The Powerhouse Fall Fruit

September is the transition between summer and fall fruits and vegetables. As the summer fruit season comes to an end, apple and pear season begins.

Pears are a powerhouse fruit with antioxidants, fiber, minerals and vitamins to benefit heart and gut health. They can help reduce inflammation. They are high in fiber and can help with digestion and prevent constipation. They contain vitamins A and C.   Vitamin K, which helps keep bones strong and healthy is found in pears.  They are also fat and cholesterol free. 

Pears are unique. They ripen differently than most fruit, from the inside out and off the tree. Pears left to ripen on the tree get mealy and woody, unlike all the other fruits (except avocados). They are picked when mature but not ripe and left to ripen off the tree.

To determine if a pear is ready for eating, gently squeeze the fruit at the stem end. If it gives a little, it is ripe. The interior texture is likely mealy if the pear is soft all over. Place the pear in a bag with an apple or banana to speed up ripening, which gives off ethylene gas. To slow ripening, place it in the fridge.

Pears can last anywhere from several days to a couple of weeks on the counter, depending on their ripeness. In the fridge, they last a month or more.

Here are the most popular pears available in the fall:

Anjou - medium soft and medium juiciness when ripe. They hold up well through cooking and baking, making them well suited to pie and grilling.

Bartlett - The classic pear you find most often at stores. It is very soft, juicy when ripe, and relatively sweet—a favorite for fresh eating.

Bosc—Like an apple, It is more crisp than a soft Bartlett pear. It is also less sweet than other pears. It holds up well to baking and grilling and isn't overwhelmed by strong spices.

Comice pears are very soft and juicy, like a Bartlett, and very sweet (even sweeter than Bartlett pears). It's great when paired with cheeses!