Nectarine

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By

Good Food team

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Nectarines are smooth-skinned stone fruits with a delicate, sweet taste. Discover how to buy the best nectarines and how to store them at home.

A smooth-skinned variety of peach native to China, similarly flavoured to peaches with slightly more acidity. The flesh is light pink, yellow or white and is delicate and sweet.

Nectarines are high in vitamins A, B, and C, and are lower in calories than peaches.

Availability

At their peak from May to September.

Learn how to grow your own nectarines from the experts at Gardeners’ World.

Choose the best

Like peaches, nectarines do not ripen after picking so should be bought already ripe. Feel for firm fruit, with slight give. Avoid greenish coloured peaches and skin that appears bruised or broken.

Store it

Store at room temperature for a day or two to soften or keep ripe nectarines in a plastic bag in the fridge for a couple of days.

Cook it

Nectarines are great poached, especially if they are slightly underripe, but are best eaten raw, as cooking can hinder their delicate flavour and texture.