As ubiquitous as they are come fall, pears remain a bit of an enigma. Why are they so hard when you buy them? Why do they seemingly take forever to ripen? Why do they finally ripen exactly when you ...

Pears have a reputation for being tricky—but most of that comes down to timing, not difficulty. Unlike many fruits, pears are typically picked before they’re ripe and finish ripening after harvest.

Asian pears are ready to eat when purchased; European pears ripen after harvest. Check European pears for color changes, sweet aroma and soft flesh near the stem to spot ripeness. To speed ripening, ...

A simple, science-backed guide to ripening, refrigerating, and storing pears at every stage Pears are picked firm on purpose and ripen from the inside out. Refrigeration slows pear ripening, while ...