Fresh pears taste best. But sometimes the harvest is plentiful or the offer in the supermarket was too tempting. What to do with the vast amounts of fruit? Freezing is a good idea, but are pears even edible afterwards?

Pears are frozen in pieces

Are pears suitable for freezing?

When it comes to freezing pears, opinions vary widely. The changes that the frozen pear undergoes in the freezer is what drives the different recommendations.

In principle, pears can be frozen. But if you want to bite into one of the pears weeks later, you will definitely be disappointed. The sub-zero temperatures have changed the consistency of the fruit pulp. It has become soft, not to say mushy. Instead of a fruity fruit salad, the pear is now more suitable for a delicious puree.

For this reason, pieces of pears and not whole fruits are also frozen. If you have the time and inclination, you can also prepare a pear sauce or compote and then freeze it.

Preparation step by step

So that pears can be processed more easily after thawing, they are immediately frozen to fit. These steps are necessary in advance:

  1. Wash the pears carefully. If you prefer, you can also peel the pears.
  2. Quarter the fruit. Remove the core and stalk.
  3. The quarters can also be cut into smaller pieces or slices if needed.
  4. Add some sugar and lemon juice. This prevents the fruit from turning an unsightly brown colour.

Pack pear pieces

Loose pieces of fruit do not belong in the freezer. A suitable container offers protection from foreign aromas and freezer tape. The following aspects have proven to be useful.

  • Divide pieces of fruit into appropriate portion sizes
  • Close freezer bags or plastic boxes tightly
  • Labeling the containers makes it easier to find them again
  • The storage period can be determined from the noted date

Trapped air has a negative impact on the appearance and taste of the pears. A vacuum device does the best job here, but you can also press the air out of the freezer bag with the palm of your hand.

tips

Year after year, discounters offer cheap vacuum devices. A purchase is worthwhile because it can be used for any type of frozen food.

durability

Frozen pear pieces should ideally be used within ten months. After that, they are not spoiled immediately, but their good taste decreases significantly over time. If you own a pear tree, you will get fresh supplies from it anyway after this time.

thawing

When dealing with frozen goods, the motto is usually: freeze quickly, thaw slowly! This can be deviated from for pears. For compote or cooked mousse, the pieces should go into the saucepan frozen. Gentle thawing primarily serves to preserve a texture that is as natural as possible, which is no longer the case with frozen pears.

tips

A pear puree is not only welcome as a children's meal. It also adds a fine touch as an ingredient in desserts.

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

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