Summer is here, and that means it’s also summer produce season. If you’re anything like us, you’re stocking up on your fruits. Right now, that means peaches.

Once you bring your peaches home, though, should you keep them in the refrigerator to prolong their life? There’s a trick to storing this fruit.

When you shop for your peaches, they’re not in the refrigerated section. Keeping them out allows the produce to continue ripening, and it’s the same once you bring them home.

If you’re planning to eat the fruit over a few days, purchase ones that haven’t quite reached peak ripeness. This way, they can continue to ripen and will be perfect when it comes time for a snack.

When does the fridge enter the picture? Once your peaches reach the ripeness you like, that’s when you should stick them in the refrigerator. The cold environment slows down the ripening process. You can keep them in their peak state a bit longer and have more time to consume them.

Keep in mind, however, that as the peaches sit in the fridge, some of the moisture can be leeched from them. This could affect the texture, but they’ll be just fine for an extra day or two.

If you love buying fruit in bulk, yes, you might want to stick those ripe peaches in your fridge. When they do get a bit over ripe, don’t worry. There are plenty of peachy recipes you can use them in.