Fresh pears are great for fall eating, especially if you appreciate a healthy snack or meal accompaniment. You can find pears in most markets or grocery stores.
When shopping for fresh pears, Bartlett, Bosc, Comice and Anjou are the varieties found most often. When selecting pears, choose firm fruit, as the color of a pear does not represent how ripe it is. Bartlett pears turn from green to yellow when they are ripe. Some varieties of pears that are red in color will turn from dark to bright red. Still other varieties might not change color at all when they ripen.
To determine ripeness, gently press your thumb into the stem end, applying gentle pressure to the pear. If it's hard, it's not ripe. When it yields to the pressure, it's ready to eat. To ripen all variety of pears, place in a paper bag at room temperature. Ripening should take two to five days.
