What you’re looking for is a slight give when applying pressure to the pear’s neck. If it feels firm and hard, it’s best to wait a few more days. If it feels very soft or your finger easily breaks the skin, bad news — your pear is overripe and possibly close to going bad. A slight softness means you’re good to go.
The thumb test
Check your pear daily for ripeness by applying gentle pressure to the neck or stem-end of the pear with your thumb. If the pear yields to pressure, it’s ready to eat. Could it get any easier?
These pears get two thumbs up!
To see if a pear is ripe, simply push gently on the flesh near the stem with your thumb. If the fruit is slightly soft, it’s ripe. If the flesh is hard, don’t eat it. If your pear is still hard, leave it on your counter at room temperature until it’s ripe. Dying to eat your pear? Place it in a bowl with other ripening fruits. The ethylene gas emitted from the other ripe fruits will quicken the ripening of your pear.
Once your pear is ripe, you can keep in in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. When the pear is totally squishy, it means it’s overripe. Don’t toss your fruit though, because you can still cook with it. Overripe pears taste fantastic in a simple pear galette or in a boozy autumn sangria.
There are few things in life better than biting into a juicy, sweet pear and having the juice dribble down your chin. There are also few things in life worse than biting into a crunchy, tasteless pear. After 22 years on this earth, I can safely say I know how to tell when a pear is ripe.
Because pears are one of the few fruits that don’t ripen on the tree, you don’t want to eat a freshly picked pear (which sucks, I know). Pears are picked when they’re mature, but not ripe, and then slowly ripen from the inside out. Some pears, like a Bartlett pear, change color when they’re ripe. Most varieties don’t though, so you’ll need to test for ripeness yourself.
What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Pears Every Day
FAQ
Is it OK to eat a hard pear?
Should pears be soft or hard?
Are pears better crunchy or soft?
Why are my pears hard?
Why are pears still hard?
When pears are harvested, they’re still hard because they ripen off the tree. Usually, the pears you’ll find in the grocery store are still hard, and not yet soft and ready to eat. However, different varieties of pears have different textures. For example, a green D’anjou pear is much firmer when ripe than a softer Bosc pear.
Are pears healthy?
Yes, the pear is one of the fruits richest in fiber and phenolic compounds, there are several benefits of the pear for health, the main ones being the relief of intestinal constipation, cholesterol and blood glucose control and a well-strengthened immune system.
Are pears ripe?
Usually, the pears you’ll find in the grocery store are still hard, and not yet soft and ready to eat. However, different varieties of pears have different textures. For example, a green D’anjou pear is much firmer when ripe than a softer Bosc pear. While ripe pears can be firm, if they’re hard or crunchy like an apple, they’re not ripe yet.
Can pears be cut up?
Pears can be peeled or cut up with the peel left on, but make sure to wash them well just before using. Some peels are smoother, and some are rougher; decide whether the texture of the peel will detract from the dish you are making. Pears can be poached, sautéed, and baked in crisps, cobblers, crisps, cobblers, pies, tarts, or wrapped in pastry.