Pears are at their best when they are in season in fall, and worth seeking out at the farmers market. Different varieties can be soft and juicy, to crisp and crunchy.
Pear season
Pear season starts in August, around the same time as apples. They last though December, thanks to their unique requirement to ripen off the tree and require cold-storage.
You can find pears from the fall season into January or February in grocery stores but not usually at the farmers market that late.
See what else is in season at the same time:
Selection & storage
Pears that are left to ripen on the tree get mealy and woody. This is unlike all of the other fruits (except avocados). They are picked when mature, but not ripe, and then left to ripen off the tree.
They ripen from the inside first. To determine if a pear is ready for eating, gently squeeze the fruit at the stem end. If it gives a little, it is ripe. If the pear is soft all over, the interior texture is likely mealy.
If you aren't going to eat the pears right away, buy some that are not yet ripe.
Winter pears, such as Anjou, Bosc, and Comice actually require cold-storage to ripen, usually 2-6 weeks. If you get these at the grocery store, they will have undergone the cold-storage process.
If you get them at the farmers market, ask the farmer if they have gone through cold storage and what they recommend when you take them home.
To store pears, leave unripe ones on the counter to ripen. To speed up ripening, place them in a bag with an apple or banana, which gives off ethylene gas (ripening the fruit). To slow ripening, place them in the fridge.
Pears can last anywhere from several days to a couple of weeks on the counter, depending on their ripeness (or lack thereof) when purchased. In the fridge, they last a month or more.
Types of pears
Anjou - medium soft and medium juiciness when ripe. They hold up well through cooking and baking, making them well suited to pies and grilling.
Bartlett - the classic pear you probably find most often at stores. Very soft and very juicy when ripe. Fairly sweet too. A favorite for fresh-eating.
Bosc - More crisp like an apple than a typical soft bartlett pear that you might be used to. Less sweet than other pears as well. Holds up well to baking and grilling, and don't get overwhelmed by strong spices.
Comice - Very soft an juicy, like a Bartlett and very sweet (even sweeter than Bartlett pears). Great when paired with cheese!
For pear, cheese and wine pairing, check out this guide by USA Pears.
Pear recipe collection
Each recipe below only uses ingredients that are in season at the same time as pears, or ingredients that have a year-round season.
Pear pomegranate tacos - recipe by Gimme Some Oven
Prosciutto & Pear Sandwich with Herbed Parmesan Mayo - recipe by Foxes Love Lemons
Waldorf chicken salad - recipe by Jo Cooks
Maple glazed baked salmon with pears - recipe by Half Baked Harvest
Pear & walnut gorgonzola pizza - recipe by Kitchen Confidante
Korean BBQ yum yum bowls with pears - recipe by Pinch of Yum
Pears are used in the marinade for the steak, along with ginger and other seasonings.
Pork chops with ginger pear sauce - by Simply Recipes
Roasted brussels sprouts and pear with thyme - recipe by Vanilla and Bean
Gingerbread pear tart - recipe by Heather Christo
Pear hazelnut muffins - recipe by Smitten Kitchen
More recipes & resources
If you're wondering what else is currently in season, check out my calendars to see what produce is in season each month (and coming up soon).
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