Seeking Ideas for a Bucket of Pears

**bumplett** · 08-19-2011, 09:44 PM

My SIL has a pear tree in the back yard, and it's loaded!

so I filled a bucket - thought I'd start with one bucket to see what I could do with them -

They aren't fantastic to eat right off the tree - a bit bitter -

but there are sooooo many - I want to find something to do with them -

Any ideas?

Any super easy recipes?

**Libby** · 08-19-2011, 09:49 PM

Mmm...pears - my fave fruit!

Pear jams/jellies, pies/tarts, crumbles, pear sauce, pears atop of salad with blue cheese & balsamic vinegar, pears in stuffing, dehydrate for snacks, muffins, can them for the winter, pear butter etc. I'd like to think that its interchangeable with any apple based recipe.

Consider yourself lucky for the free bounty

**bumplett** · 08-19-2011, 10:05 PM

so for me, it would be easier to dehydrate them rather than canning them - but do you think they will still be as 'usable'?

I like the idea of pear butter ... yummmmm

thanks for all the ideas!!

**Durgan** · 08-20-2011, 12:30 AM

I will have the same situation in a a few weeks.

First pears have to be ripened after picking. They only rot if left on the tree to ripen. They ripen quite fast after being picked. Ripe means they get soft from the outside to the middle. If left on the tree they ripen from the core and almost rot before the outside is soft. Read all about ripening pears here.
When to pick and how to ripen pears to perfection | Northwest Gardening - OSU Extension Service

Remove the stem and place them in a large pot and cover with water and gently boil, and beat the soft mixture into a mash using a portable hand held electric blender. Strain the mash through a fine screen mesh helping the process along with a wooden spoon.

Pour the resulting juice into liter jars and pressure can at about 12 PSI for 15 minutes for storage at room temperature. (You can also freeze in plastic bags if you prefer that route.) I use the mixture as juice and drink a glass or so daily until used up. It is pure with no sugar added, and probably has all the nutrients.

**sinopa27** · 08-20-2011, 01:23 AM

yum!! I love pears!! Pear preserves!!

Maybe.......ship us a box! ha!! Enjoy!

**Libby** · 08-20-2011, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by bumplett

so for me, it would be easier to dehydrate them rather than canning them - but do you think they will still be as 'usable'?

I like the idea of pear butter ... yummmmm

thanks for all the ideas!!

I haven't done many of the ideas I listed myself but I've sampled some other's efforts

. If you dehydrate them, they'd be great for use in oatmeal, cookies/baked goods, trail mix and just overall snacking no?

What about a fruit leather....would pears work well for that?

**Libby** · 08-20-2011, 01:19 PM

Just found this: Applesauce Popsicles but use pears instead

**ahmom** · 08-20-2011, 01:49 PM

pear butter and pear jam is excellent!
Try pear upside down cake using a spice cake mix.

**bumplett** · 08-20-2011, 02:53 PM

Thanks so much!!

I'll let you know how it goes - I hate to see the tree full wasted, as they are not interested in using them -

I'll do my best with this batch & try to hurry back for more while they are still good.

**marlas1too** · 08-22-2011, 05:09 AM

here is what i do
6 pounds of pears( about 12 large)
2 cups cinnamon red hot candies
5 cups water
1 tablespoon powdered fruit protector ( like fruit fresh )
6 pint jars

peel,core and halve pears.
the core can be removed with a melon baller.put pears into a large bowl of water with an acid solution (i use lemon juice) added to prevent the fruit from darkening,until all the fruit is prepared.put red hot candies into a large saucepan and add water.cook and stir until candies have completely melted.add powdered fruit protector and stir until dissolved. add the pears,cover,and cook3-5 minutes,stirring often.put the pears,cut side down,into hot jars(heat jars in 200 degree oven prier canning) and pack tightly.fill with hot cooking liquid.release bubbles and clean rims.process pint jars for 20 minutes in a water bath canner
they are pretty to use on a fruit platter fill rd with cottage cheese,nuts,and other fruits

hope you like this recipe --hugs to all

**gottadance** · 10-26-2011, 10:44 AM

Also, try a pear salsa. Just search online and you'll find a bunch of recipes - I made an apple salsa that is very good.

I had tons of apples this year and here are some tips for pears:

Slice them; pour apple juice with ascorbic acid over them; freeze and use in recipes in winter (I do this for apple strudel) - just thaw and you can drink the apple juice and use the pears in any recipe

Grate them in the amount you need for pear bread or muffins; freeze in ziploc bags and pull out a bag when you want to make bread or muffins

Make pear butter and can - or, use can or freeze jars and just freeze it to make it easier/faster

**Durgan** · 10-26-2011, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by bumplett

My SIL has a pear tree in the back yard, and it's loaded!

so I filled a bucket - thought I'd start with one bucket to see what I could do with them -

They aren't fantastic to eat right off the tree - a bit bitter -

but there are sooooo many - I want to find something to do with them -

Any ideas?

Any super easy recipes?

Pears should not be ripened on the tree but indoors. Picked and ripened indoors. That said , they do not keep long and must be processed for longer storage. This juice made is amongst my Favorites, often used mixed with other juices.

12 September 2011 Pear Juice 12 September 2011 Pear Juice

Pears from my one tree have been left to ripen on the counter in a covered basket with one banana enclosed to produce ethylene gas which aids ripening. Amazing, they ripened almost to rotting from day five to day six, so have to be checked daily.

The pears were cut into quarters and the discolored portions removed. Water was added to make drinkable about one liter total. The pears were brought to a boil and beat into as mash, then stained and put into liter jars. There was very little material, fiber, to discard. The liter jars of pears were placed in a pressure canner and brought to 12 PSI for about 15 minutes for long term storage at room temperature.

4 September 2011 Pears. 4 September 2011 Pears

Pears were picked today, since the squirrels were starting to eat them. The pears are very hard and quite large. The type of pear is unknown. Pears are picked unripe and allowed to ripen indoors, otherwise they tend to be grainy and sort of discolored from the center out. The picked fruit were placed in a large bag with a banana to generate ethylene gas to enhance and stimulate ripening. When ripe they will be made in to juice and pressured canned. There is another smaller pear tree, not shown, in the garden to insure good pollination.
Ethylene Gas A discussion regarding ethylene gas.

**Contrary Housewife** · 10-26-2011, 11:33 AM

Cobbler or crisp. They pair well with blueberries.

**jettylady** · 10-27-2011, 08:50 AM

Oh, I hope they are not wasted! We have a lady in town who took a similar problem and even though it took alot of her time and money, she made breads and jam and donated to her food pantry. Just a thought!

**Luckybustert** · 10-27-2011, 10:57 AM

Great ideas! Our pear tree is loaded this year too. We have to fight the dogs to get to them, though...they think it's THEIR pear tree, and get a little indignant when we take some of their pears...LOL