The salt water eliminates the need for a discoloration agent and the pears maintain their structural integrity during freezing and thawing.

• fill a large bowl with ice water, then sprinkle in enough table salt to cover the bottom of the bowl. Peel and slice the pears, dropping them into the salt water as you go.

• drain the pears and rinse thoroughly under cool water. (You won’t taste the salt!)

• Arrange in an even layer on lined baking sheets, freeze

•  transfer the frozen pears to freezer bags