Dried delicious pears are an excellent and healthier alternative to classic fruit preparations using large amounts of sugar. Fruits prepared in this way retain most of their beneficial properties, which cannot be said about preservation. Several recipes for dried pears are common, the main difference being the method of drying the fruit.
Specifics of preparation
Drying is one of the methods of heat treatment of products.During it, the pulp is gradually dried under the influence of low temperature with simultaneous blowing of air currents.
Dried pears are easy to make in standard home conditions. In the process, they use household kitchen appliances (electric dryer, oven) or cook directly outside, under the sun’s rays.
Which varieties to choose and how to prepare the fruit?
Any variety is suitable for drying. However, the denser their pulp is, the faster and better the cooking process will be. The ideal varieties would be:
- Kabardinka;
- Krasulya;
- Extravaganza;
- Bergamot;
- Forest beauty.
Specimens that are too soft, overripe or spoiled are not suitable due to the fact that their pulp contains a lot of juices and will not be able to maintain a dense structure during processing.
Important! When preparing fruits, special attention should be paid to sorting. Damage of any kind is not allowed; such fruits are immediately discarded.
Fruit preparation consists of the following steps:
- The washed fruits are cut in half lengthwise and the seeds and stem are removed.
- Divide each half into 2-4 more fragments so that their total thickness is no more than 2.5 centimeters (minimum size - 1.5).
- Cover the pears with sugar at the rate of 350 grams of sweetener per kilogram of fruit.
In this form, the slices should spend 1.5 days at a temperature of plus 20 degrees.
How to prepare dried pear at home?
The technology for preparing dried pears directly depends on the chosen method of drying the product. The classic option of drying in the sun will take the most time. Using kitchen appliances significantly reduces time costs.
In the sun
The purpose of drying is to remove all the juices from the pears.Therefore, the process begins with the prepared pears being thrown onto a sieve. This way, the liquid released from them in 1.5 days can easily drain.
Ingredients:
- pears – 1 kilogram;
- sugar – 350 grams;
- water – 350 milliliters.
Cooking technique:
- Boil syrup from water and sugar. After boiling, throw the pears into it and turn off the stove.
- Let the fruit slices sit for 10 minutes with the lid open.
- Transfer the slices to a sieve and leave for an hour so that all the moisture has time to drain.
- Place the cooled fruits in one layer and hang them in a well-ventilated place.
After 2 days, each half-dried pear should be turned over and left for another week.
In the oven
The next most accessible way to prepare a dried dessert is using a stove. By setting it to a minimum temperature, you can provide ideal conditions for the slow evaporation of moisture. This recipe does not require any ingredients other than pears.
If desired, you can add some zest by sprinkling the slices with vanilla or cinnamon powder. In a similar way, you can prepare fruits pre-soaked in sugar syrup.
Cooking technique:
- Set the stove mode to 60 degrees.
- Place the pear in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in the oven.
- When the fruit begins to visually lose volume, reduce the temperature to 55 degrees and keep the slices there for another 4 hours. In this case, the stove door can be left slightly open. This will allow air to circulate. On modern stoves, the “convection” mode is simply set.
The resulting dried pears should be firm and dry. Otherwise, you need to continue heat treatment (already at 40 degrees).
In an electric dryer
A special device – an electric dryer – will significantly increase the amount of processed products and simplify the preparation of dried slices.
Ingredients:
- pear slices – 2 kilograms;
- syrup – 900 milliliters;
- sugar – 700 grams.
Cooking technique:
- Cover the fruit slices with sugar and leave for 3 days.
- Let the liquid drain, then dip the slices into boiled syrup.
- After 10 minutes, discard the pears in a colander, where they should spend another 1 hour.
- Place the fruits in an electric dryer, set the temperature to 60 degrees and dry them for about 14 hours (depending on the recommendations of the device manufacturer).
If desired, you can add your favorite spices at the drying stage, then the dried product will acquire a special aroma and taste.
Recipe in mulled wine
To soak pears, you can use not only syrup, but also an alcohol base.
Ingredients:
- aromatic alcoholic mulled wine – 500 milliliters;
- unripe pears, cut into 7 mm slices - 2 kilograms.
Cooking technique:
- Place the fruit in boiling mulled wine and leave for a day.
- Place the slices in a sieve and allow them to drain for an hour.
- Dry the fruit in a convenient way (in the oven or electric dryer).
After drying the pear, you need to transfer everything into parchment and leave it at room temperature for 3 days.
Storage Features
If the preparation rules are followed, dried pears are suitable for consumption for 6 months - 1 year (depending on the degree of dryness of the product). A refrigerator will help extend the storage period to 1.5 years.
General requirements for product placement conditions:
- low air humidity (maximum 50%);
- protection from direct sun rays;
- lack of air access.
Suitable storage containers are a paper parcel or an airtight container. If there is any doubt about the dryness of dried pears, it is best to store them in the cold..
Even a child can handle preparing such a tasty and healthy dessert. By spending a little time preparing the fruit, you can end up with a first-class product that will remind you of sunny summer on winter evenings.
