Preserving Asian Pears Through Canning Process
In the year 1950, canning Asian pears was not a common practice due to a lack of a tested recipe approved by the national center for food preservation. However, things have changed since then. In 2015, the Oregon State Extension tested a recipe for canning Asian pears and concluded they are safe for water bath canning with the addition of lemon juice.
Before starting, it's essential to know that Asian pears are low acid fruits and require added lemon juice for safe canning. Regardless of the packing method, whether raw or hot, the addition of lemon juice is crucial.
The first step in canning Asian pears is peeling and coring. After this, the pears are cooked in a pan with canning liquid for about 5 minutes to ensure they are hot all the way through. This is for the hot pack method. For raw packing, the pears are simply added to the jars without prior cooking.
The cooking liquid can be plain water, juice (apple or pear), or syrup of your choice. A guide for sugar to water ratios for canning syrups is provided, from extra light to extra heavy syrup.
For hot pack, it's important to strain the pears out of the juice before packing them into jars. Asian pears should be hot packed into jars, leaving 1-inch headspace. Regardless of the packing method, pour boiling canning liquid into the jars to fill, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.
It's important to note that raw packing allows for easier fitting into jars but results in poorer quality storage and discoloration over time. On the other hand, hot packing results in better quality storage.
Canned Asian pears can be used in much the same way as canned pears, but they will stay firmer in baked goods. European pears are high acid fruits with soft flesh, unlike Asian pears which are crisp and do not keep well without preservation.
Mangoes used to be approved for home canning but are now considered unsafe. The conventional wisdom about canning regulations can shift from one decade to the next, so it's always recommended to check multiple sources when looking for a canning recipe for the most up-to-date information.
Lastly, Asian pears tend to brown quickly after being cut and should be treated with lemon juice immediately to prevent discoloration. With these guidelines, you can now safely and effectively can Asian pears at home. Happy canning!
