Pear and Lemon Jam Recipe
Posted by Fiona Nevile in Jam Jelly and Preserves | 152 comments
A pear hanging on our pear tree
I spent ages trying to find a recipe for pear jam without success. One day moseying in the recipe section of Waitrose, I spotted a copy of the best selling Italian cook book The Silver Spoon
I made an excellent jam, not too sweet. A lemony taste with tiny explosions of pear. Everyone that tasted it wanted the recipe. It’s our favourite jam, good for breakfast or with a mild soft cheese.
The problem was that I hadn’t written the recipe down and wasn’t sure of the volume of water. When I returned to Waitrose “The Silver Spoon” was no longer on the shelves. Finding the book became a real mission. I saw it advertised on hoardings in the London tube but never found it in a shop. One happy day, I saw “The Silver Spoon”, twinkling from the supermarket shelves. I snapped it up and rushed home.
I was astonished to find that water was not an ingredient of the jam! I tried several versions, with different amounts of water, and this is by far the best.
| Pear and Lemon Jam Recipe |
- 2 kilos (4 and 1/2 pounds) of pears, peeled, cored and chopped
- 3 medium lemons (strained juice and zest)
- 1 kilo (5 and 1/4 cups) of granulated jam sugar
- 250ml water
Method
- Prepare the pears and place in a large covered bowl, to stop them browning.
- Remove the zest from the lemons carefully to avoid adding the bitter pith. Set zest aside.
- Squeeze the lemon juice and strain.
- Add the water, chopped pears, lemon zest and juice to a large heavy bottomed saucepan.
- Simmer very gently until the pears are just soft.
- Pour in the sugar and stir over a medium/low heat until the sugar is dissolved.
- Bring the heat up to a rolling boil (what is a rolling boil? See Tricks and tips below).
- Allow to boil hard for ten minutes before testing for a set.
- If it has not reached setting point (what is setting point? See Tricks and tips below) continue to boil rapidly, checking for a set every four minutes or so (set the timer for this).
- When the jam has set remove from the heat.
- Allow the jam to stand for a few minutes and pour into warmed sterilised jars (how do I sterilise jars? See Tricks and tips below).
- Cover with screw top lids or wax disks and cellophane tops.
- Label when cold.
- Store in a cool dry place.
Tricks and tips:
Jam set or ‘setting point’
Getting the right set can be tricky. I have tried using a jam thermometer but find it easier to use the following method.
Before you start to make the jam, put a couple of plates in the fridge so that the warm jam can be drizzled onto a cold plate (when we make jam we often forget to return the plate to the fridge between tests, using two plates means that you have a spare cold plate).
Return the plate to the fridge to cool for approx two minutes.
It has set when you run your finger through it and leave a crinkly track mark.
If after a few minutes the cooled jam is too liquid, continue to boil the jam, testing it every few minutes until you have the right set.
The jam is far more delicious if it is slightly runny.
There are other indicators the the jam is setting, the jam will start to coat the back of the spoon and the sides of the saucepan.
Sterilising the jars
We collect jars all year round for our jelly, chutney and jam making sessions. I try to soak off labels and store the clean jars and metal plastic coated lids in an accessible place.
The sterilising method that we used is simple. Just before making the jam, I quickly wash and rinse the jars and place them upside down in a cold oven. Set the temperature to 160c (320F) 140c fan assisted).
When the oven has reached the right temperature I turn off the heat. The jars will stay warm for quite a while.
I only use plastic lined lids for preserves as the all-metal lids can go rusty. I boil these for five minutes in water to sterilise them. If I use Le Parfait jars, I do the same with the rubber rings.
What is a rolling boil?
This is when you boil your jam (or jelly) continuously, very hard. This gradually evaporates the water, enabling the jam to set.
Leave a reply
hi
the recipe itself sounds delicious
will surely try to make it
i wanted to know why do we add lemon juice ..does it acts as apreservative
also plzzz let me know which fruits to do not contain pectin
will be tring pear jam in a day or two
thks
Hi Lynne
Glad that you liked the recipe. I think the water is affected by the amount of lemon juice and the ripeness of the pears.
I’d love to hear how you get on using less water.
I found this recipe really helpful – thank you! I sold out of this jam first at my last market day. I decided to add stem ginger and it was delicious. Only thing i found was that there was too much water in the recipe and I had to boil it for AGES! Am making more tomorrow so will let you know how I get on using less water. Thanks again
Hi Joanne,
The jam will keep for months in sterilised jars. Just like normal jam.
Hi Anne,
It works with any type of pear as long as the pear is ripe. Glad that you are enjoying the site.
does it matter what ‘make’ of pear you use? i have conference pears on my tree – but do have access to williams. i am new to this site – discovered it whilst looking for damson gin recipe. i am now hooked.
thanks a million for the pear jam recipe I cannot wait to try it out. The pears in the garden are all being blown ooff the tree in the high winds so i now know they will not be wasted. I want to sell them at our church fete in November, as there is no pectin in (only natural) do you know if the jam will keep that long. a new fan.
Thanks for posting a reply, Nicola. I do hope that our recipe works out well for you.
The key is the pear (mini) chunks. You need the inclusion of pear to balance the lemony syrup.
Thanks for posting the recipe. I was just given a couple of kilos of apple pears ( I think they are small Asian pears) and will try your recipe. After searching the web, it seems to be the only one that may turn out delicious jam. Thanks also for the great explanation for those who are not experienced in making jam.
Hi Sarah Lee,
I haven’t tried adding ginger. I think that a little would work as it is quite a lemony jam, the pieces of pear add tiny explosions of pear flavour.
I’d love to hear how it turns out.
Hello,
Many thanks for sharing your recipe on your website! I, too, spent ages trying to find a recipe for pear jam… and I’ve feel I’ve struck gold when I found your site. I am going to try your recipe this week, as we have an early crop of pears here in my corrner of California right now. I wonder if you have tried it with the addition of any ginger? I am curious to try adding that flavor but afraid to overpower the rest of the jam. Any advice, given your experience? Thanks!