Content
Candied pears at home are a natural sweetness that can replace missing fresh fruits or candies in winter. After all, fruits are very beneficial for the body, as they contain a large amount of vitamins and beneficial microelements. These include: calcium, zinc, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, phosphorus. As well as vitamins of groups B, P and A, C, K, E, PP.
Which pears are best to choose for making candied fruits?
Candied fruits can be prepared from any type of pear, but it is better to give preference to sweet varieties. It is worth choosing only hard, not very juicy fruits. They should be slightly underripe. If these conditions are met, the prepared candied fruits will keep their shape perfectly and will also be better candied.
The end result of a treat prepared at home will delight any gourmet, since the dried product completely preserves the aroma and taste of fresh fruit.
Fruit preparation
It is necessary to select whole, unspoiled fruits. They must be thoroughly washed to remove dust and dirt. Remove the stems and leaves. Let the fruits dry for 15 minutes. To do this, you can lay them out on a kitchen towel.The peel should not be removed, as it also contains useful microelements.
Candied fruits can be prepared from whole fruits or cut into slices. Most often, housewives prefer the second option. But nutritionists recommend eating the whole pear, since it is the seeds of the fruit and its dense center that contain the largest amount of nutrients necessary for the human body. In this case, you need to choose small-sized fruits.
How to make candied pears
There are several ways to prepare candied fruits at home. Some housewives purchase an electric dryer for such purposes. But you can also use a regular oven to prepare aromatic candied fruits.
Candied pears in an electric dryer
Candied pears are very easy to prepare for the winter.
Required Products:
- pears – 1 kg;
- granulated sugar – 1 kg;
- powdered sugar – 30 g.
Recipe for making candied pears at home:
- Cut the prepared fruits into enamel pans into slices (cubes, sticks) 1 cm thick.
- Cover the fruits with sugar and leave for several hours (overnight is possible) so that they release the juice.
- Place on low heat. After boiling, cook for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Leave to infuse for 3-4 hours.
- Boil the fruit in the syrup again for 5 minutes.
- Repeat previous steps 3-4 times.
- Place the slices in a colander. Leave to drain all excess liquid for 1 hour.
- Carefully place the fruit pieces on the drying trays.
- Set the temperature to 70°C.
- Leave future candied pears in the dryer for 5-7 hours.
- Periodically change the trays so that the fruits dry evenly.
- Sprinkle the finished cooled product with powdered sugar on all sides.
- Place in a clean, dry jar for storage under a nylon lid.
The remaining syrup is used to prepare other sweet dishes. For example, housewives soak cupcakes with it.
Candied pears in the oven
The principle of cooking in the oven is virtually no different from the previous version. It takes a little longer. But every home has an oven, so the method is more accessible.
Ingredients:
- fruits – 1 kg;
- sugar – 1 kg;
- water for syrup – 300 ml;
- water for boiling fruit – 1-1.5 l;
- citric acid – 3 g.
A simple recipe for candied pears:
- Wash the fruits.
- Cut them into slices, after removing the inner part with seeds, stalks, and damaged areas.
- Boil water. Let the fruit pieces sit for 10 minutes.
- Place the pear in a container of cold water for 5 minutes.
- Prepare hot syrup from water and sugar.
- Transfer the cooled pieces into a saucepan. Pour in syrup.
- Let it brew for 3-4 hours.
- Boil for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and set aside for 10 hours.
- Repeat boiling and infusion 2-3 times to obtain translucent pieces.
- During the last cooking, add citric acid to the liquid. Mix.
- Place the pear in a colander to drain the syrup for 1-2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 40°C.
- Line a baking sheet with a sheet of parchment paper.
- Place pieces of fruit evenly on it.
- Cook for approximately 9 hours.
Recipe for candied apples and pears
You can prepare sweets from several types of fruits at the same time. Pear and apple go well together. This delicacy contains even more vitamins and beneficial microelements. In this version, you need to take a little more pears than apples, since they are sweeter.
Components:
- apples – 1.5 kg;
- pears – 2 kg;
- sugar – 1.5 kg;
- citric acid – 1.5 tsp;
- powdered sugar – 100 g.
Actions:
- Remove the core and seeds from washed fruits.
- Cut into equal pieces (cubes, slices, strips).
- The following steps completely repeat the recipe for preparing candied pears in your choice of oven or electric dryer.
How to make candied fruits from whole pears
Candied fruits from whole pears are quite easy to prepare at home. This delicacy retains more vitamins and looks more impressive. The fruit does not even need to be cut off when cooking.
Required ingredients:
- fruits – 1.5 kg;
- water – 3 tbsp.;
- granulated sugar – 0.5-0.7 kg;
- powdered sugar – 50-100 g.
Recipe for candied pears:
- Pierce clean fruits with a toothpick or sharpened match in several places.
- Place the fruit in the pan. Pour boiling water over it.
- Leave for 30 minutes.
- Drain the water into a separate saucepan to prepare the syrup.
- Add sugar to the liquid. Put on fire. Boil.
- Place the fruits in boiling syrup for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let liquid cool completely.
- Repeat cooking and cooling 4 times.
- Remove fruits from syrup. Let them drain completely, placing them in a colander.
- Place future candied fruits on parchment.
- The next day, sprinkle with powdered sugar.
- Dry for 3-4 days.
Terms and conditions of storage
After the entire cooking process, the candied fruits should be placed in a glass or plastic container and tightly closed with a lid. Store the container with candied fruits in a cool, dry place. Hermetically sealed jars of treats can be stored for up to 12 months.
Under no circumstances should you store candied fruits in a plastic bag or in containers that cannot be closed. This will lead to the breeding of food moths.
Some housewives make a roll from the resulting candied fruits. To do this, after the last boiling, pour the fruits with syrup into clean, sterilized jars. Roll up with treated tin lids. This delicacy differs from ordinary jam in the density of pieces of fruit. Later it is used for filling pies or tea treats. This jam can be stored for up to 2-3 years at room temperature.
Conclusion
Homemade candied pears are a great alternative to sweets. A natural product prepared with caring hands is very healthy. It will delight kids and adults in winter, when the body is so lacking in vitamins.