A historical preserve from The White House cook book; a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home .. (1913).
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
Select small, sound ones, remove the blossom end, stick them with a fork
Allow to each quart of pears one pint of cider vinegar and one cup of sugar
Put in a teaspoonful allspice, cinnamon and cloves to boil with the vinegar
Then add the pears and boil
Seal in jars
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
Pricking the pears with a fork creates channels for the spiced vinegar syrup to penetrate the dense fruit flesh, ensuring even pickling throughout. The combination of sugar and vinegar creates an inhospitable environment for bacteria through both acidity (low pH) and osmotic pressure, which draws moisture from microbial cells. Boiling the pears in the pickling liquid denatures enzymes that would otherwise cause browning and texture breakdown, while the heat softens the pectin in the cell walls for a tender yet structured preserve.
These pickled pears must be made ahead to develop flavor. After sealing, store jars in a cool, dark place for at least 2 weeks before opening to allow the spices to mellow and penetrate the fruit. The pickles improve with age and reach peak flavor after 4-6 weeks.
Properly sealed jars can be stored in a cool, dark pantry for up to 1 year. Once opened, refrigerate the jar and consume within 2 months. If any jar fails to seal (the lid doesn't pop down), refrigerate immediately and use within 2 weeks.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
These pickled pears must be made ahead to develop flavor. After sealing, store jars in a cool, dark place for at least 2 weeks before opening to allow the spices to mellow and penetrate the fruit. The pickles improve with age and reach peak flavor after 4-6 weeks.
Properly sealed jars can be stored in a cool, dark pantry for up to 1 year. Once opened, refrigerate the jar and consume within 2 months. If any jar fails to seal (the lid doesn't pop down), refrigerate immediately and use within 2 weeks.
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