When Are Pears Ripe

bartlett pears are ripening on my semi dwarft fruit tree. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

“Charlotte you shared some Bartlett pears at the bee club, thank you. My parents have an old Bartlett pear tree on their property. How do I know when to pick the pears?” — Suzie

When Are Barlett Pears Ripe

Hi Suzie, lucky you, pears are my favorite fruit. Well, besides strawberries. And plums. And nectarines….ok pears are one of my favorite fruits. Bartlett pears are a summer pear variety, which means they ripen in the summer months. They are typically ready to pick in August and September.

Here are some signs that a Bartlett pear is ready to pick:

• The pear is fully sized and has reached its mature shape.

• The pear has a light yellow color, but is still firm to the touch.

• The pear comes away easily from the branch when pear is gently lifted at the stem.

If you pick a Bartlett pear too early, it will be hard and sour. If you pick it too late, it will be soft and mushy. The best time to pick a Bartlett pear is when it is slightly underripe so that it has time to ripen to its full flavor at room temperature.

One way to know when your pear is ripe is to check the top of the pear. If it’s soft to the touch the pear should be ripe.

Once you have picked your Bartlett pears, you can store them at room temperature for a few days, or in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Here are some tips for ripening Bartlett pears:

• Place the pears in a paper bag with an apple or banana. The ethylene gas released by these fruits will help the pears ripen faster.

• If you want the pears to ripen even faster, you can place them in a warm room (70-75 degrees Fahrenheit).

  As you know, you don’t have to wait for Bartlett pears to be ripe to use them. Have you tried the honey spiced pear recipe I included with the pears?

However you decide to eat these, enjoy your homegrown Bartlett pears!

Charlotte