8 Sweet and Savory Pear Recipes That are Pear-fect for Fall (2024)

FAQs

What is the best cooking method for pears? ›

Poached Pears

Keep the liquid at a very low boil and simmer the pears until cooked through, 10 to 25 minutes, depending on the pears. While they are poaching, every so often gently push down the pears to make sure they are submerged in poaching liquid. (The round of paper helps to keep the pears moist and wet.)

Pears Make the Perfect Partner for Wholesome Snacking

even replace meals, a pear's juicy, subtle flavor pairs well with protein-filled nut butters or almonds and walnuts. And its gentle acidity is a bright match for richer companions, like cheese and cured meats.

With so many varieties available on the market, it can be tough to choose which pears work best for baking. We recommend using Bartlett, Bosc, and Anjou pears. These varieties have the highest volume and are widely available in grocery stores year-round.

There are many ways to enjoy a butterscotch pear. You can slice it and add it to a salad for a sweet and juicy crunch, or poach it in a spiced syrup for a delicious dessert. You can also simply enjoy it as a healthy and refreshing snack.

Pears can be left unpeeled for eating fresh, but be sure to peel them before cooking. Although the peel is edible, some fruits may have tough skins with a slightly bitter flavor that is accentuated when cooked. Prevent premature browning by dipping cut pears in water mixed with a little lemon juice or vinegar.

Store at room temperature, or inside a paper bag if pears are hard or firm and needing to ripen. Prepare by washing with cold water before eating. No need to peel, just slice pears in half and take out the core with a knife or melon baller.

According to this principle, cured meats such as mortadella, salami, and cooked ham go well with apples, peaches, exotic fruits, citrus fruits, pineapple, pears, and kiwi. While cured meats such as prosciutto, bresaola, and speck can be paired with figs, apples, apricots, watermelon, melon, strawberries, and berries.

In classic French cuisine, pears are often poached with vanilla beans in wine, and for good reason. The wine's fruit-forward acidity perks up the mellow pears, while fragrant vanilla beans amplify their floral aroma and the gentle cooking method keeps their delicate texture intact.

Pear: Pairs well with almond, apple, caramel, chestnut, chocolate, cinnamon, citrus, clove, ginger, hazelnut, nutmeg, pecan, raspberry, rosemary, vanilla, and walnut. It mixes best with brandy, port, crème de cassis, Grand Marnier, kirsch, rum, whiskey, and dry red white, and sparkling wines.

Comice pears were originally cultivated in France. They're known as the sweetest pear variety, and are often the variety shipped in gift boxes. Because of this, they're sometimes given the nickname “the Christmas pear.” Comice pears have light green skin with a blush of pinkish red.

Can dogs eat pears? ›

Yes, dogs can eat pears. Pears are a great snack because they're high in copper, vitamins C and K, and fiber. If you're sharing pears with your dog, just be sure to cut the pear flesh into bite-size chunks and remove the pit and seeds first, as the seeds contain traces of cyanide.

Red Bartlett

With a bright, fresh sweetness and delicate floral hints, this pear is all about flavor.

Ripe, eating pears need very little cooking – simply poach in a light syrup or fry them in butter.

Comice Pear: Not as grainy as classic pears, this variety has a great clean and bright pear flavor that's surprisingly sweet. It's soft and juicy, and arguably the best choice to eat raw.

Melissa's Butterscotch™ Pears are crunchy, juicy and sweet. Extreme care is taken while growing these pears, the outcome is a clean, blemish-free fruit. Directly imported from the fields of South Korea, Melissa's Butterscotch™ Pears are the most refreshing pears you'll ever bite into.

Fruit can be cooked using moist heat or dry heat methods. To make a sauce, compote or to poach would require moist heat. Liquid and seasoning is often added to soften and infuse a new flavor. Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, chilies and saffron can be used to add a deep and complex flavor to fruit.

For some fruits, poaching is a way to soften them up for dishes where they would otherwise add little or no textural value. Pears are often poached so that they become soft enough to be pureed into a sauce or blended into a soup.

Cover and steam for about 10-12 minutes or until the pears are tender. If you opt for boiling, place the pears in a saucepan and add enough water to cover them. Bring the water to a boil and then reduce the heat to simmer. Cook for about 5-7 minutes or until the pears are soft and easily mashed with a fork.

If you're not in a rush, you can simply leave a pear sitting out on the counter at room temperature and it will slowly ripen, usually within four to seven days, according to Edwards. Speed up the process. If you'd like to ripen your pears faster, you can put them in a paper bag with ripe apples and/or bananas.