Select fruit that has begun to soften for immediate use. Firm, ripe fruit can be held a few days at room temperature to ripen further. Never pick peaches with a green undercolor since they will not ripen well. They will shrivel, become flabby and never achieve a good flavor. Fully ripened peaches should be refrigerated immediately and kept there until ready for consumption.
Peaches deteriorate rapidly when stored for longer periods.
There is no gain in sugar content once a peach is picked from a tree. Its ripening process consists primarily of softening, developing juiciness, and developing flavor. So the riper a peach is at harvest, the more sugar it will contain. When Preparing, wash peaches gently, peel, and remove pits. Handle carefully to avoid bruising.