Best 2 Old Fashioned Pear Preserves Recipes
Indulge in a delightful journey into the world of pear preserves, a classic confection that captures the essence of summer's bounty. This timeless treat, made from perfectly ripe pears, transforms the fruit's natural sweetness into a symphony of flavors, offering a taste of nostalgia with every bite. Discover two variations of this delectable preserve: a traditional recipe that yields a rich, amber-hued preserve bursting with pear flavor, and a unique variation that incorporates the tangy zest of lemons, creating a vibrant, citrusy twist. Both preserves are culinary gems, perfect for spreading on toast, dolloping onto pancakes, or savoring as a sweet addition to cheeseboards. Embark on this culinary adventure and create a taste of summer that will warm your heart all year long.
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OLD-FASHIONED PEAR PRESERVES
These are old-fashioned preserves like grandma used to make, with silky pieces of fruit in a sweet, jelled syrup. Perfect for hot biscuits, morning toast, on top of rice pudding, or stirred into plain yogurt. Add ginger, nutmeg, and/or cardamom. They're also nice with orange or lemon peel. You can use any amount of pears up to four pounds. Greater amounts don't seem to work as well. The recipe takes three days, but most of that time is hands-off.
Provided by Cinnamon Turtle
Categories Pears
Time P3DT30m
Yield 6 pints
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Day 1:.
- Peel and core pears. Slice or dice into pieces of desired size.
- Place pears in a large bowl and add an equal amount of sugar by weight (e.g. 4 lbs of pears = 4 lbs of sugar) Add juice of one lemon. Zest is optional, but adds a nice flavor. Stir gently to distribute sugar. Leave in refrigerator overnight. Stir several times to coat fruit with syrup.
- Day 2:.
- Place pears and syrup in a large pot. Bring to a boil, boil 10 minutes. Reduce heat to simmer and cook an additional 15-20 minutes until pears are translucent and candied. Turn off heat and leave pears in syrup overnight (no need to refrigerate). Place a clean dish towel under pot lid to prevent condensation.
- Day 3:.
- Remove pears from syrup, straining all syrup back into the pot. Bring syrup to a boil and cook to desired thickness (usually around 220 degrees). Test doneness by dropping syrup onto a frozen plate. It should gel almost immediately. When ready add pears back to syrup and remove from heat. Stir gently for approximately 10 minutes as preserves cool. This will keep the fruit distributed in the syrup and prevent it floating to the top of your jars.
- Place preserves in sterilized jars leaving 1/2 inch of head space. If packing hot jars, process in boiling water bath for 5 minutes. For cold jars, process 10 minutes.
- Leave jars undisturbed for 24 hours to cool and set. Enjoy!
PEAR PRESERVES (OLD FASHIONED)
My mother-in-law's step mother (her biological mother died when she was a baby)was an excellent cook and taught her how to cook good food at an early age. After she became my wonderful mother-in-law and friend she passed many things on to me. Letting the chopped pears for Pear Preserves set over night in sugar was an important...
Provided by Jewel Hall
Categories Jams & Jellies
Time 4h
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- 1. Peel, core, and slice pears into 1/2 to 3/4 inch pieces, then measure out 8 cups.
- 2. In a stock pot mix pears with the 5 cups of sugar and 1/4 cup of lemon juice. Gently combine all. Let set in pot over night, cover with light towel or single layer of sheeting material.
- 3. Next morning, put stock pot of pears on med/low stove burner. Stir gently to mix. Juices from pears, lemon juice, and sugar will have made a liquid over night. Bring to a low boil. Turn down to simmer and cook slowly 3 to 4 hours or until pears are clear and pink and syrup thickens. More sugar may be added once cup at a time during last part of cooking process until desired thickness is reached. Be careful not to add too much sugar, just gently stir often and observe.
- 4. Have jars and lids sterlized in boiling water. 8 1/2 pint jars and 8 lids. Leave on simmer.
- 5. When desired doneness is reached, remove from heat; stir in brown sugar, ginger,allspice, and nutmeg.
- 6. Fill sterlized jars to 1/2 inch of top, wipe off rim of jar with a wet cloth to remove any syrup that may have dripped on rim. Top with lids and rings, tighten firmly.
- 7. Process jars in boiling water 10 minutes to seal, (water should be heating while filling jars). Store in cool, dry, place away from direct light. Makes about seven 1/2 pint jars.
Tips:
- Select ripe, firm pears: Choose pears that are free from blemishes and bruises. Slightly underripe pears are ideal as they will hold their shape better during cooking.
- Prepare the pears properly: Peel, core, and slice the pears evenly to ensure uniform cooking. If desired, you can leave the skins on for added color and texture.
- Use a heavy-bottomed pot: A heavy-bottomed pot will help distribute heat evenly and prevent scorching. A Dutch oven or a large saucepan is a good choice.
- Bring the mixture to a full boil: This will help thicken the preserves and prevent spoilage. Stir constantly to prevent sticking.
- Cook the preserves until they reach a thick consistency: The preserves are done when they reach a thick, spreadable consistency. This usually takes about 30-45 minutes.
- Test the preserves for doneness: To test if the preserves are done, place a small amount on a cold plate. If the preserves wrinkle when you push your finger through them, they are ready.
- Canning the preserves: If you want to store the preserves for longer, you can can them in jars. Follow the instructions in the recipe carefully to ensure proper canning techniques.
- Enjoy the preserves: Once the preserves are cooled, you can enjoy them spread on toast, crackers, or pastries. They can also be used as a filling for pies, tarts, and other desserts.
Conclusion:
Old-Fashioned Pear Preserves are a delicious and versatile treat that can be enjoyed in various ways. With just a few simple ingredients and a little time, you can create a batch of homemade preserves that will add a touch of sweetness and nostalgia to your meals and snacks. Whether you spread them on toast, use them as a filling for pastries, or simply enjoy them by the spoonful, these preserves are sure to be a hit. So, gather your ingredients, put on your apron, and let's get preserving!
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