How to Pit a PeachStone fruits are some of the prettier fruits around. To keep your firm yet ripe fruit looking great in a fruit salad, on a tart, cheeseplate, or alone - slice gently. A ChefsLine visitor, Jackie, asked us for some guidance about how to properly remove the pits and prepare pretty slices of peaches and plums.

Unlike an avocado’s often soft and smooth pit, peaches, plums, apricots, and nectarines have pits that are rough and tough as nails. The fruit itself ‘clings’ to its pit, making removal neither clean nor easy. You can’t just ‘pop’ or scoop out the pit.

So, how do you pit a peach?

1. Have a sharpened non-serrated utility knife and a paring knife handy. Never use serrated edge which will crush the skin.
2. Clean and dry your fruit.
3. Make one slice from top to bottom with your utility knife until you hit the pit.
4. Making a wedge / slice of fruit with your second slice, being sure to cut the full length of the fruit and cutting to the stone.

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* Thin slices are more challenging to prepare and take a bit of practice.

5. Continue slicing until half of the fruit is removed.
6. Using your pairing knife, cut around and a little under the pit to release it from the rest of the fruit.
7. After pit is removed, turn your fruit on its face onto your cutting board.
8. Continue making wedges.

Tips for purchasing perfectly ripe peaches, plums and nectarines.
1) Your fruit should be firm to the touch, not soft.
2) Smell your fruit. You’ll want fruit that has some fragrance.
3) You know your fruit is sweet enough because of its color. Compare the depth of the color on your fruit compared to other fruit at the stand. Select fruit that is rich in color compared to others.
4) Store fruit in brown paper bag at room temperature. If already soft to touch, place in the refrigerator away from other produce.