Preserving and Pickling
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Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 Volume 2 Number 1 January, 1961 Article 6 1-1-1961 Preserving and pickling O. Evans Scott Follow this and additional works at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4 Part of the Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Food Processing Commons, and the Fruit Science Commons Recommended Citation Evans Scott, O. (1961) "Preserving and pickling," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 2 : No. 1 , Article 6. Available at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol2/iss1/6 This article is brought to you for free and open access by Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected]. d f-^icKiin p>re5ervina an % By O. EVANS T this time of the year many housewives wish that fruit trees would bear little and A often throughout the year rather than a lot in a comparatively short space of time. We preserve fruits to try to spread this short period, and to have them on hand to vary menus when fruit is out of season. A cupboard shelf packed with bottles of colourful, neatly arranged preserved fruits is indeed a satisfying sight. Bottling is the most popular method, with pickling being done to a smaller extent. PRESERVING tinted glass or jars with flaws and cracks. Choice of Fruit for Preserving. Jars should all be the same size. If you exhibit in shows it is a good idea When preserving fruit, aim to keep the to have a set of smaller jars, and pack best possible flavour, colour and food one of them when preserving each differ value. ent fruit. At the end of the season you Choose fruit in season, firm textured should then have enough to enter in the and fully ripe—not under or over ripe. "Collection of Fruit" section. Avoid any marked or bruised fruit. It is As presentation counts when competing, not worth while preserving below-standard a set of similar jars will gain a few more fruit, although small or marked fruit marks than a collection of jars of different could be preserved diced, as pulp, or in sizes. The smaller jars are also more con fruit salad. venient for carrying than the larger home Have fruits of uniform size and ripeness size jars. Heat the small jar carefully, to ensure equal heat penetration. Fruits preferably separately, noting time and should be freshly picked. If any time has temperatures as it will be finished before to elapse before preserving, keep them in the larger jars. a cool, dark, well ventilated place—soft Inspect rings and lids. Do not use rusted fruits well separated—to prevent the lids and take no risks with stretched seal characteristics of freshness deteriorating. ing bands—new lids, clips and rings can be bought separately quite cheaply. (The Choice and Preparation of Jars. stretched rubber rings are handy for hold Choose straight sided, wide-necked jars ing the greased paper over the top of a for easy packing and removal of fruit. steamed pudding!) Clear glass allows the colour of the fruit Wash thoroughly, rinse and dry the to show through best. Avoid the green bottles, lids and rubber rings. 29 Journal of Agriculture, Vol 2 No 1, 1961 Preparation and Packing of Fruit. dietary reasons sugar is not used but a Wash the chosen fruit thoroughly and sweet syrup is desired, use an artificial dry well. Fruits which are peeled should sweeting agent according to the manufac be peeled thinly and neatly from stalk to turers instructions. end. If cut in pieces, keep size uniform. Preheat the fruit in a small amount of From core fruits remove core with spoon or water over low heat, then pack quickly into special coring knife. Do not leave any warm jars. Have fruit juice hot and if not pieces of fibre or husk at the centre. Drop enough make up to the necessary amount peeled and cored pieces or halves gently with hot water. Process as for syrup- into cold salted water to prevent surface preserving. browning while waiting to pack. Rinse before using. To skin peaches, dip in Sterilising. caustic soda solution (one dessertspoon There are several methods of heating and soda to one quart of warm water) for five sterilising the bottles. In some the jars seconds, rinse in cold water and rub off are sealed before heating, in others the skin. jars are loosely lidded for heating and When packing into jars have fruit cut sealed while hot when sterilisation is com side downwards and rounded outside show plete. In some methods the fruit is cooked ing, and overlap pieces attractively. Pack by steaming, in others the water comes to within half an inch of the top of the only a few inches up the side of the jars, jar. Pack as tightly as possible as fruits or the jars are completely covered with shrink slightly after sterilisation. the boiling water. If a thermometer is not built in on your Syrup. container, use a sugar boiling thermometer The syrup varies according to taste and when sterilising to ensure that the correct type of fruit. Generally, small, sweet, soft temperature is maintained. A "home fruits are preserved in thin syrup (one steriliser" can be made by standing a plat part sugar to three parts water); large form about an inch up from the bottom fruits and berries in medium syrup (one of a copper or large preserving pan. (A part sugar to two parts water); and acid wire cake cooler covered with a thick cloth or tart fruits in heavy syrup (one part would serve the purpose). The ther sugar to one part water). Banana pulp may mometer should stand on the platform. be preserved in thin syrup; quinces and Temperatures and times vary for differ grapes in heavy syrup. Use an extra heavy ent fruits—follow the manufacturers in syrup (two pounds of sugar to one pint structions for your bottling outfit or type of water) for figs, rhubarb, and passion- of jars. Bring slowly to the required tem fruit pulp. For other fruits a medium perature, taking one to one and a half syrup is used. hours. See that the bottles are not touch To make syrup, dissolve the sugar in ing each other nor the sides of the pan the water over low heat, bring to the boil or container, and that they are standing and boil for three minutes. Strain if on the platform with the right amount necessary. of water according to instructions. Add syrup to each jar, a small cupful at a time, and allow air bubbles to come to Oven Sterilising. the surface. Place a spatula or long bladed The screw lid type of jar may be used knife down the side of the jar to help any for oven sterilising. This method is only obstinate air bubbles to rise (avoid bruising suitable for gas or electric ovens fitted the fruit). Fill jar with syrup to within with a reliable thermostat, as it is difficult half an inch of the top. (This head-room to obtain an exact temperature with wood will allow for expansion when heated.) fuel stoves. Jars should be almost full and packed Preheat the oven at 200' for 20 minutes. tightly, as the greater the amount of syrup Pack the heated fruit in warm jars and used the greater the amount of floating fill with hot syrup. Place seal and screw and apparent shrinkage. lid loosely. Stand jars on thick cloth in Preserving Without Sugar. a baking dish, with hot water coming one Fruits can be preserved in a liquid con inch up the outside of the jars. Process sisting of fruit juice and hot water. If for 30-45 minutes. Screw lids tightly. 30 Journal of Agriculture, Vol 2 No 1, 1961 With this method there is a loss of as dissolving of some metal and discolour colour and flavour, the danger of incom ing of food would take place. The jars plete sterilisation, and of jars exploding. should be glass or earthen, wide necked, free of cracks, and sterilised, with tight- Cooling and Storing. fitting lids. If using corks, sterilise by Bottles must be cooled carefully; do not boiling before use, and make seal com stand on a cold or hard surface nor place pletely air-tight with melted wax. in a draught. Stand jars on a dry cloth or board or linoleum. Do not open jars to Brining and Osmosis. "top-up" liquid—loss of liquid does not affect keeping qualities and reopening will Most fruits and vegetables have a high allow the entry of organisms which will proportion of water. This can be reduced cause later spoiling. When cold check by soaking in brine so that the vegetable seals. (If clips are used do not remove till water does not dilute the pickling solution. cold.) To make brine, dissolve one pound of Store in a cool dark cupboard. salt in one gallon of water. The best type Sometimes fruits float to the top of the of salt is dairy or pickling salt or salt to jar. This is caused by using over-ripe which no anti-caking substance has been fruit, processing too long or at too high added. Avoid using table salt as this would a temparature, using too heavy a syrup cause discoloration of food. for the type of fruit, or packing fruit too Brining works by the process of osmosis, loosely and using too much syrup.