Canning Pears Ball Food

CANNING PEARS {PRESERVED PEARS}

Steps:

• Prepare your water bath canner by filling it with water. You just need to have enough water to cover the jars by 2 inches once the water is boiling.
• Set the canner on the stove. Turn the burner to high. Once it reaches a boil, reduce it to simmer. You want to keep the water hot so that everything is ready when the pears are.
• Wash and sanitize your jars. You'll want to keep them warm to avoid having them crack when placed in the canner. You can fill them with hot water, or place them on a tray in the oven at 170F.
• Wash your lids with hot soapy water and place them in a clean bowl for now.
• Fill a large bowl halfway with water and mix in 1/3 cup of bottled lemon juice.
• Cut the tops and bottoms off of the fruit.
• Using a vegetable peeler, peel off all the pear skins.
• After that, cut the pear in half from the top to the bottom.
• Take the paring knife and make a cut from the stem to the bottom on one side. Repeat on the other side, then jiggle the core out. Discard the core, and put the pear in the water with the lemon juice.
• When the bowl is getting full of skinned/cored pears, start the syrup. In a large pot, mix 1 cup of sugar per 6 cups of water and heat over medium.
• (Hot pack option) Once the syrup is boiling, add the pears one layer at a time (a canning term that means don't totally fill the pot) and heat for 5 minutes.
• (Hot pack option) Using a fork, grab the now softened pears one at a time, and put them cavity side down in the canning jar.
• (Raw pack option) use a fork and place pears cavity side down in the canning jar.
• Return the burner under the canner back to high to get the water back to a rolling boil.
• Using a canning funnel and a ladle, slowly pour the hot syrup into the jars until the pears are completely covered. Leave 1/2 inch of headspace. Headspace is defined as the space between the top of the food and the top of the jar.
• Remove the bubbles from the jar (I use a plastic chopstick).
• Use a wet clean rag and wipe the rim of the jars to make sure it is free of any food or syrup.
• Place a clean lid and ring on the jar and tighten the ring to fingertip tight.
• Using canning tongs, add jars to the boiling water, and put the canner lid on. Pro tip: you must have at least 2 inches of water over the tops of the jars for safe canning.
• Once your jars are completely covered with the boiling water, put the lid on and boil for 20 minutes (pints) or 25 minutes (quarts).
• Once your jars are starting to process, fill up your next 6-7 jars with hot pears, syrup, etc.
• When the time is up, remove the canner from heat, and let sit for 5 minutes.
• Remove the jars using canning tongs and place them on towels on the counter undisturbed for 12-24 hours.
• After everything has cooled, check the seal by pushing down on the middle of the lid. If it doesn't give way, it's sealed. If the lid bows a little bit, put that in the fridge and use it within 3 weeks.
• Label the sealed jars, and store in a cool dark place for up to a year.

CANNING PEARS

Steps:

• Start by preparing jars and getting water in the canner heating. You want the canner hot, but not boiling, when the jars are ready to be processed.See full water bath canning instructions here.

CANNED PEARS

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a non-reactive bowl , prepare acidulated water by combining the water with the white vinegar or lemon juice.​
• Slice off the stems of the pears as well as a thin slice from the bottom of each fruit. Peel the pears using a vegetable peeler. Cut them in half and use a paring knife to slice out the seeds and cores. Add the fruit to the acidulated water as you work.
• Chop the soaked pears into slices or chunks, depending on your preference. Return them to the acidulated water.
• Drain the pears in a colander.​
• In a large pot, bring the syrup, juice, or water to a boil.
• Add the chunks or slices of pears and simmer for 2 minutes.
• Ensure the canning jars are clean and free of cracks and chips. They also need to be hot: Fill each with very hot water, emptying them just before filling with the fruit.
• Use a slotted spoon to transfer the pears from the simmering liquid. Fill the jars with the fruit, leaving 3/4-inch headspace between the top of the pears and the rims of the jars. Pack the fruit tightly to reduce floating fruit, but avoid smashing the pieces.
• Ladle the hot liquid over the fruit, leaving 1/2-inch headspace in each jar. Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean, damp paper or cloth towel. Secure the canning lids.​
• Process the jars in a boiling water bath : 20 minutes for pint jars, 25 minutes for quart jars.
• Once the jars have cooled, store the canned pears until ready to use. Enjoy!

CINNAMON PEARS IN APPLE JUICE-CANNING

Steps:

• Peel pears, and cut into halves and core.
• Treat to prevent darkening(I submerge them in lemon juice and a little water).
• Drain; rinse and drain again.
• Cook pears in water one layer at a time until hot throughout.
• Heat the apple juice just to a boil.
• Pack hot pears into hot jars, leaving 1/2" headspace.
• Place 1 cinnamon stick in each jar.
• Ladle hot apple juice over pears, leaving 1/2" headspace.
• Remove air bubbles(I do this with a knife).
• Adjust two piece caps.
• Process pints 20 minutes in a boiling water canner. Enjoy!