Pears are full of surprises and the recipe options even more so

Look beyond picking up a pear as a handy on-the-go snack because pears can be whipped into so many dishes. They make excellent preserves, crisps, tarts, and even as a sweeter substitute for apples in pies. Cooked with chicken or duck they provide a sweet addition to a main meal, and can even be pressed into fresh juices and smoothies.

The method of preparation depends on the variety of pear you’re using, so check the recipe carefully. The famous USA Pears cover pretty much all bases offering a different variety depending on what you're making.

There are 10 varieties of USA Pears and each has its own distinctive colour, flavour and texture with overlapping seasons of availability, meaning there's always at least one on the shelves at Choithrams.com. Given the perfect combination with cinnamon, the pear also makes for an excellent ingredient for a festive recipe, whether sweet, savoury or even snack.

The clever folk at USA Pear have teamed up with Choithrams.com to help you pick the perfect pear ahead of the holidays.

A Ripe Pear is a Sweet Pear

A little-known fact about the pear is that it is one of the few fruits that does not ripen on the tree.  The pear is harvested when it is mature, but not yet ripe, and, if left at room temperature, it slowly reaches a sweet and succulent maturity as it ripens from the inside out. So as tempting as the pear might be when you pluck it from the stand at Choithrams.com, a little bit of patience and know-how will ensure the fruit reaches its peak flavour.

So, how do you know when the pear has ripened to sweet and juicy perfection? The best way to judge the ripeness of a pear is to check the neck by applying gentle pressure to the neck of the pear with your thumb. If it yields to pressure, it’s ripe. Easy, isn’t it?

Here’s what you need to do to ripen your pears

• Leave firm, unripe pears at room temperature so that they can ripen.
• Check the neck for ripeness daily, by applying gentle pressure to the neck, or stem end, of the pear with your thumb.
• Once the pear is ripe, it can be refrigerated to slow the ripening process and saved for use up to five days later.

Three top tips from USA Pears

Keep a fresh fruit fresh: Like many fruits, the flesh of cut or peeled pears will eventually brown. This natural oxidation process won’t affect the taste or quality. However, to keep your pears looking appetizing and to prevent browning, dip them in a mild solution of 50% water and 50% lemon juice!

Remember, don’t refrigerate an unripe pear: Ripened pears can be used at once or put under refrigeration (35º to 45º F) until you want to use them. Refrigeration will delay further ripening but will not stop it altogether, giving you adequate time to include fresh pears in your menu planning.  Remember, pears need to ripen at room temperature, so don’t refrigerate an unripe pear!

Flavour well worth the wait: Place underripe pears in a fruit bowl at room temperature near other ripening fruit like bananas, which naturally give off ethylene and will help speed up the ripening process. And if you find yourself with a few too many overripe pears, blend them into smoothies, soups, sauces and purees.