Do you have a pear tree rich in fruit? Have you been given a box full of pears? You must be wondering what to do with all that fresh delicious fruit…
How to Freeze Pears
Although the concept of freezing pears is simple enough, there are a few steps you’ll want to take to ensure you freeze them well. Here is my method for freezing them:
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- Prepare PearsYou need to choose firm, ripe pears and then peel core and cut them into halves or quarters.
- SoakPrepare a bowl of lemon juice mixed with water. About three tablespoons of lemon juice should work. This is to stop the pears from going brown and spoiling. Soak the pears in the solution for about three minutes.
- Drain and DryDrain the pears and allow them to dry. You may need to dab the pears dry using a piece of kitchen paper to absorb the excess moisture.
- Flash FreezeLayout the pair halves or quarters onto the sheet taking care to ensure they are not touching. You don’t want them to get stuck together. Place this tray into the freezer, trying to keep it flat.
- Bag UpOnce the pear pieces have frozen solid, take them back out of the freezer and transfer them into a freezer bag.
- FreezeLabel the bag with the date and name of the contents and put it back into the freezer.
How to Freeze Pears in Syrup
Although unhealthy, freezing pears in a sugar syrup solution will help them to last much longer in the freezer. Of course, if you’re freezing pears to have them in a smoothie or for breakfast then this method should be avoided.
- Prepare, Soak and DrainChoose ripe but firm pears. Peel, core and cut the pears into halves or slices. You must treat the pears with an acidic solution to stop them from browning. You can use lemon juice for this. Put 3tbsp of lemon juice in a water bowl and soak the prepared pears in the solution for about 3 minutes. Drain the fruit and allow it to dry.
- Make SyrupPrepare a syrup by dissolving sugar into water. The amount of sugar will change how light or heavy the syrup is. This is down to your personal preference.
- Prepare ContainersPrepare some freezer-safe containers by labelling them with the contents and the date.
- MixTwo cups of pears should be mixed with about half a cup of syrup. You can add a little extra syrup if you prefer. Make sure you leave some space at the top of the container for the syrup to expand as it freezes.
- FreezePop the containers into the freezer and freeze.
How to Freeze Different Pear Dishes
Of course, the beauty of pears is how versatile they are a fruit in completely dishes. Here are 3 ways I love to freeze them:
Pear Crumble
You know how some days you crave a warm pear crumble but don’t have the time or energy to whip it up from scratch? That’s where freezing comes in.
I usually prepare my pear crumble right up to the point where they’d go in the oven. Of course, make sure you assemble them in a freezer-safe dish.
I wrap the dish tightly with plastic wrap. It’s crucial to protect the crumble from exposure to air, as that’s what causes the dreaded freezer burn. Then, just to be extra sure, I add another layer of protection with some foil over the plastic wrap.
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Whenever I’m ready for a comforting pear crumble, it’s as simple as preheating the oven and popping it in.
Poached Pears
Poached pears are another treat that freeze remarkably well. After I’ve poached them and let them cool, I transfer the pears into a freezer bag.
I always make sure to pour some of the lovely poaching liquid into the bag as well – it helps protect the pears from drying out and brings back all those delicate flavours when you defrost them. I then squeeze out as much air as possible and seal the bag.
Smoothies
My little trick here is to freeze the smoothie mixture before blending it. I chop the pears and any other fruits I’m using and then arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Once they’re frozen, I pop them into a freezer bag.
Now, whenever I want a quick smoothie, I grab a handful of the pre-frozen fruit, add my liquids, and blend.
How Long Can You Freeze Pears?
How long you can keep pears frozen will depend on how you froze them. Uncooked pears frozen in syrup can last for up to twelve months in the freezer, making it the perfect method for freezing a lot of pears!
Poached pears or pears frozen without a syrup don’t have quite such a long freezer life. You should be looking to use these pears within about three months of freezing.
How Do You Defrost Pears?
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For many recipes and uses, you may not want to defrost your pears at all! If you have chosen to freeze pears without a syrup for popping into smoothies, juices and pureeing then you don’t need to defrost them at all.
Just pop them into your blender and blend – just delicious!
If you do need to defrost the pears then the best method is to allow them to defrost slowly in the fridge. Just pop them into a bowl and allow them to defrost for a few hours.
Can You Refreeze Pears?
You shouldn’t refreeze pears.
As with any fruit, there is a danger of them becoming spoiled or mushy, and this increases in likelihood the more times you freeze them. Doing this could make them inedible or even make you sick.
Do Pears Freeze Well?
As long as you have prepared and frozen your pears well then they should be perfectly delicious after freezing.
However, they will not be quite the same as they were fresh. They won’t have that firm, crisp texture as you bite into one. This makes them much more suited to cooking than eating once they have been frozen.
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