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How To Differentiate Between Fresh Peaches And Nectarines

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Peaches and Nectarines are different types of fruits. It is very common to get mistaken a peach for a nectarine. Here are few points to differentiate between fresh peaches and nectarines.



  • Usually a peach and a nectarine are very similar in shape and genetically there is not much difference between the two. 
  • The major difference between peaches and nectarines is that a peach has fuzz on its skin while a nectarine does not have fuzz.
  • It has been proved that nectarines are a bit more likely to be affected by diseases like brown rot and bacterial spot and many nectarine types have a spicy zing to their taste. The nectarine is believed to have originated as a mutant of the peach.
  • Although nectarines are related to the peach, they tend to be firmer, sweeter, more aromatic and juicier than the peach.

From last two thousand years, peaches have been grown in Asia and United States. Peaches are considered as the Queen of the fruits and it occupies second place after apples in popularity. We can consider peaches as a deciduous tree fruit because of its fine flavor and many uses.

Whereas nectarines can be used in the same way as peaches, and they can considered as best alternates for peaches.

Both peaches and nectarines have the same heady scent and they are loaded with flavor. Peaches and nectarines can be used interchangeably in a wide variety of foods.

Moreover another difference between peaches and nectarines is in one recessive gene which determines that the fruit will be fuzzy or not. If both the parent trees leave behind a copy of this gene to their seedlings it will give birth to a nectarine. Otherwise the result will be a peach but nowadays many modern fruit trees are produced by cloning so this gene is not as large of an issue.

 Peaches and nectarines only ripen well on the tree and they have to be pulled out when they ripe and they are best to be consumed fresh from the tree. You can preserve both peaches and nectarines for one to three days.

Another difference between peaches and nectarines is nectarines tend to be bred somewhat smaller than peaches so they may have a firmer texture and a sweeter flavor.

These peaches and nectarines are great to make fruit salads and they can be used to make pies and preserves. Nectarines are mostly eaten along with the skin and peaches are mostly peeled.

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How To Differentiate Between Fresh Peaches And Nectarines