Do you want to learn how to can pears? This tutorial will show you every step and option you have!
Last week, the kids and I canned pear, and I gotta tell ya, it was one of the most satisfying things I’ve done in a while.
I remember one year when the kids were little, our orchard went gangbusters, and I was so stressed out trying to can and freeze everything. But this year was different.
Those rugrats jumped in and started coring and quartering pears without even being asked while I peeled and dunked them in lemon water.
That said, canning anything can be a long, tedious process if you have a lot of it, regardless of how many helpers you have.
So when it comes to canning, patience is key. I like to listen to an audiobook or my favorite podcast. I even moved the TV into the kitchen once this summer so I could watch the World Championship marathon while I can.
Leaving the skin on the pears is not an issue and usually comes down to personal preference. With the skins on, the canned pears can become a bit tough and turn an off-color in the jar, so I prefer to remove them.
How to can pears
Prepping pears to can is very similar to prepping apples to can apple pie filling.
Whereas with canning diced tomatoes or peaches, you would quickly scald the fruit to loosen the peeling, with pears (and apples), you peel using a knife.
Peeling pears is both easier and harder than peeling apples – easier because they’re soft and your knife slips right through, and harder because they’re not as uniform, and it’s almost impossible to use a crank peeler on pears.
My process is simply this:
- Quarter pears
- Core pears
- Peel pears
- Place peeled and cored slices in a bowl of lemon water until ready to can.
The lemon water helps keep them from turning brown while you peel enough to make a canner full.
In the spirit of complete honesty, this can get a little messy. Pears are soft and juicy, so you know it’s going to get sticky!
My best advice for minimizing the mess is to stand at the kitchen counter, or for shorter people (like kids), at the kitchen table, standing on a stool if necessary. If you have a lot of pears to prep, you may be tempted to rest your feet and sit at the table to do your peeling. I’m not saying you should never do that, but it won’t take long to have juice running down your arms and dripping off your elbows.
Standing up keeps the juice down on your cutting board.
Clean off your cutting board often. You can see in the picture above how little bits of pear break off and get mushy all over. This happens less if your pears are just ripe and more firm, but it still happens. I find myself rinsing my board off now and then to keep it under control.
To slice or to halve?
You can slice or not slice your pears however you like. I prefer to quarter them because that makes them easy to core. But canning halved, whole, or even diced pears isn’t wrong.
It’s all about personal preference.
After you’ve cut and peeled your pears, you’re going to pack them into clean jars, but first, you need syrup.
Canning Pears Made Simple! (Bonus: Easiest Way To Peel Pears)
FAQ
Do you have to peel pears before cooking?
What is the best way to prepare pears for canning?
Do you peel a pear before steaming?
Do you need to cook pears before canning?
You may be wondering if you need to cook pears before canning. This is considered hot-packing pears, when you boil them slightly before adding them to your canning jars. You do not need to cook pears before canning, you can use a raw-pack method, but here’s why I recommend using a hot pack method.
Are pears healthy?
Yes, the pear is one of the fruits richest in fiber and phenolic compounds, there are several benefits of the pear for health, the main ones being the relief of intestinal constipation, cholesterol and blood glucose control and a well-strengthened immune system.
Should pears be ripe for canning?
Yes, pears for canning should be ripe, but not overly ripe (mushy). Pears are the rare fruit that can be picked green and still taste wonderful when is ripened off the tree. It is common to pick pears green but wait until they are ripe to can them. If your pears are green, let them set on the counter for a few days at least.
Can pears be canned?
You may can pears in just water, unsweetened apple juice, or light to medium syrup (which is a mixture of sugar and water in different ratios). You must use the hot pack method if you choose to can fruit with just water. I prefer to use a light syrup, but if you want, canning pears can be done with honey instead of sugar.