Preserve and Freeze Pears All Year Round: A Complete Guide to Freezing Pears
Pears are one of my favorite fruits, but this delicious fruit is expensive and not readily available year round. Keeping this in mind I share how to freeze pairs so to use them to top my salads, mix them in muffins and, enjoy them caramelized with baked brie and bread year round.
Below is a quick guide to freeze pears and enjoy the crisp, juicy goodness of pears year round. Freezing is your friend.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of freezing pears, how long they last in the freezer, and tips to ensure their quality remains intact.
How Long Do Pears Last in the Freezer?
Properly frozen, pears can retain their freshness for anywhere between 8-10 months. Which is a significant contrast to their relatively short life when sitting on the kitchen counter or refrigerator.
In the refrigerator, pears last from a few days to a couple of weeks, based on their ripeness. On your countertop, ripe pears spoil quickly within a day or two, while unripe ones can last up to two weeks as they slowly ripen. By freezing your pears, you can enjoy their fresh taste at any time of the year, whether as a frozen treat or a versatile ingredient in recipes such as pies.
Can Pears Spoil in the Freezer?
Generally, pears won’t spoil while they’re in the freezer. Freezing temperatures halts the growth of bacteria keeping the fruit from going bad. Nevertheless, a power outage that leads to thawing could risk spoilage.
It’s important to maintain a consistent freezing temperature to preserving the quality of frozen pears. If a power outage lasts more than a few hours, the pears could be exposed to above-freezing temperatures, it may lead to spoilage.
Also, over time, food in the freezer may suffer from freezer burn, a condition that occurs when food dehydrates. Correct packaging and following freezing guidelines can help keep freezer burn at bay, preserving your pears’ texture and flavor.
What is the Best Way to Freeze Pears?
Here is two reliable methods exist for freezing pears – the syrup method and flash freezing. Choose between these two methods depending on how you intend to use the pears.
Syrop Method to Freeze Pears
If you’re planning to use the pears in desserts like pies or cobblers, freezing them in syrup is ideal. This process enhances their flavor and sweetness. To do this, peel, core, and slice the pears, and prepare a syrup by boiling a mixture of sugar and water. Allow the syrup to cool before packaging the pears in containers, ensuring they are well covered with syrup and leaving some room for expansion.
Flash Freezing Pears
For those who prefer to eat plain, uncooked pears, flash freezing is the way to go. Prepare the pears similarly to the syrup method making sure they are clean, peeled, cored, and sliced. Then arrange the pear slices on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, with none touching. Freeze the pears overnight on the sheets, and then move them to freezer-safe bags for long-term storage.
Concluding How to Freeze Pears
Freezing pears is an excellent way to maintain the fresh taste and nutritional benefits year round. By adhering to the appropriate freezing techniques and storage guidelines, you can extend the pears’ shelf life and uphold their quality.
Whether you choose to freeze in syrup or flash freeze, you’ll end up with a stock of tasty pears which are ready to add to your favorite recipe or enjoy as a wholesome snack.
With proper freezing, pears can be relished even when out of season, letting you indulge in their succulent sweetness no matter the time of year.