BOTTLED PEARS

Bottle fresh, crunchy, delicious pears in water, honey, fruit juice or syrup to enjoy all year long! This recipe can be used for all pears (except for nashi pears).
   
Ingredients for BOTTLED PEARS
Yield
Pears
Lemon Juice
Water, Honey Solution, Fruit Juice or Syrup
1 litre (1 quart)
1.1kg (2 1/2 pounds)
1 tablespoon
approximately 1 1/2 cups
4.5L (9 pints)
5kg (11 pounds)
1/4 cup
approximately 6 2/3 cups
7 litres (7 quarts)
8kg (17 1/2 pounds)
1/3 cup
approximately 10 2/3 cups
   
METHOD:

1. Weigh fruit to determine the bottling yield.

2. Sterilise all equipment by washing in hot soapy water and rinsing well before use.

3. Wash, peel, halve and core pears. Pears can be left in halves, sliced or diced as desired.
4. Place pears into acidified water (water with a squeeze of lemon juice added) to prevent browning. Repeat washing, peeling, coring, slicing and soaking with the remaining fruit.
5. Prepare jars by boiling in a pot of water for 10 minutes before filling.
6. Soak lids in hot water (not on heat) for at least 5 minutes before use.
7. Prepare syrup (if using), ensuring all sugar has dissolved. Refer to syrup chart below.
8. Dissolve honey into water (if using). Refer to syrup chart below.
9. Heat water, honey solution, fruit juice (i.e. apple or grape juice) or syrup until hot.
10. Blanch batches of pears (single layer) in the hot liquid, simmering gently for 5 minutes.
11. Strain pears and set aside. Keep fruit hot. Repeat with remaining fruit.
12. Pack hot jars with the hot fruit to 2.5cm (1 inch) from the rim of each jar.
13. Add hot syrup (or other liquid) into each jar, filling to 1cm (1/2 inch) from the rim of each jar.
14. Using a non-metal utensil, remove any bubbles and add extra syrup if required.
15. Wipe rims to remove any food residue.
16. Add warm lids and twist to secure.
17. Place sealed jars into a pot of boiling water and boil for the processing time stated below. Start the timer once the water comes to a full boil.
18. Turn off the heat source once the time is up. Remove jars from hot water after 5 more minutes. Cool jars overnight on a wood or fabric surface. Do not adjust lids during this time.
19. The next day, check jars have sealed before labelling and dating.
20. Store jars in a cool, dark and dry place for up to 12 months.
21. Refrigerate jars upon opening and consume contents within 5-7 days
22. Dehydrate pear peels to make pear powder; or boil them just covered with water to make pear juice (which can be used to make pear jelly with the addition of JamSetta or pectin and sugar).

FLAVOUR IDEAS:
Add a pinch of spice of a spoonful of juice (or liqueur) to a 500ml (pint) jar of bottled pears, process according to the recipe and taste when opening to check the flavouring. Then make in larger batches as desired.
  • Almond
  • Amaretto
  • Brandy
  • Brown sugar (known as caramel pears)
  • Chai
  • Cinnamon
  • Cloves
  • Ginger
  • Orange
  • Port
  • Red wine
  • Cinnamon, Ginger & Honey
  • Ginger, Cinnamon & Brandy
  • Ginger, Honey & Vanilla
  • Honey, Lime Juice (or Zest)
  • Honey & Rosemary
   
Syrup Chart for BOTTLED PEARS
Syrup
Sugar %
1L (1 quart) batch
4.5L (9 pint) batch
7L (7 quart) batch
Very Light
10%
1 1/2 cups water
3 tablespoons sugar
6 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup sugar
10 1/2 cups water
1 1/4 cups sugar
Light
20%
1 1/3 cups water
1/4 cup
sugar
5 3/4 cups water
1 1/2 cups
sugar
9 cups water
2 1/2 cups sugar
Medium
30%
1 1/4 cups water
1/2 cup
sugar
5 1/4 cups water
2 1/4 cups sugar
8 1/4 cups water
3 3/4 cups sugar
Honey
varies
1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons honey
6 1/2 cups water
1/3 cup
honey
10 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup
honey
Fruit Juice
varies
1 1/2 cups fruit juice
6 2/3 cups fruit juice
10 2/3 cups fruit juice
Water
0%
1 1/2 cups water
6 2/3 cups water
10 2/3 cups water

   

Processing Time for BOTTLED PEARS in a Boiling Water Bath

Jar
Size
Altitude
≤ 1,000 feet
Altitude
1,001 - 3,000 feet
Altitude
3,001 - 6,000 feet
Altitude
≥ 6,000 feet
Hot Pack
≤ 500ml
 (pints)
20 minutes
25 minutes
30 minutes
35 minutes
≤ 1 Litre
(quarts)
25 minutes
30 minutes
35 minutes
40 minutes
     
Processing Time for BOTTLED PEARS in a Dial Gauge Pressure Canner

Jar Size
Processing Time
Canner Pressure
at Altitude
≤ 2,000 feet
Canner Pressure
at Altitude
2,001 - 4,000 feet
Canner Pressure
at Altitude
4,001 - 6,000 feet
Canner Pressure
at Altitude
6,001 - 8,000 feet
Hot Pack
≤ 1 Litre
(quarts)
10 minutes
6 PSI
7 PSI
8 PSI
9 PSI
     
Processing Time for BOTTLED PEARS in a Weighted Gauge Pressure Canner

Jar Size
Processing Time
Canner Pressure
at Altitude ≤ 1,000 feet
Canner Pressure
at Altitude ≥ 1,000 feet
Hot Pack
≤ 1 Litre
(quarts)
10 minutes
5 PSI
10 PSI


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