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

Ingredient

Season: July - April

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