Raw quinces are rock hard and inedible because they taste quite bitter. The fruits produce a very fine juice, which is a pleasure when mixed with mineral water, for example. In this way, even a large quince harvest can be easily processed and preserved.
How can I preserve quince juice?
To make quince juice, you need 4500 g of quince, 2 kg of apples, 2 lemons, 1500 g of sugar and 3 l of water. Cut the quinces and apples into small pieces, boil them with water and lemon juice, strain and bring the juice to the boil with the sugar. Fill hot into sterilized bottles and close.
Ingredients for 6 bottles of 1 liter each
- 4500 g quinces
- 2 kg apples
- 2 lemons
- 1500 g sugar
- 3 l water
Juicing quinces
- First rub the bitter fuzz off the quinces.
- Wash the fruits thoroughly.
- Quarter, core and dice the fruit.
- Squeezing lemons.
- Put the quince and apple pieces in a pot and fill with water. Add lemon juice.
- Let it cook over low heat for about 2 hours. The quince pieces must be very soft and fall apart.
- Line a sieve with cheesecloth and place over a large container.
- Fill in the fruit puree and let it drain.
- Pour the juice into a saucepan and mix in the sugar.
- Boil until the crystals have completely dissolved.
- Immediately pour into previously sterilized bottles with a swing top or twist-off lid using a funnel.
- Close and leave to cool upside down.
- Store in a cool, dark place.
Juicing quinces in the pressure cooker
Juicing the quinces is quicker if you let the fruit soften in the pressure cooker:
- Fill enough water into the pot to completely cover the quinces.
- Bring to the boil for 30 minutes.
- Do not open, but leave the brew overnight.
- The next day, run through a sieve lined with cheesecloth.
- Boil the quince juice again with sugar and pour it hot into sterilized bottles.
- Close immediately and leave to cool upside down.
Tip
You can make delicious quince jelly from the juice. To do this, mix a liter of quince juice with preserving sugar and the pulp of a vanilla pod. Let it boil for about four minutes, test for gelling and pour into clean glasses.
