Savour the Season: Apples and Pears
Fall is the perfect time to enjoy seasonal apples and pears either fresh or in various recipes. Sadly, in Canada, about 1,300,000 apples are wasted every day, contributing to the 2.3 million tonnes of edible food waste annually. With that in mind, here are our top tips for storing and enjoying apple and pears to their fullest.
Choose What You’ll Use
Start at the store and choose what you’ll use. Buy only the amount and the varieties that match your plans to ensure they all get used. Firm apples like Granny Smith are great for baking while sweet varieties like Gala or Honey Crisp are ideal for snacking. Bartlet pears are a favourite for snacking while Bosc or Anjou pears are the best choice for poaching or baking.
Storing Apples and Pears
Store apples in the fridge in a breathable bag in the low-humidity drawer. They ripen six to ten times faster at room temperature, so refrigeration is key to prolonging their freshness.
Keep pears on the counter until fully ripe, then move them to the fridge and store like apples. Remember, pears ripen from the inside out; to check for ripeness press the stem end with your thumb. If it gives, it’s ready to store in the fridge.
Preserving Apples and Pears
Both apples and pears are excellent for preserving whether freezing, drying or canning.
Freeze: Wash and core apples or pears. Slice and dip in a lemon water solution (1 part lemon juice to 3 parts water) to prevent browning, then freeze in a single layer. Once frozen, pack them into airtight bags to use later in baking or sauces.
Dry: Dried Apple rings make a great snack just as they are, while dried pears, which may be a little gritty, are best used in granola, trail mix or in baking. Use an oven or dehydrator and follow our tips for drying fruit.
Can: Can apples or pears in a light syrup using a hot water bath to make them shelf stable.
Using Imperfect or Overripe Fruit
Don’t discard bruised or imperfect apples and pears. Cut off any brown spots and use the rest in various recipes. For apples, try baking them into a tart, using them in snacks, or making homemade apple cider vinegar. Pears can be mixed with apples for a delicious crumble, blended into smoothies, or cooked down like applesauce.
Tag @lovefoodhatewasteca and show us your favourite way to enjoy apples and pears. Let’s make every bite of these fall treasures count.
