How to Harvest and Store Pears

European and hybrid pears, unlike most fruit, ripen best when picked while still firm and stored off the tree. The summer varieties will ripen quickly and are best eaten fresh. Later-winter varieties need longer to ripen off the tree but store well.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Baskets
• Garden Shears
• Gardening Gloves
• Knife
• Plastic Storage Bags
• Knife
• Baskets

1. Pick fruit when pears are full-size and have begun to change color but have not yet begun to soften. Once fruit begins to fall from the tree, pick a full-size pear and test by cutting the surface. If juice appears, it's time to start harvesting.

2. Lift each pear and twist slightly to harvest. Pear should pull away from the branch easily, without tearing the wood. Handle carefully so as not to bruise the fruit, which is very delicate.

3. Let pears ripen in a cool, dark place with temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees F (18 and 21 degrees C). Fruit should be soft to the touch. Seeds will be brown, but flesh will still be white or yellow. Most pears can be stored in this way for one to two months.

4. Keep pears refrigerated for longer storage. Remove them about a week before they will be needed and allow ripening process to finish. To ripen faster, place pears in a plastic bag along with a ripe apple. For even longer storage, can or preserve.

5. Eat fresh, use in salads or in a sauce, poach, or bake into desserts.

Tips & Warnings

• Pears ripen from August to October, depending on variety. For best flavor, determine the peak ripening time for your particular tree. Early- and midseason ripeners include Bartlett and Seckel. Some popular late or winter varieties are Anjou, Comice and Winter Nelis.
• Winter pears may take up to six weeks to ripen after being picked. Some, notably Anjou and Comice, require four to six weeks of refrigeration to ripen properly. Winter pears will keep about two to three months and Winter Nelis can be stored all winter.