The Poultry Keeper

Heather · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 2:01 pm Post subject: Storing Pears

Ok we have LOADS of pears - Doyenne du comice which last year other than eating and making chutney with we ended up juicing loads of them which whilst yummy seems quite wasteful - there is only so much pulp I can give to the chickens !!

Can you store pears in the same way as Apples- wrap them in paper and stuff ( can't remember been a while since I did that) Or do I need to make more pear cakes and freeze them ? !

Also might look into a dehydrator - but nowhere to store it really so If I get one will have to be sneaky about it !

CP · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 2:08 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure but I don't think pears store that well. Confused

I may be totally wrong though! Rolling Eyes

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1360 Location: Leicestershire

Pears don't store well at all, although some varieties may be slightly better than others, the worst about them is they go bad from the inside out, so they may look good until you cut them or bite one, best to continue in the cooked storage vein, or juicing. . . . pear juice doesn't seem too much of a waste to me Laughing

Itsybitsy

NannyP · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:23 pm Post subject:

I have lots of pears and with visitors here, no time to do much with them.
I peeled and chopped some yesterday, and have bagged and frozen them....when I have more time I will make chutney. Have no idea whether freezing is okay, but didn't want anymore to go bad.

mojo · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:37 pm Post subject:

if you peel and cut in slices either sterilise them in bottles(kilner) jars (just done 17 )or open freeze (but needs freezing space in freezer)then bag them for later use(i cut them into water with lemon juice in it as i go allong.drain before next step(done 6lbs)

Heather · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:45 pm Post subject:

we have plenty of freezer space - we so rarely make use of it I think 3 out of 4 drawers are empty

NannyP · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 7:41 pm Post subject:

I didn't open freeze them....will just have to see how they do. I'm sure they'll make reasonable chutney.

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2133 Location: North Cornwall

What about doing something like Mojo's liqueur with some of them. I made it last year and this year with strawbs and rasps and its really lovely. If you like pears I bet it would be great. Very Happy

Infact, now ive thought of it, think i'll try making some Laughing

Sue B · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 382 Location: Lincolnshire

I poached some in sugar water lemon juice with a stick of cinamon. The children moaned they were too spicy Rolling Eyes

although I liked them as did OH. Still I'd made rather a lot so tried an experiment which went down a treat. I made a pear crumble with them but used dark brown sugar instead of white for the crumble. It was really good ....and not tooooooo spicy for the picky kids Very Happy

~elizabeth~ · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 19

It depends on the variety; also on picking them at exactly the right time (leaving it just a tad too late can cause some varieties to go brown in the middle, thus reducing storage time). Comice are better than some, but do need to be eaten as soon as you see any yellowing and softening of the top.

I grow about 16 varieties of pear which should, in theory, give a continuity of fruit from August up to xmas, though I find some of the late vars ripen earlier than expected (and largely theoretical this year as the wretched squirrels ruined nearly all my crop).

Some of the dual-purpose cooker-eaters like Santa Claus and Pitmaston Duchess keep the longest. Catillac keeps for ever, but is a very hard, grainy pear only suitable for cooking (though a very attractive tree).