Spiced Pear Halves in Syrup

Ingredients

Instructions

1. 1Wash 7 pint or 3 to 4 quart canning jars in hot soapy water or the dishwasher, keep them hot, and simmer new lids in hot water per manufacturer instructions.
2. 2Peel, halve, and core the pears, dropping each half into a large bowl of cold water mixed with the bottled lemon juice as you work to prevent browning.
3. 3In a large pot, combine the 3 cups water, sugar, cinnamon sticks, and cloves and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar, to make a light spiced syrup.
4. 4Drain the pear halves, add them to the boiling syrup in batches, and simmer for 5 minutes until heated through and just tender (this hot-pack method helps the fruit hold its shape and color in the jar).
5. 5Pack the hot pear halves cut-side down and slightly overlapping into hot jars, then ladle the hot spiced syrup over the fruit, leaving 1/2 inch of headspace, and add one cinnamon stick per jar if desired for presentation.
6. 6Remove air bubbles by sliding a nonmetallic spatula between the fruit and the jar, add more syrup if needed to maintain 1/2 inch headspace, wipe the rims clean, center the lids, and screw the bands fingertip-tight.
7. 7Process in a boiling-water canner with jars covered by at least 1 to 2 inches of water, timing from a full rolling boil, for 20 minutes for pints or 25 minutes for quarts, adding 5 minutes at 1,001–3,000 feet, 10 minutes at 3,001–6,000 feet, 15 minutes at 6,001–8,000 feet, or 20 minutes above 8,000 feet.
8. 8Turn off the heat, wait 5 minutes, then remove jars to a towel-lined counter and cool undisturbed for 12 to 24 hours.
9. 9Check seals by pressing the lid centers, remove bands, wipe jars, and label with contents and date.
10. 10Store in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year; refrigerate after opening and use within about 1 week.
11. 11Do not substitute a heavier or lighter syrup ratio for safety purposes (it only affects sweetness, not safety), but always keep the fruit fully hot-packed and covered by syrup and follow the stated process time exactly, since pears are a whole-piece fruit that needs the full time to heat through to the center of the jar.