Pears

DO NOT REFRIGERATE!
PEARS RIPEN AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

A little known fact about the pear is that it is one of the few fruits that does not ripen on the tree. When left at room temperature, it slowly reaches a sweet and succulent maturity as it ripens from the inside out. Do not refrigerate your pears until they reach their desired ripeness. This process will take at least 2 to 4 days, but could take 7 to 10 days depending on the variety of pear.

Leave firm, unripe pears at room temperature so that they can ripen. Pears can be placed in a brown paper bag to speed up the ripening process. Check the neck for ripeness daily by applying gentle pressure to the neck (or stem end) of the pear with your thumb. If it yields to pressure, then it’s ripe and ready to eat.

Once pears reach their desired ripeness, they should be stored in the refridgerator and can be kept for up to two additional weeks.

Do not wrap your pears in plastic film or store them in plastic bags. Moisture trapped in the bag with your fruit enhances the rotting process and the quality of your pears will deteriorate quickly.