Pear
SELECT
Pears are available fresh and canned for good nutrition and convenience.
If selecting fresh, the best way to judge ripeness for non-Bartlett varieties is to Check the Neck™: Apply pressure to the neck of the pear with your thumb. If it yields to pressure, it’s ripe. Easy, isn’t it?
Pears do not ripen well on the tree. Pears are harvested when mature, but not yet ripe. Instead, they slowly reach maturity as they ripen from the inside out at room temperature.
How do you know when the pear has ripened to sweet and juicy perfection?
While a Bartlett’s skin color brightens as it ripens, most varieties of pears show little change in color.
Varieties to Explore
Bartlett
Bosc
d’Anjou
Nutrient Content Claims
Fat free, Saturated fat free, Cholesterol free, Sodium free
Health Claims
Dietary Fat & Cancer: Development of cancer depends on many factors. A diet low in total fat may reduce the risk of some cancers. Pears are fat free.
Sodium & Hypertension:
- Diets low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure, a disease associated with many factors. Pears are sodium free.
- Diets low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Pears are naturally sodium free.
- Pears, as part of a low sodium diet, may reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
Dietary Saturated Fat & Cholesterol & Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: While many factors affect heart disease, diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of this disease. Pears contain no saturated fat or cholesterol.
Fiber-Containing Grain Products, Fruits, and Vegetables and Cancer: Low fat diets rich in fiber-containing grain products, fruits, and vegetables may reduce the risk of some of cancers, a disease associated with many factors. Pears are an excellent source of fiber.
Fruits & Vegetables & Cancer: Low fat diets rich in fruits and vegetables (foods that are low in fat and may contain dietary fiber, vitamin A, or vitamin C) may reduce the risk of some types of cancer, a disease associated with many factors. Pears are an excellent source of fiber.
STORE
If pears are ripe, use them right away or refrigerate for up to 5 days to slow further ripening. If they are firm, leave them at room temperature. Be sure to check them daily to catch them at perfect ripeness.
You can also arrange them in a fruit bowl and place them on the kitchen counter, dining room table, or even in the living room so you can enjoy their beauty as they ripen. If they are ripening at room temperature near other fruit, like bananas, the natural ethylene they give off will help speed up the ripening process.
To Prevent Browning
Like many fruits, the flesh of cut or peeled pears will eventually brown. This natural oxidation process, however, does not affect the taste or quality. Browning can be slowed by “acidulating” the cut surfaces with a mild solution of 50% water and 50% lemon juice. Lightly poaching pears will also slow the browning and is a good way to prepare pears for use in salads.
SERVE
Pears Snacking – rule of two video
Check out our pear recipes!
SAVOR
Presence in Ethnic Cuisines
Asian / South East Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) / Mediterranean
SHARE
Social Media Posts
December is National Pear Month, and @fruitsandveggies is going to tell you all about them. http://ow.ly/ULYMA #haveaplant
Pears are packed w/ fiber, vitamins & minerals. Try these 100-cal gems in these recipes for National Pear Month: http://ow.ly/UM3Qs @fruitsandveggies #haveaplant
There are many ways to eat pears – @Fruits_Veggies shares their top ten. http://ow.ly/UMd1D @fruitsandveggies #haveaplant
Lentils, pears & apples are all considered high in fiber—find out what other fruits/veggies carry that label: http://ow.ly/9EhI2 @fruitsandveggies #haveaplant
Take a closer look inside your pear! What you find may surprise you. http://bit.ly/72116FBTW @fruitsandveggies #haveaplant
The most delicious way to use your pear from firm to very ripe! http://usapears.org/green-anjou/ @fruitsandveggies #haveaplant
Enjoying more fruits and vegetables, inclusive of fresh, frozen, canned, dried and 100% juice, is a delicious way
to enjoy a happy, healthy and active lifestyle.
@fruitsandveggies #haveaplant
