What type of pear is best for baking?
- Roquefort Pear Salad
- Spiced D'Anjou Pear Bread
- Fall Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette
What is the best cooking pear?
How to Cook Fresh Pears
- Poached Pears. Place the white wine, sugar, vanilla, cloves and orange zest in your saucepan and turn heat to medium low.
- Baked Pears. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Wash the pears but do not remove the peel. ...
- Grilled Pears. Preheat your outdoor grill to medium heat. Combine melted butter, cinnamon and brown sugar in a large bowl.
What are the best pears for baking?
- Creamy Baked Pears
- Blue Cheese, Bacon, and Pear Brunch Sandwiches
- Flambeed Vanilla-Poached Pears with Apricot Sauce
- Pear and Gorgonzola Cheese Pizza
- Winter Fruit Salad
- Poached Pears with Wine Vinaigrette
Which are the best pears for eating?
Top Pear Cultivars
- Anjou. An old-time favorite, ‘Anjou’ produces large, short-necked fruits that are pale green with a light pink blush.
- Baldwin. ‘Baldwin’ produces attractive, oblong fruit in light yellow with a red tint. ...
- Bartlett. ...
- Bosc. ...
- Comice. ...
- Hood. ...
- Kieffer. ...
- Pineapple. ...
- Seckel. ...
- Summercrisp. ...
See more
Is there such a thing as a cooking pear?
Cooking pears fall into two categories. The first are eating varieties which are used for cooking. These are usually used for cooking before the soften. The second are old fashioned cooking pears which remain hard however long they are kept and never soften sufficiently to be eaten fresh.
What type of pear is a cooking pear?
Anjou pears are squatty with a round bell shape, short neck, and thick stem. One of the most popular pears in the United States because of their long shelf life and versatility, they are basic, all-purpose pears, great for snacking, cooking, or baking.
What are cooking pears called?
Anjou pears are well-suited for baking, poaching, or roasting. When eaten raw, they have a subtle sweetness and light lemony flavor. Anjou pears can be red or green. They have a short neck and a bell-shaped body.
What are the different types of pears?
Asian pearEuropean pearCallery pearPyrus salicifoliaPyrus nivalisPyrus pyrasterPear/Lower classifications
What is the difference between Anjou and Bartlett pears?
D'Anjou has a firmer texture than Bartlett and won't change color as it ripens (so you have to check the neck). Once it's ripe and ready, it's hard to beat the juicy, sweet and citrus-like flavor of a d'Anjou.
What is the healthiest pear to eat?
Most Nutritious Pear VarietyVarietyFiber (grams)Vitamin C (mg)Anjou (green)3.14.4Anjou (red)35.2Asian3.63.8Bartlett3.14.41 more row
What kind of pears are best for baking?
You'll want to choose pears that hold together well when making poached, baked, or grilled pears. Look to the crispest raw pears to find those that can withstand heat. The popular Bosc pear is the best option. Anjou pears are another top choice and Concorde and French butter pears are also reliable.
What is the English name for UBE pear?
African pear or bush pear is a native fruit of West Africa mainly found in southeast Nigeria, popularly called Ube.
What does a Bosc pear look like?
Identifying Bosc Their long, curved stem and elegant elongated neck that widens gradually to a full rounded base creates a silhouette that is unique among pears. Bosc are also unique for their color: a warm cinnamon brown with russeting over the surface of the skin. Russeting is a natural appearance for Bosc.
What is the most common pear?
BartlettBartlett-The most popular pear in the world, Bartletts have incredible smoothness and sopping sweet flesh. They are known as a Williams pear in Europe and are the basis for the famous eau de vie of Alsace, poire William.
How do I know what type of pear I have?
Color at peak ripeness differs by type of pear, but look for one with few blemishes or scratches. To determine ripeness, apply gentle pressure to the neck of the pear. Pears ripen from the inside out, so a perfectly ripe pear will give a little bit at the neck. A pear that is squishy all around is probably too ripe.
How many pear types are there?
Asian pearEuropean pearCallery pearPyrus salicifoliaPyrus nivalisPyrus pyrasterPear/Lower classifications
How do I know what kind of pears I have?
Color at peak ripeness differs by type of pear, but look for one with few blemishes or scratches. To determine ripeness, apply gentle pressure to the neck of the pear. Pears ripen from the inside out, so a perfectly ripe pear will give a little bit at the neck. A pear that is squishy all around is probably too ripe.
What are Bartlett pears good for?
In addition to being a good source of fiber, pears are also high in vitamins C and K, as well as potassium and antioxidants. They're also especially good for gut health, and they may help keep you regular, too.
What is similar to a Bosc pear?
The popular Bosc pear is the best option. Anjou pears are another top choice and Concorde and French butter pears are also reliable.
What are Bosc pears good for?
Culinary Uses. Bosc pears have a more firm, dense flesh than other pear varieties, so they are ideal for use in baking, broiling or poaching. They retain their shape and texture better than other varieties, and their flavor is less likely to be overwhelmed by the use of strong spices like cinnamon, clove or nutmeg.
What Are the Different Types of Pears?
Pears are divided in to two major categories, European and Asian, though European pears are what we typically see and think of when we think of the pear-shaped fruit, while Asian pears are less sweet, crunchier, and usually more apple shaped.
How Many Varieties of Pears Are There?
Like apples, pears are available is a wonderfully wide array of varieties (up to 3,000 have been recorded!). There are Anjou (the most readily available type of pear in the U.S.), Bosc, Comice, Barlett, Concord, Seckel, Ferrel…the list goes on, and each one has a different flavor and texture.
What Are the Best Pears for Cooking and Eating?
A few varieties are only good to eat when cooked, but most of the varieties commonly available are also great for eating out of hand, and using in salads or other uncooked dishes, like a salsa. Pears that are very ripe will get quite soft when cooked, so you want to choose them before they get too ripe when baking or cooking them.
How Do You Store and Ripen Pears
Allow pears to ripen on the counter, which will take anywhere from 3 to 6 days. Barletts will turn from green to yellow as they ripen, though most other pears will not change color.
How Do You Cook with Pears?
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, so decide whether the texture of the peel will detract from the dish you are making.
How Can You Prevent Pears From Turning Brown?
Pears turn brown, or oxidize, fairly quickly.
What is the Difference Between Hard and Soft Pears?
Some pears get soft when they ripen (like Comice and Bartlett), while others (like Concord and Bosc) remain firm. If a pear variety is meant to be eaten soft, it will not have much flavor when it is unripe. See here to find out if the variety of pear you have is meant to be hard or soft.
Many types of pears are in season from August through October. Here are the fresh pears to look for at the farmers market or grocery store!
Many types of pears are in season from August through October. Here are the fresh pears to look for at the farmers market or grocery store!
Bartlett
Bartlett pears (also called Williams) have what most people would consider the true “pear flavor.” Both red and green Bartletts are bell-shaped. You can find them in stores from September through the early months of winter. Since pears are harvested unripe, allow them to ripen at room temperature.
Comice
This is one of the most-loved types of pears, thanks to the succulent texture and sweetness. Comice pears are sometimes called “Christmas pears” as they’re a staple of fruit gift baskets. The pears are short and round with bright green skin blushed with red, and need careful handling because of their fragile skin.
Bosc
If you see pears at the store with mottled, brown skin and a tear-drop shape, you’ve found Bosc pears. To check pears for ripeness, especially firm varieties, remember to “check the neck.” Pears ripen from the inside out, and since the necks are the narrowest part of a pear, this is the most reliable place to determine ripeness.
Anjou
Egg-shaped Anjou pears come in green and red varieties, and they’re especially attractive when both colors are arranged together in fruit bowls or sliced onto salads. Anjou pears have a sweet, slightly citrus flavor and are available nearly year-round.
Seckel
Seckel pears are so tiny that they can be preserved whole! The skin of Seckel pears ranges from pale green to deep red, and they’re available in stores from September through February.
Asian Pear
Though the term is broadly applied to several varieties, Asian pears are typically round with green or brown skin and a russeted surface. They’re sweet and very crisp, and unlike most pears, are ripe when they are firm to the touch.
Buying, Cooking, and Recipes
Linnea Covington has been writing about food for over a decade. From farmers' markets to award-winning restaurants, if the eats prove good, she's there, often trailed by her two young boys.
What Are Pears?
The pear is a fruit that grows on trees and shrubs. A member of the Rosaceae family, it's a species of the genus Pyrus. Pears are most commonly teardrop-shaped, though some are round and look more like an apple. The skin is often green or red, and the fruits can be as large as a fist or as small as a golf ball.
How to Cook With and Use Pears
There are pear varieties that are better for cooking and those that are preferred for eating raw. It's good to match the intended use with the type of pear you're buying.
What Does It Taste Like?
Cool and sugary, a pear doesn't have an apple's crispness but proves just as juicy. Once you break the bitter skin, you'll be rewarded with slightly soft white flesh that's easy to eat and oh-so-sweet. One of the neat things about pears is that each variety tastes different.
Pears Recipes
Pears can be used in both sweet and savory applications. Eat it raw, cook it up, turn the fruit into dessert, a smoothie, or enhance fatty meat like ham with the ingredient's sweetness. No matter how you like to eat this fruit, pears have a lot going for them in the culinary world.
Where to Buy Pears
You will see pears from mid-summer all the way to late winter in just about every grocery store. Most of the varieties available are Bosc, Bartlett, and Anjou, but occasionally you will find other types. The chances rise if you seek pears from an orchard stand or in a farmers market, especially if you live in Washington, Oregon, or New York.
Storage
Keep pears in a cool, dry spot and out of the light if you want them to ripen slowly. To help hard pears ripen faster, place them in a paper bag. Don't keep cut pears in the fridge for long, or they will dry out and oxidize.
Types of Pears
Characteristics: This pear is easy to identify due to its small size, ovalish shape, smooth skin, and striking yellowish-green freckled skin, which turns a beautiful red as it ripens. Sweet and delicate, Forelles are an old European variety. Because of their sweetness and size, Forelles are a good fruit choice for young children's snacks.
Tips for Using Pears in the Kitchen
Popular cooking methods include poaching (in wine, syrup, fruit juice, water) and baking. Pears shine in baked goods like tarts, pies, and cakes, as well as in jams, preserves, and chutneys. And because they are related to apples, it's generally understood that if a recipe calls for apples, pears can be substituted.
1. Williams
Probably the best known pear variety, Williams pears have a light green skin with some yellow streaks, and the pulp is white, sweet and particularly juicy. Williams pears "were born" in England at the end of the Eighteenth century and abound on supermarket counters between the months of August and February.
2. Coscia
The Coscia pear is small in size, with yellow and red skin and a very juicy and sugary pulp. To best enjoy them, you can bake a delicious pear and chocolate cake, eat some pears in red wine or enjoy them naturally, combined with semi-hard cheeses.
3. Santa Maria
We can find this kind of pear during the summer and we can taste it until October; the Santa Maria pears are small and round in shape, they have a white pulp with a not too sweet taste and yellow and green skin, very smooth.
4. Decana pear
The Decana pear is rounded with a short and thick petiole. Cultivated in Italy and Holland, the Decana pear has a very particular skin: a light green background with rust and pinkish streaks, especially in the part of the fruit most exposed to the sun.
5. Conference
Harvested in May, the Conference pear was born in England at the end of the 19th century, it prefers a cool climate and for this reason it is grown in the Netherlands, Belgium and North-Italy.
6. Kaiser
Among the best known and most consumed varieties of pears, Kaiser has a regular shape, the "classic" shape of the pear: brown skin, juicy pulp, with a taste that alternates sweet and sour and a compactness tending to crunchy.
7. Guyot
Yellow skin and medium size, the Guyot pear is a cousin of the best known William: the two varieties are very similar but they are harvested in different periods (the Guyot is harvested earlier, already in July). It has a light-colored pulp, tending to white, a slightly grainy compactness with a very sweet and sugary flavor.
These fresh pear recipes prove that any way you slice 'em, they'll lend mellow sweetness to sweet and savory dishes alike
These fresh pear recipes prove that any way you slice 'em, they'll lend mellow sweetness to sweet and savory dishes alike.
Pear and Pomegranate Lamb Tagine
Pomegranate, pear and orange go together elegantly that I decided to use them to prepare a Middle Eastern-themed tagine with lamb. This tastes delicious served over couscous, polenta, or cauliflower mashed with feta cheese. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois
Orange and Pear Upside-Down Cake
I love cooking with my cast-iron skillet, whether it's to make a main dish or dessert. This upside-down cake is a fall version of a typical summer favorite. — Linda Persall, Cullman, Alabama
Bacon Pear Salad with Parmesan Dressing
This simple salad is an elegant side dish for any menu. With a blend of fresh pears and warm, comforting flavors, it’s perfect for special meals. —Rachel Lewis, Danville, Virginia
Butterscotch Pears
This grand finale simmers during dinner and impresses as soon as you bring it to the table. Serve as is, or with vanilla ice cream and a slice of pound cake. Leftover pear nectar is heavenly when added to sparkling wine or simply poured over ice. —Theresa Kreyche, Tustin, California
Country Pear Puff Pancake
This sweet, gooey pancake is dressed up with caramelized pears and baked until golden. Cut into serving-size wedges, it’s a special change of pace. —Steffany Lohn, Brentwood, California
Pressure-Cooker Tequila Poached Pears
Tequila may seem an unusual ingredient, but give it a try! The fresh pears and mint make the dessert deliciously refreshing. Bring out this creative sweet when you want to impress dinner guests. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
What Is a Cactus Pear?
Named for its pear-like shape and size, the cactus pear comes from one of several varieties of opuntia cactus. Its prickly skin can range in color from green to purplish red; its soft, porous flesh (scattered with black seeds) from light yellow-green to deep pink.
What Does Cactus Pear Taste Like?
Cactus pear fruit tastes like a cross between intense, concentrated watermelon and cucumber. The texture is grainy like that of watermelon but denser and firmer.
How to Shop for Cactus Pear
Fresh cactus pears are available at specialty produce markets around the U.S. and most grocery stores in the Southwest and West. They come into season in the late fall and early winter. When you find them at the market, they have been scrubbed to remove the thorns, but you should still be careful.
How to Prep Cactus Pear
We recommend wearing gloves when prepping cactus pears, as there’s no guarantee that 100% of the thorns are gone.
How to Eat Cactus Pear
Raw catus pear is tastiest when it's cold, so store yours in the fridge even before peeling and slicing. The raw fruit can be pureed and strained and used as juice: a popular ingredient with bar tenders. It is also commonly cooked and reduced with sugar to make a syrup that’s used in cocktails, sauces and drizzled over shaved ice.
How to Cook Cactus Pear
Most recipes call for cooking cactus pear down into pulp, straining it and then cooking it again to make syrup, sauces, jams and jelly.
Cactus Pear Recipes
This recipe uses frozen cactus prickly pear puree in the from-scratch BBQ sauce you make to go with the pork tenderloin.