Three Delicious Ways to Preserve Pears: Butter, Chutney, and Chow Chow

Pears are a favorite of birds and squirrels as much as humans, so you often need to harvest the whole crop at once. Fortunately, pears adapt beautifully to both sweet and savory preserves. Here are three favorite recipes—spiced pear butter, pear chutney, and pear chow chow—plus essential canning safety reminders.

Canning Safety First

• Sterilize jars and lids in boiling water just before filling.
• Use tested, reliable recipes to ensure proper pH for shelf stability.
• If any sealed jar shows signs of spoilage (off odor, mold, leakage), discard it immediately.

Spiced Pear Butter

Tastes like winter in a jar—wonderful on toast with Earl Grey tea.

Ingredients: 4 lb pears (stemmed, cored, chopped), ½ cup dry white wine, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1½ cups sugar, pinch of salt, 1 tsp vanilla, 4 orange slices, 1 lemon slice, 4 whole cloves, 1 cinnamon stick.

Method: Simmer pears, wine, and lemon juice covered until soft (~25 min). Press through a food mill or coarse sieve. Return pulp to pot; add sugar, salt, vanilla. Tie orange, lemon, cloves, and cinnamon in cheesecloth; add to pot. Cook over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves, then medium heat, stirring often, until mixture mounds on a spoon (~50 min). Discard spice bag. Ladle into hot, sterilized half-pint jars, leaving ¼" headspace. Process 12 minutes in boiling water bath.

Pear Chutney

A chunky sweet-savory condiment for curries, cheese trays, or sandwiches (puree slightly for spread).

Ingredients: 4 lb pears (prepped as above), 3 lb onions (minced), 5 garlic cloves (minced), 1 cup dried cranberries, 1 cup golden raisins, 4 cups brown sugar, 1 tbsp ground cumin, 2 tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp cayenne, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tbsp salt, 6 cups apple cider vinegar, 2 (5.5 oz) cans tomato paste.

Method: Cook pears, onions, garlic over medium heat 5 min until fragrant. Add remaining ingredients; bring to boil. Simmer, stirring frequently, until thickened (~50 min). Ladle into hot, sterilized half-pint jars, ¼" headspace. Process 15 minutes in boiling water bath.

Pear Chow Chow (Piccalilli)

A family-recipe relish, distinct from cabbage-based versions. Great in chicken or potato salad, or as a condiment.

Ingredients: 12 cups pears (stemmed, peeled, cored, ground), 4 cups onion (ground), 1 cup jalapeños (ground), 2 cups bell peppers (ground), 5 tbsp salt, 1 tbsp turmeric, 4½ cups sugar, 2½ cups vinegar, 2½ tbsp pickling spice, 1 tbsp celery seeds.

Method: Combine ground vegetables in non-reactive pot; sprinkle with turmeric and salt. Cover and let stand overnight. Next day, tie pickling spice in cheesecloth; add to pot with sugar, vinegar, celery seeds. Bring to boil, then simmer 30 min, stirring often. Ladle into hot, sterilized pint jars, ¼" headspace. Process 15 minutes in boiling water bath.

Enjoy the flavors of pear season all year long!