Pears Are Massively Underrated—These Recipes Show Why You Should Cook with Them (2024)

How come pears don't get more attention? They're delicious in so many dishes and boast more fiber, potassium, and folate than apples.

There is a secret to eating pears, and it is deprivation. Not the suffering kind, but the seasonal kind. Pears ripen from late summer through fall; go pear-less until then, wait until they are perfectly ripe, and you will understand this fragrant and versatile fruit.

There are countless ways to enjoy this late-season fruit. While dessert is probably your first thought (which does make sense, especially because the possibilities for using this fruit in sweet applications are endless), pears are also fabulous in salads and soups, on sandwiches, as warm appetizers and savory snacks, and as an element in your entrée. The success lies in the pairing (ahem) of ingredients that complement the pear or that are brought into delicious focus by its presence. We have collected our best pear recipes here to give you a taste of pear season and to inspire your next kitchen adventure. Happy cooking!

Pears are hard when they arrive at market because they ripen off the tree, from the inside out. Apply thumb pressure at the stem end of a pear to test for ripeness: When it's ready to be enjoyed, it will yield.

8 Types of Pears—Including the Best Varieties for Snacking and Baking

01of 17

Red Wine Poached Pears

Pears Are Massively Underrated—These Recipes Show Why You Should Cook with Them (1)

If you make just one pear dessert, let this luscious French bistro classic be it. Choose statuesque Bosc pears if you can, since their shape holds up to the slow poaching. The red wine and cassis transform the white-fleshed pears into garnet-red beauties.

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02of 17

Pancetta-Wrapped Pork Loin with Pears and Root Vegetables

Pears Are Massively Underrated—These Recipes Show Why You Should Cook with Them (2)

Luxuriously soft braised pears add necessary moisture and contrast to the salty and crisp intensity of pancetta-wrapped pork loin, in this cool-evening comfort food.

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03of 17

Scones with Pears, Irish Cheddar and Honey

Pears Are Massively Underrated—These Recipes Show Why You Should Cook with Them (3)

Pears with cheese are divine. The only thing more divine is sandwiching them in fresh scones with good honey! We like the sharp prickle of Irish cheese with the juicy fruit.

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04of 17

Slow-Roasted Pear Chips

Easy pear chips are the answer to the gluten-free eater's nemesis: the cracker. Slow-dried pear slices are delicate platforms for toppings from cheese and ham to sour cream and salmon roe.

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05of 17

Coddled Pears with Whiskey

Pears Are Massively Underrated—These Recipes Show Why You Should Cook with Them (5)

In this decadent dessert the bold flavors sing. Whiskey and orange zest, black strap molasses, and ice cream will make you sit up and beg for more.

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06of 17

Pear and Cranberry Tart

Pears Are Massively Underrated—These Recipes Show Why You Should Cook with Them (6)

For a seasonal celebration, combine fall's pears with the first cranberries in this delectable tart.

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Apple Crisp

07of 17

Pears with Goat Cheese and Pomegranate

Pears Are Massively Underrated—These Recipes Show Why You Should Cook with Them (7)

For a quick, healthy, and gorgeous party platter, hollow out sweet pears, stuff them with whipped goats' cheese, drizzle them with honey, and shower them with a handful of glossy pomegranate seeds.

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08of 17

Olive Oil Cake with Vanilla and Yogurt

Pears Are Massively Underrated—These Recipes Show Why You Should Cook with Them (8)

Exceptionally moist with olive oil and yogurt and topped with pears that have been caramelized in cider with sugar, this velvety winter cake is sure to become a seasonal favorite.

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09of 17

Gingerbread Trifle with Cognac Custard and Pears

Pears Are Massively Underrated—These Recipes Show Why You Should Cook with Them (9)

How does one make trifle even better? Make it with gingerbread and warm pears that have caramelized in spiced butter. This is a rich and show-stopping dessert to round off a holiday meal.

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10of 17

Butternut and Pear Soup

Pears Are Massively Underrated—These Recipes Show Why You Should Cook with Them (10)

Winter squash and pears make for a velvety soup whose natural sweetness is offset by a healthy dollop of sharp yogurt.

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11of 17

Pear Crisp

Pears Are Massively Underrated—These Recipes Show Why You Should Cook with Them (11)

Sweet Bosc pears are nestled under a crunchy oat-almond topping in this oh-so-simple crisp. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

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12of 17

Endive and Pear Salad with Oregon Blue Cheese

Pears Are Massively Underrated—These Recipes Show Why You Should Cook with Them (12)

Crisp, slightly bitter endive and ripe pears with tangy blue cheese are a timelessly good idea. Richly flavored sherry vinegar and hazelnut oil (in addition to the crunchy nuts) elevate this brasserie-style salad into one where you will lick the plate.

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13of 17

Baked Pears with Vanilla Mascarpone

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Baking pears concentrates their flavor, and this rustic pear dessert cooks itself while you attend to life. It's mouthwatering and warming, with lashings of mascarpone and a flurry of crumbled biscotti.

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14of 17

Sausage and Pear Stuffing

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This standalone, one-dish meal is fragrant with onions and leeks, fennel and celery, rosemary and sage, and the sweetness of autumn's best pears. Use good artisanal bread and your favorite pork sausages. Who needs turkey?

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15of 17

Pressed Ham and Pear Sandwiches

Pears Are Massively Underrated—These Recipes Show Why You Should Cook with Them (15)

What's better than a sandwich? A pressed sandwich, weeping warm Gruyère cheese. Add slices of sweet pear, good, salty ham, and lick of mustard heat, then squeeze.

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16of 17

Pork with Pears and Parsnip Mash

Pears Are Massively Underrated—These Recipes Show Why You Should Cook with Them (16)

A pillow of buttery mashed potatoes with parsnips is the best bed for browned pieces of seared pork in a pan-gravy fragrant with shallots, pears, and thyme.

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17of 17

Pear Pandowdy

Pears Are Massively Underrated—These Recipes Show Why You Should Cook with Them (17)

Pears and dried figs replace the usual apples in this fresh new take on the rustic dessert. Ground hazelnuts enrich the crust.

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Pears Are Massively Underrated—These Recipes Show Why You Should Cook with Them (2024)

FAQs

What are the culinary uses of pears? ›

Cooking With Pears: Recipes to Try

Pears can also be used in savoury dishes and salads: a sliced ripe pear with fresh chicory and a few walnuts is a lovely combination, dressed with oil and lemon juice. However, the best way to eat pears in a savoury context is with cheese.

Is A pear A Vegetable or a fruit? ›

Pears are fruits produced and consumed around the world, growing on a tree and harvested in late summer into mid-autumn. The pear tree and shrub are a species of genus Pyrus /ˈpaɪrəs/, in the family Rosaceae, bearing the pomaceous fruit of the same name.

What does pear do for your skin? ›

What It Can Do For Your Skin. Pear is an all-around antioxidant-rich glow booster that can help visibly lighten hyperpigmentation, even your overall complexion, and leave you glowing. This can be contributed to its high levels of natural vitamin C, glutathione, and arbutin.

How to eat pears? ›

Eat pears whole or cut into quarters. If desired, remove the core. The skin is edible and a great source of fiber. To keep sliced pears from browning, briefly soak them in 1 quart of water + 3 tablespoons lemon juice.

What type of pear is best for cooking? ›

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.

Is there such thing as cooking pears? ›

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.

Is it OK to eat a pear every day? ›

Each medium pear contains 6g of fiber, 21% of the recommended daily value, and they contain vitamin C. Eating two pears every day meets your fruit needs as outlined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Are pears healthier than apples? ›

Pears are not better than apples. They have similar health benefits, though we know much more about how apples impact health than pears. In fact, research into the health benefits of pears is ongoing. Both apples and pears contain pectin, a fiber that nourishes gut bacteria.

Can diabetics eat pears? ›

We also know that pears can help control blood sugar and lower your chances of type 2 diabetes and stroke. They can even help you digest food better. And, as a bonus, they're a good way to make you feel like you've had a small treat with some added nutrition.

What does pear do to the hair? ›

Pear fruits are laden with vitamin B3, B5 and plenty of antioxidants that promote blood circulation to the hair and scalp and stimulate the growth of healthy hair roots i.e. follicles and long, strong thick hair.

Do pears cleanse the liver? ›

Pear has antioxidants that might show a beneficial effect on liver health. In an animal study conducted by Ajilore B et al. 2016, the seed extract of pear fruit showed a decrease in oxidative stress on the liver. These results were due to the phytochemicals, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of pear.

Do pears detox your body? ›

This means pear nutrition benefits the body's detoxifying capabilities, helps regulate the body's use of sugars and cholesterol, and improves gut and digestive health. Apples are also a good source of pectin and have similar benefits.

Is it OK to drink water after eating pear? ›

Pear. Experts agree that when you drink water after consuming pear, it can lead to cough & cold along with ingestion.

Can I brush my teeth after eating a pear? ›

We definitely recommend holding off on brushing after consuming anything acidic, whether it's fruit, soda, juice, or sour candy,” says Ezzard Rolle, DDS, assistant professor of dental medicine at Columbia University's College of Dental Medicine.

What food pairs well with pears? ›

Pears Make the Perfect Partner for Wholesome Snacking

even replace meals, a pear's juicy, subtle flavor pairs well with protein-filled nut butters or almonds and walnuts. And its gentle acidity is a bright match for richer companions, like cheese and cured meats.

How do you use a lot of pears? ›

20 Perfect Pear Recipes To Enjoy At Every Meal
  1. 01 of 20. Pear Salad. ...
  2. 02 of 20. Apple and Pear Crisp. ...
  3. 03 of 20. Spiced Pear Hand Pies. ...
  4. 04 of 20. Pear Preserves. ...
  5. 05 of 20. Pear Upside-Down Cake. ...
  6. 06 of 20. Bourbon and Hard Pear Cider co*cktail. ...
  7. 07 of 20. Roasted Pears. ...
  8. 08 of 20. Slow-Cooker Cranberry-Pear Butter.
Nov 3, 2023

What part of the pear is edible? ›

In apple and pear, the thalamus is converted into a fruit.

The fruit contains seeds inside and the outer fleshy part of the fruit is the thalamus i.e is the edible part.

Are all pears edible? ›

A pear tree should be able to produce edible fruit, but the Bradford pear tree's fruit is inedible. Humans can't eat it, and worse, it can be poisonous for dogs. Dog owners who have these trees in their yard need to be sure to remove any that fall from the tree before their animal gets ahold of it.

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