Canning unripe pears

We had 2 pear trees that were so loaded down with pears that all but 2 branches on each tree broke before the pears were ripe. We’ve learned our lesson and will not allow that many pears develop next time. Is there anything that we can do with the unripe pears? I’m not sure they will ripen because they are only about the size of a baseball now.

Judith Avery
New Bern, North Carolina

If it were me, I’d can up some and see how they taste, canned in a medium syrup. Or you might try canning pear preserves or even pickled pears which are really sweet syrupy, cinnamon pears. I’d make a small batch of each as a trial and see what you can do. I sure hate wasting food! — Jackie

Canning zucchini pickles

Here is a recipe I have some questions on: Slice the squash (zucchini or yellow) 1/4 inch thick, Boil 4 cups of water, 1/4 cup of vinegar, 1/4 cup of sugar, fill the jars with squash, fill with prepared liquid add lids and seals, HOT WATER BATH for 10 minutes. To eat: rinse the squash several times in colander, drain. Bread and fry em up, there just as good 2 years later as ever.
 
Okay, it sounds like pickles, which should make it safe to water bath. But it’s not pickles. So is this a safe method? And would it matter if it were thin slices or 1/2 inch chunks? What’s your opinion?

Becky McKim
Ankeny, Iowa

I’d skip this one. Too much water for how much sugar and vinegar, in my humble opinion. The thickness of the slices is not the problem but the fact that you’re water bathing a low acid vegetable in very limited amounts of acid (vinegar) and sugar really worries me. — Jackie

3 COMMENTS

  1. Judith, whether or not they will ripen probably depends on what variety they are. Some pears never tree ripen, and have to be in cold storage for several months then brought to a cool indoor temp for several weeks to be edible. I’d suggest that you Google the variety and see what the recommendations are for ripening and for using unripe fruit. I’d think you’ll find all kinds of uses for your unripe pears. Most pear trees I’ve worked with have extremely brittle branch wood

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