What is the difference between nectarine and peach

If asked to point out the differences between peaches and nectarines , could you do it? Now the harder question: Could you choose a favorite? We love peaches and nectarines equally around here. Whether they're plucked from the tree and eaten over the sink or baked into our favorite recipes , they're two of our favorite stone fruits in the South.

But what's the difference between the two? Recent evidence suggests, however, that the nectarine evolved first. The easiest way to distinguish between a peach and a nectarine is by sight and touch. The skin of peaches is covered with a fine fuzz, which gives the appearance of a downy texture across the surface of the peach.

Nectarines, on the other hand, are smooth and their skin can look almost shiny. Both peaches and nectarines come in an array of golden, red, and pink hues. Both peaches and nectarines can be freestone or clingstone fruits, and both have white and yellow varieties. Peaches tend to be larger than nectarines, which are usually small and dense. It's no wonder we get these two summer fruits confused - they're almost identical genetically.

The main difference between the two is peaches have a fuzzy coating, while nectarines are completely smooth without any coating. This difference is due to a gene variant between the two fruits. Peaches originated in Asia and were later cultivated in North America. Nectarines were born out of an effort to breed heartier varieties in California in the s and '50s. So, what does all this mean for cooking? For the most part, peaches and nectarines can be used interchangeably.

However, the signature fuzzy skin on peaches can get tough when cooked, which is why it's often removed before baking or use in jams. Nectarines on the other hand have a thinner skin, making them better when you don't want to go through the extra effort of peeling. The main physical difference between peaches and nectarines vs. Both peaches and nectarines are stone fruits in the rose family.

Stone fruits are characterized by their large, hard pits. Peaches Prunus persica can grow in diverse climates ranging from tropical to temperate. Freestone peaches contain pits that are easy to remove, while the pits of clingstone peaches are hard to separate from the flesh. Semi-freestone peaches are a hybrid of the first two 2. Peaches have white or yellow flesh and fuzzy skin. Like all peaches, nectarines can have freestone, clingstone, or semi-freestone pits, as well as yellow or white flesh.

Peaches are stone fruits with fuzzy skin. Nectarines are a type of peach that has smooth skin. Both have freestone, clingstone, or semi-freestone pits, plus yellow or white flesh. The table below compares the nutrients in one whole peach grams and one whole nectarine grams 3 , 4. Peaches are slightly higher in calories , carbs, and sugar. Still, these fruits have remarkably similar nutrient profiles.

Peaches and nectarines have similar nutrient profiles. They contain natural sugars, fiber, and several vitamins and minerals. Nectarines are smaller than most peaches. They also have thin, smoother skin and firmer flesh. Peaches have thicker, fuzzy skin and softer flesh. Hence, many people claim that nectarines are sweeter than peaches, despite their slightly lower sugar content.

When it comes to sweetness, the type of flesh and overall ripeness matter most. Both white peaches and white nectarines are sweeter than their yellow counterparts due to their lower acidity.