Very Sour Soft Fruits
VERY SOUR SOFT FRUITS.--Some of the fruits of the third subdivision of Group 1, namely,
SOUR CHERRIES, CRANBERRIES, and GREEN GOOSEBERRIES, may be prepared and canned
in the same way as those included in the first subdivision. The cherries may be left whole or they may be
seeded, as preferred, and all the fruit must, of course, be fresh.
For these very sour fruits, sirups Nos. 4, 5, and 6 are required, and the processing time is 15 minutes in the
water bath and 10 minutes at a 5-pound pressure or 5 minutes at a 10-pound pressure in the pressure cooker.
PLUMS for canning should be fresh and firm, but not overripe. This fruit may be canned with the
skins on, but some varieties permit the skins to be removed after scalding, and this may be done if
desired. Prepare the plums for canning by washing them, and, if the skins are to be left on, by piercing
each one in several places with a fork to prevent the skins from cracking.
Then scald the plums for about 1-1/2 minutes, cold-dip them quickly, and pack them closely into the hot jars.
Pour sirup No. 4, 5, or 6 over the fruit in the jars, using sirup No. 6 if they are very sour, adjust the rubbers and
the covers, and proceed according to the canning method selected. In the water bath, cook for 15 minutes; in the
pressure cooker, cook for 10 minutes at a pressure of 5 pounds or for 6 minutes at a pressure of 10 pounds.
RHUBARB for canning should be selected when it is most tender. The variety having red stems
is the most attractive after it is canned. Only the heavy stems, which should be cut from the leaves, may
be canned. Cut these stems into inch lengths, blanch them 1 to 3 minutes in boiling water, and cold-dip
them quickly.
Then pack these pieces into the jars. If the rhubarb is being canned for sauce, fill each jar
with sirup No. 5 or 6; if it is being canned for pie, use sirup No. 1, 2, or 3. Next, adjust the rubbers
and covers and proceed with the processing. In the water bath, cook for 15 minutes; in the pressure
cooker, cook for 10 minutes at a 5-pound pressure or for 6 minutes at a 10-pound pressure.
HARD FRUITS
APPLES.--The canning of apples should be done when there is a large supply of summer apples
that cannot be stored for winter use or used at once. Canning is also a good means of utilizing windfall
apples. This fruit may be canned in quarters for sauce, in slices for pie, or in any other desirable shape or
condition.
After apples for canning are selected, wash them, scald, or blanch, them for 1 to 5 minutes in boiling
water, and cold-dip them quickly. Next, peel and core them, and cut each one into pieces of any
desirable size. As these pieces are cut, drop them into salt water--1 teaspoonful of salt to each quart of
water--to prevent them from discoloring. Then pack the fruit into the jars and fill the jars with boiling
sirup. If the apples are intended for pie, use sirup No. 1, 2, or 3; if they are for sauce, use sirup No. 3, 4,
or 5. When the jars are filled, adjust the rubbers and covers and proceed with the processing.
If the pieces are large, cook them in the water bath for 20 minutes; if they are medium in size, cook them for
15 minutes; and if they are in the form of slices, cook them for 10 minutes. If they are to be processed in
the pressure cooker, cook them for 8 to 12 minutes at a pressure of 5 pounds or for 6 to 8 minutes at a
pressure of 10 pounds.
If the apples to be canned are first baked or made into a sauce, simply pack them into jars and process
them for a few minutes.
QUINCES.
--Quinces may be canned alone, but they may be combined with apples to good
advantage. If canned alone, they may require a heavier sirup than if apples are used with them. Prepare
the quinces in the same way as apples. If apples are to be canned with them, cut the pieces of apples
twice the size of the pieces of quinces.
This should be done because more time is required for cooking the quinces soft. After packing the jars and
pouring in the sirup, proceed with the processing. If quinces alone are in the jars, cook them in the water
bath for 30 minutes; but if quinces and apples are combined, cook them for 20 minutes. In the pressure cooker,
cook the jars of fruit for 12 to 15 minutes at a 5-pound pressure or for 10 to 12 minutes at a 10-pound pressure.
PEARS.--Pears for canning should be firm, but not hard. After sorting and washing them, blanch
them for 1 to 3 minutes and cold-dip them quickly. Then pare, halve, and core them. Pack them
immediately into the jars and pour sirup No. 3 or 4 over them. Next, adjust the rubbers and covers and
proceed with the processing. In the water bath, cook them for 20 minutes; in the pressure cooker, cook
them for 8 minutes at a 5-pound pressure or 6 minutes at a 10-pound pressure.
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