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Pick Your Perfect Pear
Pears are a perfectly delicious winter fruit to add to your favorite baked dishes, savory meals or simply enjoyed on their own. The mellow sweetness and creamy texture is something to look forward to all year long—so when peak season rolls around and you want to enjoy their juicy, sweet flavor, it helps to know exactly what to look for the next time you’re shopping at your local Sprouts.
How to spot a pear-fectly ripe pear
When picking the perfect pear, gently press your thumb at the neck to test for ripeness—the more give you feel, the riper the pear is! If you just can’t wait to bite into your peak-season pear, you can speed up the ripening process.
1. Place underripe pears in a fruit bowl at room temperature near other ripening fruit, like bananas, which naturally give off ethylene, which will help speed up the process.
2. Once your pear is ripe, it can be stored in the refrigerator to slow down the ripening process. Your ripe pear will likely last about 5 days in the refrigerator.
Dig into these unique varieties in-store this season!
BARTLETT PEAR
Delivering a blast of supersweet juice, the Bartlett pear has a definitive flavor perfect for eating fresh out of hand.Prep Tip: Try it sliced in a green salad with your favorite dressing.
ASIAN PEAR
Enjoyable at various stages, Asian pears are very sweet and aromatic with a juicy, sweet-tart flavor and firm texture.Prep Tip: Crisp and firm like an apple, these can be enjoyed both raw and cooked in baked goods, salads or juiced for marinades and sauces.
BOSC PEAR
Buttery, with honey sweetness and juiciness, Bosc pears are more flavorful early in the ripening process.Prep Tip: More firm than other pears, Bosc are perfect for baking and pair well with strong spices such as cinnamon, clove or nutmeg.
FORELLE PEAR
Tangy, sweet and delicious these bite-size delights are a wonder you don’t want to miss.Prep Tip: Because of their size, Forelles are typically not the best choice for recipes. Although they may be able to brighten up your salad, they are ideal for snacking.
D’ANJOU PEAR
Juicy with a subtle sweetness and hints of refreshing lemon-lime.Prep Tip: Holding up well in heated applications, this pear is great for baking, roasting and grilling.
COMICE PEAR
Exceptionally buttery and sweet, the Comice pear has silky flesh that is very fragile.Prep Tip: Because of its softness, you will find no better compliment when served with cheeses such as Brie or Blue.
SECKEL PEAR
Creamy, crisp and juicy, the Seckel pear has the sweetest flavor profile of all the pear varieties.Prep Tip: Known as a dessert pear, Seckels are perfect for adding to holiday gift baskets or an after-dinner treat.
RED D’ANJOU PEAR
Juicy with subtle sweet flavors and a buttery finish, Red D’Anjou’s have hints of lemon and lime.Prep Tip: Although the taste is similar to Green D’Anjous in cooking recipes, the red variety adds more visual appeal to your favorite salads.
Feeling inspired? Check out these fresh recipes!
Ginger Spiced Hand Pies
Recipe by: @ourbalancedbowlGet recipe
Pear Ricotta Crostini
Recipe by: @everytastybiteGet recipe
Pear and Gorgonzola Salad
Recipe by: @kalefornia_kravingsGet recipe
