything with peach pits?
You can eat them raw, pickle them, macerate in sugar to create a peach syrup. The pits can also be used in many applications including making liqueurs(something that would taste like amaretto), a bitter vinegar and almond flavored milk.
Can a peach tree be grown from a peach pit?
Yes, it is possible to grow a peach tree from a peach pit, but the resulting tree may not produce fruit identical to the peach it came from.
Why do people save peach pits?
Oddly enough, peach and cherry pits contain their own form of deadly chemical: cyanide. The Gas Defense Division of the Chemical Warfare Service of the U.S. Army made a plea to American households: SAVE PEACH STONES AND NUTSHELLS FOR UNCLE SAM and incorporating the credo, “Do Your Bit – Save the Pit.”
What were peach pits used for?
The government needed hundreds of millions of fruit pits (apricot, plum, cherry and olive pits also worked) to process into charcoal for packing gas mask filters. About 200 peach pits were needed to create enough charcoal for each filter canister.