5 Best Recipes for Making Dried Pears at Home

It's not always possible to preserve fresh fruit for a long time while preserving its excellent flavor and some of its nutrients. One of the most effective preservation methods is to simply dry pears at home. These dried fruits have a rich, intriguing flavor and aroma, and can be enjoyed as a standalone dessert or used in a variety of dishes.

The beneficial properties of dried pears

Pears have been used in folk medicine since ancient times. They have astringent, diuretic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory properties. They contain various vitamins, microelements, all kinds of enzymes, beneficial organic acids and pectin substances.

Energy value

The caloric content of ready-dried pears is 250-270 kcal, they contain 2.3 grams of protein, only 0.6 grams of fat and 62.6 grams of carbohydrates per 100 grams of fruit.

Which varieties are best?

Suitable varieties include those with firm, moderately juicy flesh (without excess liquid). They should be small to medium-sized, without astringent astringency, and have a pleasant flavor and aroma. The following varieties are recommended:

• Lemon;
• Victoria;
• Talgar Beauty;
• Conference;
• Bergamot;
• Forest Beauty.

Preparing the fruits

First, the fruit is washed thoroughly and then left to dry. Then, the core and seeds are removed and then cut into pieces or fairly thin slices, depending on the recipe.

Moreover, small-fruited pears can be dried whole.

Methods for preparing dried pears

At home, delicious dried pears are prepared by soaking them in wine and sugar syrup. They are dried whole or cut into slices. In summer, they are dried outdoors, but in the fall, an oven or electric dehydrator is used.

In the sun

First, choose the right drying location. The pears should be kept outdoors, in a convenient spot, and always in direct sunlight. Wash, dry, slice, and then place them cut-side out on a clean baking sheet. Cover them with cheesecloth and dry in the sun for up to a week. Then, move them to the shade and dry for another two days.

In an electric dryer

For this drying method, you need to select firm, firm, and not overripe fruits. Depending on your taste preference, the fruits can be pre-soaked in sugar syrup or used fresh. Ingredients for making sweet dried pears:

• fruits – 2 kilograms;
• sugar – 700 grams.

Step-by-step preparation:

1. The fruits are washed, dried, and cored and seeded. They are then cut into thin slices and sprinkled with sugar. They are then left to soak for 2-3 days (preferably at room temperature).
2. Then the sugared slices are poured into a colander and the juice is allowed to drain well.
3. Now prepare sugar syrup (use equal parts water and sugar) and bring it to a boil.
4. The dried slices are dipped into hot syrup for no more than 10 minutes.
5. Then the slices are placed back in the colander and left for 1 hour, during which time all excess liquid should drain from them.
6. Afterwards, the slices are placed on clean trays in an electric dryer, the temperature is set to +60 C degrees and they are dried for 14-15 hours.

In the oven

With a gentle drying process, the juice gradually evaporates, leaving the fruit pulp, but of course, losing volume. This can be achieved using an oven (gas or electric).

Step-by-step preparation:

1. First, the fruit is thoroughly washed and dried, then the core and seeds are removed. Then, the fruit is cut into thin slices.
2. The oven is preheated to an optimal temperature of +60 C degrees.
3. The baking tray is covered with pear slices and placed in the oven.
4. When drying, it's important to constantly monitor the temperature and periodically check the condition of the pears. When the segments begin to shrink, the temperature is lowered to 50°C to 55°C and dried for 3-4 hours.
5. Afterwards, the fruit is inspected. If the fruit slices are still soft and watery, they are returned to the oven for 40 minutes at 40°C (104°F).
6. Pears will be especially tasty if you soak them in hot sugar syrup for 10 minutes and then dry them in the oven.

An unusual recipe for dried pears soaked in mulled wine

A truly savory treat would be pears soaked in aromatic wine before drying. It's best to prepare the mulled wine first, then prepare the fruit. Ingredients for the drink:

• red wine – 250 milliliters;
• sugar – 120 grams;
• lemon - half;
• allspice – 8 peas;
• ginger - a small piece;
• raisins – 2 tablespoons;
• star anise – 1 star;
• carnations – 3-4 buds;
• clean water – 50 milliliters.

Step-by-step preparation:

1. Place the wine and spices on the stove and bring to a boil.
2. Wash the pears, remove the seeds, and cut them into thin slices (0.5 cm on average). Firm, slightly unripe pears are best for this recipe.
3. The slices are placed in hot mulled wine and left to soak for 24 hours.
4. Then the slices are placed in a colander and left to drain for 1 hour.
5. Place the dried pear slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in an oven preheated to +80 C degrees.
6. The fruit should be dried for at least 9-10 hours, maintaining a constant temperature. Once done, place the fruit on parchment paper and leave it to dry for 2-3 days at room temperature.

We prepare aromatic fruits with cinnamon

A special flavor and rich, stunning aroma are achieved by soaking the fruit in sugar syrup with cinnamon before drying. The subsequent drying process is no different from oven or electric dehydration.

How to store the finished product?

The best option is to store them in a home refrigerator, where the shelf life can be up to 1.5 years. If stored at room temperature (in a dry, dark place), they will retain all their qualities for up to six months. Store dried pears in a paper bag or jar with a tight-fitting lid.

If the fruits are very dry, the shelf life can be up to 1 year.

What to make from prepared fruit?

Dried pears are added to various desserts, baked goods, muesli, jam, jelly, compotes, sweet porridges, and eaten fresh as a snack or dessert.