Asian Pear
Bartlett Pear
Bosc Pear
Comice Pear
Forelle Pear
Asian Pear
Japan and China
1000 BC
Asian pears have been grown commercially in Japan and China for over 3000 years. They have a round shape and are crisp with a texture that resembles that of an apple. For this reason, they are best enjoyed for fresh eating. They do not ripen off the tree.
Availability
September-January
Usage
The Asian pear’s crisp and juicy texture makes it excellent for snacking or salads.
Bartlett Pear
England
1765
Bartlett pears are the most widely-recognized pear variety thanks to its quintessential pear flavor and shape. It has a rounded bell on bottom half of the fruit with definitive shoulder and smaller neck or stem. The Bartlett pear is unique in that its skin brightens as it ripens, unlike other varieties.
Organic variety available
Availability
August-January
Usage
Snacking, salads. Most popular pear for canning.
Bosc Pear
Belgium or France
early 1800s
Bosc pears are an elegant variety with disctinctive characteristics that set them apart from other pears. Those who are familiar with Bosc, appreciate their more firm, yet tender flesh and their sweet-spiced flavor. Bosc have brown skin hides and a delicious, spicy and slightly firmer flesh.
Organic variety available
Availability
September-May
Usage
The firm texture of the Bosc makes it an excellent choice for baking, broiling, or poaching. It can also be enjoyed for fresh snacking or in salads.
Comice Pear
France
mid-1800s
Comice pears are the sweetest and juiciest of all varieties of pears and are a favorite in holiday gift boxes and baskets. Their flesh is very soft, and can best be described as creamy in texture, abundantly full of juice, and very sweet.
Availability
September-March
Usage
Because of the exceptional juiciness of the Comice, it is recommended only for fresh eating.
Forelle Pear
Germany
1600s
Forelle pears are one of the smallest varieties of pears and are known for their sweet flavor and juiciness. Unlike most other varieties of pears, they turn bright yellow with crimson freckling when ripe.
Availability
September-February
Usage
Snacking is the best way to enjoy a Forelle due to its small size and exceptional sweetness.
Green Anjou Pears
Red Bartlett Pear
Seckel Pear
Green Anjou Pears
Belgium or France
1800s
Green Anjou (also known as Beurré d’ Anjou or d’Anjou) pears are recognizable for their egg-shaped appearance, having a larger spherical lower portion that begins a gradual taper above the mid-point to a narrower rounded top. Their skin color is bright green, and sometimes has a soft red blush. Skin color shows only very subtle color change while ripening. Red Anjous are nearly identical to Green Anjous other than their color.
Organic variety available
Availability
Year round
Usage
An excellent all-purpose pear, Anjous can be used in cooking or baking or enjoyed fresh as a snack or in salads.
Red Bartlett Pear
Washington State
1938
Red Bartletts are very similar to their more commonly known green/yellow Bartletts in shape and flavor. The Red Bartlett pear transforms from a dark red to brilliant red as it becomes riper.
Organic variety available
Availability
September-June
Usage
All Bartlett pears can be enjoyed fresh or used for cooking, baking, or canning. Red Bartletts are especially beautiful in salads because of their colorful skin.
Seckel Pear
Pennsylvania
early 1800s
The smallest of all commercially grown pears, Seckel pears are also the sweetest. In fact, they are so sweet that the near-bite-size morsels are sometimes called “sugar pears.”
Availability
August-February
Usage
Excellent for snacking and lunch boxes. They can also be canned whole.
Pear Nutrition
Pears are an excellent source of fiber and vitamin C for just 100 calories per medium-sized pear. Pear nutritional benefits also include sodium free, fat free, and cholesterol free.
Pears are one of the leading fruit sources of fiber and provide about 24% of the daily recommended value. Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol and rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains that contain fiber, particularly soluble fiber, may reduce the risk for heart disease, a disease associated with many factors. Low fat diets rich in fiber-containing grain products, fruits, and vegetables may also reduce the risk of some types of cancer, a disease associated with many factors.The skin of the pear contains the majority of the fiber found in a pear, so be sure to enjoy the skin for added flavor, texture, and nutrients!
Each medium sized pear contains approximately 10% of your daily need for vitamin C. Aside from preventing oxidative damage, vitamin C is essential for normal growth and repair. It is needed for normal metabolism and tissue repair, proper immune functioning and guarding against infectious diseases, and vitamin C promotes healing of cuts, wounds, and bruises.
Pear-eating tips
When shopping for pears, select clean pears with uninjured skin. Pears with no cuts and with the stem intact will keep longer. Surface russeting (the brownish areas on the skin) is generally caused by weather and does not affect the quality or flavor.
- Pears should be firm, or fairly firm, but not hard.
- Avoid wilted, shriveled, moldy or discolored pears.
- Check for good color for the variety you are selecting.
- Pears are picked when fully mature, but firm. A ripe pear will yield slightly to gentle pressure at the base of the stem. Remember to “Check the Neck!”
- Unlike many other fruits, pears can ripen after they are picked.
- To ripen, leave pears at room temperature in a paper bag until the flesh near the stem responds readily to gentle pressure. Once ripe, you can store them in the refrigerator to slow the ripening process until use.
Pear recipes
Pears are a great snack, but are the perfect ingredient to many great dishes. Get inspiration here.
All Recipes For Pears
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