How to Know if a Pear Is Ripe—and How to Ripen It if It Isn't

Autumn brings a new harvest of pears to market. This luscious fruit is somewhat overlooked, but that wasn't always the case. In England, an estimated 700 varieties of pear were grown during the 18th century. In that era, "pearmania" preoccupied New England's upper classes, and pears were more prized than apples. Perhaps it was because the melting texture of a ripe pear was more appealing than an apple's chew?

And that is exactly where pears are misunderstood. Biting into an unripe pear, when it is hard and granular, may lead you to believe that there is no reason to seek them out. Nothing could be further from the juicy truth. Learn how to tell if a pear is ripe and how to ripen a pear if it isn't—and you'll love them for their flavor, aroma, juiciness, texture, and sheer versatility.

How to Tell if a Pear Is Ripe

The most important thing to know about pears is when they are ripe. "Pears don't ripen on the tree. They are harvested when they are mature—not ripe," says Jim Morris, marketing and communications manager of the Pear Bureau Northwest, a not-for-profit that promotes pears grown in Washington and Oregon, where most U.S. varieties are produced.

There are three ways to identify when your pears are ripe:

1. Look for a change in skin color—but note that only only a few varieties, like Bartlett, transform this obviously when they are ripe.
2. Perform a sniff test. Ripe pears smell aromatic, whereas unripe pears don't have any odor at all.
3. Try the neck test: The neck of the pear softens and yields to gentle pressure when the fruit pear is ready to eat.
   

How to Ripen Pears

If your pears are not ripe, bide your time—and keep them out of the cold.

The Right Way

"The best way to ripen your pears is to store them at room temperature, such as in a fruit bowl on your kitchen counter," says Morris. "If you keep them near other fruits that give off ethylene, such as bananas, this will accelerate the ripening process."

The Quick Way

Another technique to ripen a pear more quickly is to store it in a paper bag with an apple or a banana. This method exposes the pear to more ethylene, and so speeds the ripening. (Don't forget you stashed the pear with a banana or you may find it has become too ripe to use.)

Where to Store Ripe Pears

Once ripe, pears should be kept in the fridge (Unripe pears should be stored at room temperature.) Refrigerating them will extend the meltingly sweet life of a pear by a couple of days.

How to Use Pears in Recipes

It seem too obvious to mention, but we're stating it anyway: A perfect pear can easily be served alone and unadorned. You could go so far as to center it on a pretty plate, knife and fork alongside it, for graceful slicing. It makes an unapologetic and confident dessert statement (no apple could pull off this feat!). We recommend Comice or Bartlett for the standalone treatment.

Salads and Cheese Boards

Pears enhance salads and cheese platters, complementing strong flavors like blue cheese and crisp textures like endive and toasted nuts. If you are serving pears raw, be aware that the cut fruit can oxidize quickly. Gently toss pear slices in lemon juice to keep the slices from browning.

Remember that the granular texture in some pears is natural—those are their stone cells, which can be larger or smaller, depending on the pear variety (other fruit, like guavas and feijoa, have a similar texture).

Desserts

In desserts, poached pears are velvety, while baked pears take on a more chewy, caramelized edge. Baked in cakes, their moistness and texture pair deliciously with nut flours, dark chocolate, butter, and caramel.