Pear
There are over 5,000 varieties of pears! Mother Nature protected this easily bruised fruit by making it better when picked while still hard. Pears improve in both texture and flavor after being picked. Pears range in shape from spherical to bell-shaped; and in color from pale sea-green to golden yellow to brownish-red.
Plural
Pears
Season
August - May
How to select
Choose pears that are fragrant and blemish-free. Pears are ready to eat when the base yields slightly to pressure from your thumb
How to store
Store at room temperature until ripe. Refrigerate ripe fruit.
How to prepare
bake, poach, raw. It is not necessary to peel pears before using, but if they are peeled, dip in acidulated water to prevent browning.
Matches well with
almonds, balsamic vinegar, blackberries, blue cheese, bourbon, brandy, brown sugar, caramel, Cassis, cheese, chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, Cognac, cream, currants, figs, ginger, Gorgonzola cheese, Grand Marnier, grappa, hazelnuts, honey, ice cream, Kirsche, lemon, mace, maple syrup, Marsala, nutmeg, nuts, oranges, pecans, pepper, pineapple, quinces, raisins, raspberries, Roquefort cheese, spinach, star anise, vanilla, wine
Substitutions
apples