Peeling apples and pears

[ardcarp]

Three very ancient fruit trees were inherited with our house.
1 X apple, species unknown, suitable for eating or cooking, and
2 X pears, ditto ditto

They are fruiting prolifically this year, to the extent that (apart from the few we can eat when just right) we are having to peel hundreds for cooking then freezing. Apart from spending several hours each day doing this (just done my evening session) is there any solution? Obviously we give to friends/neighbours. Do others have this problem this year?

[groovydavidii]

Cider press for the (heritage) apples? WD’s may have suggestions for the pears.

[gurnemanz]

We have a very prolific conference pear tree. What we can't eat ourselves are given away. Large numbers are stored for use well into autumn, even up to Christmas. Quite a few will rot but we have too many anyway. They just go on the compost heap. We don't freeze any.

Same with apples - Worcester and Egremont Russet

[Petrushka]

I used to have both apple and plum trees but it was such a nuisance every year, especially when I was working, in getting down the ones that didn't fall naturally and then very many were pecked by birds and bothered by wasps, added to which rats seemed to be attracted to the fallen fruit. It all became too much trouble so I had them chopped down a couple of years ago and have no regrets.

I remember one plum tree we had back in the 1960s gave an absolutely massive crop one summer then promptly died.

[teamsaint]

Three very ancient fruit trees were inherited with our house.
1 X apple, species unknown, suitable for eating or cooking, and
2 X pears, ditto ditto

They are fruiting prolifically this year, to the extent that (apart from the few we can eat when just right) we are having to peel hundreds for cooking then freezing. Apart from spending several hours each day doing this (just done my evening session) is there any solution? Obviously we give to friends/neighbours. Do others have this problem this year?

Drying them is an option . They make a tasty and healthy sweet snack. Quite time consuming , and you need to store correctly, but worth considering.

[ardcarp]

Drying them is an option

Any hints about how to do that?

[oddoneout]

Taking out the cores I can understand but is there any particular reason they have to be peeled as well?

[Globaltruth]

Any hints about how to do that?

Depends on the oven you have - basically a very low heat for a very long time on non-stick trays, then stored in air-tight containers.
Delicious. The reduction in volume is huge of course.
I'm sure Chef Google will help.

Also if you can borrow an apple press you can use them for pears too (as well as grapes).
Quite often there are community apple presses available if you know where to look - they are expensive to buy.
The waste is excellent for the compost heap or for pigs (in exchange for the end result later...)
I used to help run the village Apple Day - my favourite role was working the presses so can go into (much) more detail if needed....