Harry & David wasbuiltonpears. This sweet, juicy, and delectable fruit is where the company’s roots were planted all the way back in 1934. And after 85-plus years of hand-picking and hand-packing millions of fruit, it’s safe to say Harry & David knows a few things about how to ripen pears.
Pears are notoriously tricky when it comes to ripening, as they can go from rock hard to mush in just a matter of days (sometimes hours). Who hasn’t had the experience of leaving a pear on the counter for one minute too long and returning to something that resembles the consistency of baby food? With these seven tips, you’ll have perfect pears to share with friends and family. And even if they do get a little soft, you can still use your overripe pears in any number of recipes.
1. Cold storage
Unlike a lot of other tree-borne fruits, pears ripen after being picked and not while on the branch. Pears have a fairly narrow ripening stage, so it is best to store them in a cool, dry place. Once the pears are harvested, growers will generally take care of the chilling process for you.
2. Timing
Not all pears ripen at the same speed. Whereas Bartlett pears should be chilled at 30° F for two to three days, Bosc and Comice (pronounced ko-MEESE) pears should receive the same treatment for two to six weeks. When you receive your pears from Harry & David, they have already gone through the bulk of the chilling process and will usually be ready to eat in two to three days.
Important tip:Remove any rotten fruit during the chilling process, as one bad pear can spoil the whole bunch.
3. Ripening temperatures
Once your pears have been stored for the appropriate amount of time, remove them from the cold and put them in a location that is between 65° and 75° F. According to theOregon State University Extension, Bartlett pears ripen in four to five days, whereas Bosc and Comice pears need five to seven days to reach peak ripeness. Given that this is simply a guide and not a law (though we’re looking into if making it a law is possible), the best way to detect whether your pear is ready to eat is the thumb test.
4. The thumb test
Check your pear daily for ripeness by applying gentle pressure to the neck or stem-end of the pear with your thumb. If the pear yields to pressure, it’s ready to eat. Could it get any easier?
5. The banana trick
If you don’t have a lot of time to wait for your pears to ripen, use the tried and true banana trick. Place your pears in a paper bag or an enclosed area with a ripe banana or apple. Ripe apples and bananas give off a gas called ethylene that triggers the ripening process in unripe pears. You gotta love science!
6. Put your pears together
Ripe pears give off ethylene gas too, so storing them together with your un-ripe pears in a sack or bucket will cause the rest to ripen. If you listen closely, you can hear them talking to each other, offering words of encouragement. “You can do it, Bill! Ripen like you’ve never ripened before!”
7. Slow it down
If you’re not quite ready to enjoy your pears, you can easily slow down the ripening process by storing them in the refrigerator. Yes, it’s that simple.
If all else fails, overripe pears are still viable in the kitchen. Just peel and chop them, and you have the perfect beginning to any number of pear recipes, from apieto acake,smoothie, and otherfresh delights.
Our favorite pear recipes
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FAQs
You can expedite this process by placing the pear in a brown paper bag, trapping the gas near the fruit. To really speed up ripening, store pears with other ethylene-producing fruits (like bananas or avocados). You can do this in a fruit bowl or in a paper bag, depending on when you need the pears.
How to soften hard pears quickly? ›
You can expedite this process by placing the pear in a brown paper bag, trapping the gas near the fruit. To really speed up ripening, store pears with other ethylene-producing fruits (like bananas or avocados). You can do this in a fruit bowl or in a paper bag, depending on when you need the pears.
What is the hack for ripening pears? ›
The faster method: Paper bag
Place the pears in a paper bag and leave on the counter to ripen. This method should take about 2-4 days to ripen the pears. The natural gases produced by the pears will become trapped in the bag and help ripen the fruit faster.
What's the best way to ripen pears off the tree? ›
To ripen pears in 4-7 days, store them at room temperature on your counter. If you want to ripen them even faster, put them into a paper bag, fold the top of the bag to close it, and wait 2-4 days for the pears to ripen. Adding ripe bananas or apples to the paper bag will help to ripen the pears in 1-3 days.
Will pears ripen if picked green? ›
A little known fact about the pear is that it is one of the few fruits that does not ripen on the tree. The pear is harvested when it is mature, but not yet ripe, and, if left at room temperature, it slowly reaches a sweet and succulent maturity as it ripens from the inside out.
How do you ripen pears without a paper bag? ›
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.
Will microwaving a pear ripen it? ›
Just note that any berries picked while they were still green or white will likely not get any sweeter. Ripe pears should have a bit of softness around the stem. If completely firm, place them in the microwave for about 10 seconds, then add to a paper bag or place on the countertop next to other fruits.
Why are my pears so hard? ›
Similarly to avocados, plums, and apricots, pears are picked when matured but need a bit of additional time to ripen. Whenever shopping for pears, you may notice they're almost always hard, which is due to the fact that pears ripen from the inside out.
How do you keep pears from ripening too fast? ›
If your pears are about the amount of ripeness you like, storing them in the fridge will keep them that way for three to five days. The refrigerator significantly slows the ripening process but doesn't stop it altogether.
What is a common kitchen trick to ripening fruit? ›
The Paper Bag Method
Just add your fruit into a paper bag, seal it, and wait a few days! The key here is ethylene. Ethylene is a natural gas given off by fruit that helps in ripening. To speed things up even faster, we recommend adding in an apple or banana!
Just-picked or purchased pears should be ripened at room temperature. On the counter is fine, but keep unripened pears out of the 'fridge. Once ripe, you can store pears in the refrigerator. The cold temperatures will slow the ripening process and they'll keep for 3 to 5 days.
What color are pears when ripe? ›
If they get soft and mushy they are over done. To tell, gently push (squeeze) the stem end and if there is any give the pear is ripe. To juice them up when ready to use, roll them around on the counter. With green or yellow pears there is a slight color change from bright grassy green to a more yellow green.
Why is one pear wrapped in gold foil? ›
And every box has one wrapped in gold. The tradition of wrapping pears in gold started back in 1934. When brothers Harry and David Rosenberg started sending residents on the East Coast delicious pears as holiday gifts, they knew an extra touch was needed to convey the royalty of this decadent fruit.
How long do pears take to ripen once picked? ›
Once harvested, most pears will require about a week to ripen at room temperature (about 65-72ºF). If you store the fruit in a paper bag, you can speed up this process so that it will ripen in just a few days.
What month are pears ready to pick? ›
Pears are not the earliest ripening type of fruit trees and most are ripe between July and October. Here are a few varieties for each part of the growing season for you to choose from or to extend your harvest season so you can enjoy Pears all summer and into fall or even well into the winter months!
Is it okay to eat hard pears? ›
Eating a pear that isn't ripe is safe, but we wouldn't recommend it. The texture can be hard and difficult to chew, which is unpleasant, especially compared to the buttery texture of a perfectly ripe pear.
Will hard pears soften in the oven? ›
Maple Pecan Baked Pears Recipe
Pears baked in the oven become meltingly tender and baking really amplifies the natural sweetness and flavor of pears. Serve baked pears for breakfast with yogurt drizzled with maple syrup, or for dessert topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Why are my pears rock hard? ›
If the pears you brought home from the store are still a little hard and not quite ripe, you can try softening them in a bag at room temperature. Cold temperatures slow down the ripening process, so storing ripe pears in the refrigerator is the best way to maintain quality.
Can you eat pears when they are hard? ›
Eating a pear that isn't ripe is safe, but we wouldn't recommend it. The texture can be hard and difficult to chew, which is unpleasant, especially compared to the buttery texture of a perfectly ripe pear.
How to ripen pears in the oven? ›
Bake for 20 to 30 minutes until pears become soft (it will take longer the less ripe they are) and give off their juices.
