Amish Pear Butter Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to peel pears for pear butter? ›

Do I need to peel the pears? You can make this recipe with either canned pears, which require no prep (you just need to drain them), or you can use fresh. If using fresh core them and cut them into chunks. You don't have to peel fresh pears as we do blend them after cooking to get a smooth butter.

Pear flesh is infused with very fine grit, made of clusters of stone cells. Stone cells, a subtype of sclereid cells, make up some other very hard tissues like peach pits and nut shells. Stone cells are born with their own death as an end goal.

Introduction: Pear Butter (and How to Can It!)

Contrary to the name, we aren't actually making "butter", per se; there are no dairy products in this recipe. Prepared this way, the jars should have a shelf life of about 18 months to 2 years...and possibly even longer depending upon the conditions.

If your pear butter isn't thick enough after the cooking time, prop the lid open and cook for an additional hour or until desired consistency is reached. Ladle in to mason jars. Keep refrigerated for up to a month.

In biology class we learned that the hard bits, especially in an unripe pear, are called sclereid bundles, or stone cells. We looked at them under the microscope, focusing the lens until the blurred dots turned to thin lines: dead cells with thick walls.

Unfortunately, browning is inevitable. It happens when oxygen hits the cut fruit. Lemon juice can help slow down the browning and keep your fruit looking bright and delicious. To keep the inevitable discoloration at bay, mix a light solution of water and lemon juice (strain the lemon juice before adding to the water).

Pear contains cells of sclerenchyma which are small, rounded and called stone cells. They are hard with highly thickened cell wall. These cells give the crunchy and granular feeling when we chew pear fruit.

Can you use expired butter? Here's the good news: If you notice that your butter's expiration date has passed but you don't have time to run down to the store for a new tub, you can still eat it with relative safety as long as you inspect it first.

The most commonly accepted theory for Pear Butter's death is that she died giving birth to Apple Bloom. Theories for Bright Mac range from Timber wolves, suicide, farming accidents, and more.

While overripe pears are good to eat, rotten or mouldy pears are not. If your pears start to smell strange, if they're shrivelled or liquid starts seeping out of them, this could be a sign they've started to rot. If you notice any of these things, or if they start growing mould, it's time to throw them out.

What is the best tasting pear in the world? ›

Comice pears are perhaps the best pears for eating raw. They have a great fruity aroma and flavor, as well as a slightly finer, less grainy texture than other pear varieties. They are almost a cross between a Bosc pear and an Asian pear. Comice pears are slightly more rounded and apple-shaped than other pears.

Sadly, sugar plays a huge role in set. If you cut the amount in the recipe and you don't compensate with a pectin designed for low sugar preserving, your jam may well be runny. Did you check for set while the jam was cooking? Any time a recipe gives you a cooking time, it's simply an approximation.

Bartlett pears (also called Williams) have what most people would consider the true “pear flavor.” Both red and green Bartletts are bell-shaped. You can find them in stores from September through the early months of winter. Since pears are harvested unripe, allow them to ripen at room temperature.

If using pears with firm skin like Bosc, peel them. Otherwise, leave the skin on. Cut the pears in half lengthwise, leaving the stems on for visual presentation if desired.

Peel (or don't—your call), and then halve firm but just-ripe pears. I repeat the firm part because if you have ever tried to peel or core an over-ripe pear, you know it's a messy affair. With very-ripe fruit, maybe skip the peeling.

Pears can be left unpeeled for eating fresh, but be sure to peel them before cooking. Although the peel is edible, some fruits may have tough skins with a slightly bitter flavor that is accentuated when cooked. Prevent premature browning by dipping cut pears in water mixed with a little lemon juice or vinegar.

No. Pear skins are totally safe and easy to digest for the stomach. In fact, a lot of the pear's nutrients are found on the skin or just below the skin. If you do keep the skin on you may need to cook the pears for longer and the puree will not be as smooth (unless you have a powerful blender).