Forktionary

Old Fashioned Pear Preserves Recipe

Capture the taste of Grandma's kitchen with these irresistible Old-Fashioned Pear Preserves! Silky pear pieces swim in a luscious, sweet, and perfectly jelled syrup. This recipe uses up to 4 pounds of pears, yielding a delightful spread perfect for biscuits, toast, rice pudding, yogurt, or even as a unique ice cream topping. Infuse with warming ginger, aromatic nutmeg, or fragrant cardamom for an extra layer of flavor. A touch of orange or lemon zest elevates this classic to new heights. While the process takes three days, most of the time is hands-off, leaving you with a homemade treasure.

Prep Time 60 mins
Cook Time 4350 mins
Calories 1348.5 kcal
Protein 2g
Rating 3.5 (2 Reviews)
Old Fashioned Pear Preserves 18

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Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Old Fashioned Pear Preserves

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How to Make Old Fashioned Pear Preserves

  1. **Day 1: Preparation**
  2. Peel, core, and slice or dice 4 pounds of ripe but firm pears into approximately 1/2-inch pieces.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the pears with 4 pounds of granulated sugar.
  4. Add the juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons).
  5. Optionally, add the zest of 1 lemon for enhanced flavor.
  6. Gently stir to coat the pears with sugar and lemon juice.
  7. Cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight (at least 8 hours). Stir several times during this period to ensure the pears are well coated.
  8. **Day 2: Cooking**
  9. Transfer the pear mixture to a large, heavy-bottomed pot.
  10. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over medium-high heat.
  11. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the pears are translucent and candied. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
  12. Remove from heat and let the pears sit in the syrup overnight, covered with a clean dishtowel under the lid to absorb condensation.
  13. **Day 3: Finishing & Canning**
  14. Carefully remove the pears from the syrup, straining the syrup back into the pot.
  15. Bring the syrup back to a boil over medium-high heat.
  16. Continue to boil until it reaches the desired thickness. Test for doneness by dropping a small amount of syrup onto a chilled plate; it should gel immediately.
  17. Return the pears to the thickened syrup and gently stir for about 10 minutes as it cools. This prevents the fruit from floating to the top of the jars.
  18. Carefully ladle the preserves into sterilized jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.
  19. Process jars in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes (if packing hot jars) or 10 minutes (if packing cold jars).
  20. Remove jars and let cool completely undisturbed for 24 hours.
  21. Check for a good seal (lids should not flex). Store in a cool, dark place and enjoy!

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

0 g

Sugar

1326g

Fat

0g

Carbs

116g

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)

Time To Make Course Main Ingredient Preparation Occasion Low Protein Healthy 5 Ingredients Or Less Jams And Preserves Condiments Etc Fruit 1 Day Or More Easy Fall Low Fat Dietary Low Sodium Low Cholesterol Seasonal Low Saturated Fat Low In Something Pears From Scratch