Here’s our top tips on what to do with that glut of pears!
- Grating Pears.
- Freeze Your Pear Glut.
- Make Pear Smoothies.
- Preserve Your Pear Glut – Jam & Chutney.
- Make Boozy Pear Treats. Pear And Apple Infused Gin.
- Bottling and Canning Your Pear Glut.
- Have a Pear Glut Picking Party.
- Make Baked Pears.
What can I do with lots of conference pears?
Make them into a preserve
As with smoothies, overripe pears are great for jam making because they’re already soft and squishy before you start cooking them down. They work well in both sweet jams and jellies, or spicy chutneys.
Can you store Conference pears?
How to store pears Two of my favourite varieties of pear, ‘Conference’ and ‘Doyenne du Comice’, just happen to be the best for storing. They need to be picked hard, green and under ripe. Do not wrap the fruit, but lay them out in dimple cardboard trays, so they are easy to inspect.
How do you preserve a glut of pears?
Pears can be preserved in several ways: refrigeration, freezing, canning, or dehydrating. You’ll want to choose the best method for you based on how long you’d like your preserves to keep. The most short-term method of preserving. Preserves can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three months.
Can you freeze whole unpeeled pears?
If you’re making a smoothie or puree, you can freeze pears with the peel on—it won’t detract from the texture or appearance. But for some baking recipes, you may want to peel the pears first.
Can pears be frozen?
If planning to use pears uncooked, freeze using juice or water method. Freezing pears using dry packing or in sugar is the best method for pies or other cooked dishes. If planning to use pears in a sweetened jam, jelly, fruit butter, or sauce, try freezing using the juice or water method, but choose unsweetened juice.
When should I pick my conference pears?
‘Conference’ pears begin to ripen from September and are usually fully ripe between October and the beginning of November. You will know the fruit is ripe when it is soft and yellow. For a crunchy pear, or if you want to store your pears, begin to harvest them before the fruit turns yellow.
How do you store Conference pears for the winter?
A suitable storage place might include a garage, shed or cellar, provided that it is:
- cool, with an even temperature of 2.8-7°C (37-45°F) for apples and even cooler for pears, if possible (pears can even be stored in the salad compartment of a fridge)
- frost free.
- well-ventilated.
- dark.
- slightly humid.
- free from mice.
How do you preserve pears without canning them?
Blanch pears in fruit juice (apple or white grape) or water for 2 minutes. Let cool. Then, pack the pears in jars or other freezer-safe containers and fill in the empty space with the juice or water, being sure to leave the proper headspace. Use a piece of crumbled up wax paper to keep the pears submerged.
Can you freeze pears off the tree?
Peel, halve, and core pears, then cut into slices or wedges. Line a cookie sheet or sheet pan with parchment paper, then top that prepared sheet with the sliced pears. Place the sheet and pears in the freezer and allow to freeze solid.
How do you preserve pears in a Mason jar?
Pack the pears into hot, sterilized jars. Cover the pears with boiling water, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Process in a boiling water canner: 25 minutes for pints, 30 minutes for quarts. Enjoy your home canned pears in homemade yogurt, oatmeal, or straight from the jar!
Can you vacuum seal pears?
Simply put: Yes, you can vacuum seal fruit! It’s a great way to control portions and ensure you’ve got healthy ingredients on hand if you don’t have time to go to the shop. Plenty of fruits don’t require much preparation before being sealed, but delicate produce like berries need a little more work.
Do pears need to be pressure canned?
You can “can” pears in either a water bath or pressure canner. Water bath canner: Put the sealed jars in the canner and keep them cover with at least 1 inch of water and boiling. Boil them for at least 20 minutes (and no more than 30 min).
How do you store pears long term?
To speed up ripening, place the pears in a tightly sealed paper bag. The fruit gives off ethylene gas, which accumulates in the bag and promotes ripening. For long-term storage, refrigerate unripened pears at a temperature of 32 to 35°F. European pears may be stored for one to three months.
Do you have to peel pears before poaching?
Carefully peel pears, leaving stems intact, and place pears in lemon-infused water to hold. Heat poaching liquid of simple syrup with selected spices. Transfer pears to poaching liquid ensuring to cover the entire pear. Poach pears in a gentle rolling boil for approximately 20-30 minutes.
How long do frozen pears last?
around 12 months
Pears can be frozen for around 12 months. You can freeze pears either on their own or in a sweetened syrup depending on how you plan on using them.
Can you dehydrate pears?
Soak the sliced pears in the bowl of cold water for 5-10 minutes. Remove the pears from the soak and place them on a dehydrator tray, leaving a gap between each slice for proper airflow. Slide the trays into your dehydrator, close the dehydrator and run at 135f for 5-6 hours. Check the pears starting around 5 hours in.
Can stewed pears be frozen?
Add your pears to the syrup making sure you cover the fruit in the liquid and cook for a couple of minutes. You can then add the pears and the leftover syrup into freezer bags or containers. Pack pears flat in bags and use enough syrup to coat them for freezing.
Do conference pears ripen off the tree?
The fruit from Conference should be harvested when it is just under-ripe because they ripen best off the tree. In practice, wait till a few pears drop off the tree of their own accord and then harvest the remaining pears over a couple of weeks. They are ready for picking when they can be easily pulled off the tree.
Why are Conference pears so called?
This variety of pear was developed in Britain by Thomas Francis Rivers from his Rivers Nursery in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire. It owes its name to the fact that it won first prize at the National British Pear Conference in London in 1885.
How high does a conference pear tree grow?
4-8 metres
Height and Spread of Pyrus Communis Conference
The Pyrus Communis Conference fruit tree will grow to a mature height and spread of 4-8 metres in 5 to 10 years. This tree can be expected to live more than 50 years.