How to Select a Perfectly Ripe Pear

There's nothing quite like sinking your teeth into a perfectly ripe, juicy pear during peak season. But we’ve all had the frustrating experience of biting into one only to find it hard and crunchy. It's disappointing, especially since an under-ripe pear is far less flavorful and almost completely devoid of juice.

Since most pears don’t show clear signs of ripeness, it can be tricky to know when they’re ready to eat. Fortunately, there are a few simple methods to make sure you're enjoying pears at their best ripeness before taking that first bite.

Should Pears Be Hard or Soft?

Pears are picked while still firm because they ripen off the tree. The ones you'll find at the store are often not yet soft and ready to eat. Keep in mind, different pear varieties have distinct textures. For example, a ripe D'anjou pear remains firmer compared to a Bosc pear, which becomes much softer. While ripe pears may still have some firmness, if they’re as hard as an apple, they’re not yet ripe.

How to Determine When a Pear Is Ripe

If you have Bartlett pears on hand, it’s easy to tell when they’re ripe—they shift from green to a golden honey-yellow. However, varieties like D'anjou, Bosc, and Seckle don’t change color when they ripen, and even if they do, color alone isn’t a reliable sign of ripeness.

The most accurate way to check ripeness for any pear variety is by gently squeezing the area near the stem. The neck of the pear is the thinnest part, and it gives a clear indication of the pear’s firmness. What you’re looking for is a slight give when you apply light pressure to this area.

If the pear feels firm and solid, it’s not quite ripe yet—give it a few more days. If it feels overly soft or if your finger easily presses into the skin, it’s likely overripe and may be on the verge of spoiling. A small amount of softness means it’s ready to enjoy.

Find the recipe: Salted Caramel Pear Pie Bars

How to Ripen Pears Faster

If your pear still feels too firm after a gentle squeeze, there’s a simple trick to help it ripen more quickly. Place your pears in a paper bag with a few ripe bananas or an apple. The riper the fruits, the better—these release ethylene gas, which accelerates the ripening process for nearby fruit.

Normally, you'd avoid exposing ripe fruit to ethylene gas, as it causes the fruit to spoil faster. But in this case, using that gas can actually help speed up the ripening of your pears. Depending on how firm they are, leaving them overnight in a bag with bananas or an apple could be all it takes to bring them to perfect ripeness.

If your pears are perfectly ripe after the squeeze test but you’re not quite ready to enjoy them, store them in the fridge. Since pears continue ripening at room temperature, keeping them in a cool fridge will slow down the ripening process and help them last longer.

It’s important to remember that while the fridge can slow ripening, it won't prevent pears from eventually over-ripening and spoiling. For the best flavor and texture, aim to eat refrigerated pears within three to five days.

Can You Eat an Unripe Pear?

You can eat a pear that isn’t ripe, but we wouldn’t recommend it. The texture is often hard and tough to chew, which makes for a less enjoyable experience compared to the smooth, buttery texture of a perfectly ripe pear.

Unripe pears also contain compounds that can cause uncomfortable gas and bloating, which are broken down as the fruit ripens. Eating one before it’s ripe is a pretty lackluster experience and will likely make you crave the full flavor and texture of a ripe pear even more. If you can, give it a few more days to reach its peak.