The Easiest Way To Make Peaches Taste So Much Better, According to a Food Editor

It's as simple as one step.

Ah, peach season. The days when fresh, ripe, fragrant peaches are aplenty. The fuzzy fruits embody the essence of summer without even trying, but in our opinion, there’s an easy way to turn them into even tastier summer staples.

Our seasoned food editor, Courtney Kassel, introduced us to a game-changing trick that will transform how we serve peaches every summer from here on out. It has the power to make even bad peaches better, and it involves one of our favorite tools of the season: the grill.

Why You Should Be Grilling Peaches

If you’ve never had a grilled peach, it’s time to run to your farmstand ASAP. The grill does something wonderful to the fresh fruits, enhancing their natural flavors and bringing out a depth of taste you never knew existed.

“Grilled peaches are one of those summer dishes I wait all year to make,” Kassel explains. “Grilling transforms even the most mediocre peaches into something caramelized and wonderfully sticky-sweet and tender.”

The warmth, the slight smoky flavoring, the bit of char, and the caramelization of the natural sugars—the grill brings an entirely new dimension to the summer fruit. This easy technique ensures every bite turns out soft, tender, and juicy—even if you start with less-than-perfect peaches.

Plus, it’s summer. Chances are, the grill is already fired up anyway.

How to Grill Peaches

Start by selecting firm, yet ripe peaches. They should give slightly when squeezed, but if they’re overly soft to start, they’ll get mushy on the grill.

To prepare the peaches, slice them in half and brush with a bit of butter or olive oil. Not only does this add some extra flavor, but it also prevents the peaches from sticking to the grill grates. You can also try sprinkling a little sea salt on top to enhance the peaches’ natural sweetness.

With the grill at a steady medium-high heat, sear the fruit cut-side down over the open flames. Once you see grill marks forming (about five minutes), you can flip them to the skin side to cook for another three to four minutes. If your grill tends to run hot, move the peaches to an area of indirect heat after searing to cook them evenly without burning.

From there, you can drizzle with honey, sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon, garnish with fresh herbs like mint or basil, or leave them exactly as is.

How to Serve Grilled Peaches

Now for the fun part: what to do with them. While you can certainly dig right in with a spoon, we have a few other favorite suggestions: Add them to a fresh arugula salad, top off a grilled pork chop, elevate an average cheese board, or save them for breakfast to eat with your morning yogurt and granola bowl.

But, hands down, our favorite way to enjoy grilled peaches is with a huge scoop of vanilla ice cream. The warm peaches paired with the cool creamy treat is one of the most irresistible bites imaginable. “The easiest no-brainer summer dessert," Kassel adds.

So, before peach season comes to a close, add this easy idea to your summer bucket list to make the most out of this season’s sweet offerings. Believe us (and our expert editor), grilling changes the summer fruit game.

Read the original article on All Recipes.