The Difference Between Peaches and Nectarines The outside of a peach is covered in a fuzzy coating, while nectarines are entirely smooth and fuzz-free.
Why is my nectarine fuzzy?
The fuzz on peaches is due to the presence of hairs botanically known as trichomes. Since consumers do not like the fuzz, commercially grown peaches are mechanically brushed after harvest to remove the fuzz. You can find real fuzzy peaches at the farmers markets and roadside stands.
Are nectarines just peaches without fuzz?
Not true! In fact, peaches and nectarines are genetically almost identical, with just one gene that’s either dominant (in peaches) or recessive (in nectarines) that determines whether the skin is fuzzy or smooth.
Do nectarines have hair?
Nectarines are accidentally hairless, but they continue to grow because the super smooth skin protects them from rot and damage. When the fruit makes it through the season, it’s stronger and better for the next year. Unfortunately, nectarines often brown and rot more easily because they’re missing the fuzz, however.
Are white nectarines fuzzy?
In fact, peach seeds can end up growing nectarines, and nectarines may grow peaches. The fuzzy flesh is a dominant gene that the peach holds, and smooth skin of a nectarine is recessive, and is thought by some to originate from a mutation of the peaches. The two are interchangeable in recipes and snacking.
Are nectarines fuzzy when small?
Skin: Peaches have a fuzzy coating, whereas nectarines are smooth. Size and Texture: Nectarines tend to be smaller and firmer than peaches.
How can you tell if a nectarine is bad?
How to tell if nectarines are bad or spoiled? Nectarines that are spoiling will typically become very soft, develop dark spots and start to ooze; discard any nectarines if mold appears or if the nectarines have an off smell or appearance.
What two fruits make a nectarine?
Contrary to common belief, a nectarine is not a cross between a peach and a plum, but a fuzzless variety of peach.
Are nectarines genetically modified?
They were developed from a peach by a natural mutation. In fact, nectarines are identical to peaches with the exception of one gene. The gene difference makes peaches fuzzy and nectarines smooth.
Which is healthier peaches or nectarines?
Due to the high amount of vitamin C, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and phenolic acids, both peaches and nectarines have excellent antioxidant properties. Nectarines provide twice the amount of Vitamin A, and slightly more Vitamin C and potassium than peaches do.
Which fruit has a fuzzy skin?
peach
If you bite into a fresh peach, you’ll also experience the peculiar sensation of its unique, fuzzy, red-orange skin. Why are peaches naturally fuzzy?
Can you eat fuzzy peach skin?
Peach skin is not toxic to humans and generally safe to eat. It can even provide some health benefits. Peaches as a whole are a good source of energizing complex carbs, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
What is fuzzy stuff on peach?
Answer: This whitish tissue may actually appear on the pit and/or in the pit cavity (area inside peach around pit) of a ripe peach. It is called callus tissue (undifferentiated cells). It is not a fungus, bacteria or other type of disease. It is naturally occurring, and it is not harmful.
What does a ripe nectarine look like?
Nectarines are a member of the stone fruit family. To choose a ripe, juicy nectarine, look for fruit that gives slightly to the touch and doesn’t have a greenish tint. The tastiest nectarines have “sugar spots,” tiny pale speckles that indicate intense sweetness.
Should you refrigerate nectarines?
How to store: Peaches and nectarines will continue to ripen after they’ve been harvested if you leave them at room temperature. They should never be refrigerated until they are fully ripe. Chilling them before that will result in fruit that is mealy and flavorless.
How can you tell a peach from a nectarine?
Nectarines are smaller than most peaches. They also have thin, smoother skin and firmer flesh. Peaches have thicker, fuzzy skin and softer flesh. The term “nectar” refers to sugary fluids secreted by plants.
How many nectarines can I eat a day?
An 80g serving of nectarine counts as one of your five-a-day – that’s roughly one nectarine. Discover more in our infographic: What counts as five-a-day?
Is it OK to eat unripe nectarine?
You probably wouldn’t want to bite into a rock-hard nectarine the way you would a ripe one, but it’s got its merits: Sliced into matchsticks, an unripe nectarine is crisp like an apple and refreshingly (deceptively) juicy. It’s the perfect candidate for a slaw that is electric, a little funky, and crunchy as heck.
Can you eat a nectarine like an apple?
You can eat it the way you would eat an apple or another round fruit. Remember a nectarine has a pit. Do not bite too far into the center of the nectarine or you’ll end up hitting the pit.
Can eating a bad nectarine make you sick?
“Someone who is particularly sensitive or who gets sick from moldy fruit may experience nausea, vomiting or diarrhea as well as other food poisoning symptoms.” She also cautions that some types of mold are more dangerous than others.
Can you get sick from eating nectarine?
The flesh of the fruit itself is not toxic. However, when kernels are chewed cyanogenic glycoside can transform into hydrogen cyanide, which is poisonous to humans. The lethal dose ranges from 0.5 to 3.0 mg per kilogram of body weight.