Do Pears Need to be Refrigerated? Pears are one of those fruits that are best fresh; canned and pickled pears simply do not compare. The issue is that pears are only available for a limited time each year. The good news is that pears store extraordinarily well in the refrigerator for several months if properly preserved.
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Is it necessary to keep pears refrigerated? Pears do not require refrigeration. If you want your pears to ripen before eating them, leave them at room temperature for 4-7 days. Winter pears can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five months and bartlett pears for up to three months.
With a few easy measures, you will be able to enjoy fresh, ripe, and juicy pears for longer than most others. You should buy pears with the goal of storing them, store them at the appropriate temperature, and avoid mixing them with other products. Do Pears Need to be Refrigerated Then we’ll go over basic handling and long-term preservation techniques so you can have fresh pears all year.
How to Store Pears Properly in the Fridge?
So you know that the best long-term method for preserving pears in cold storage is to refrigerate them, but they must also be stored properly in the fridge. Anyone can throw a few pears in the fruit bin and hope for the best, but here are some strategies to keep your pears tasting great when you need them.
When purchasing pears, keep storage in mind.
If you know you’ll be storing pears for a long time, you should plan your purchases accordingly. Do Pears Need to be Refrigerated Most pears do well in cold storage, however some do exceptionally well in comparison to others.
If you plan on preserving your pears for a few weeks or longer, you should strongly consider a winter pear variety such as Nelis, Comice, Bosc, and Anjou. Despite not being a winter type, Bartlett pears are noted for their long-term preservation qualities. Winter pears can be stored for up to five months, while Bartletts can be stored for up to three months.
Make certain that the pears you select are at the proper state of ripeness. Because pears can ripen quickly, it is better to buy them before they begin to ripen. You’ll want to select pears that are mature but still have firm, if not hard, flesh. They will continue to ripen after being selected, but those collected for commercial purposes are frequently somewhere on the spectrum of ripeness, so spend the extra time to identify the firmest ones.
Store your pears separately from other fruits and vegetables.
Pears both produce and are sensitive to ethylene gas. They produce this gas while they ripen, and being in higher quantities of the gas can cause them to ripen faster. This is why wrapping some fruits in a paper bag can help them ripen faster than if they were left out in the open. It traps the ethylene gas around the fruit and helps it to ripen faster than if left out in the open.
Do Pears Need to be Refrigerated
Keeping pears near other produce will cause them to ripen and soften, even if they are still in the refrigerator. If you keep pears near other ethylene-sensitive fruits or vegetables, the gas produced by the pears can have the same impact. This includes fruits such as grapes, berries, peaches, and melons, as well as vegetables such as cauliflower, carrots, and asparagus.
Refrigerate the pears.
Let’s discuss about your pears’ special storage requirements. We know they must be kept cool and away from any other ethylene producing or ethylene sensitive things. The optimal location will be one with a somewhat constant temperature, high humidity, and low traffic.
If you’re utilizing your primary refrigerator, your crisper drawer is usually the greatest option. It is frequently placed in one of the coldest areas in the refrigerator, and it retains humidity slightly better than open storage.
If you have a garage fridge or a beer fridge where you can get some real estate, those are ideal. Do Pears Need to be Refrigerated They aren’t opened as frequently as the main fridge and can often be set lower than the main fridge.
Pears should be stored at 30 degrees Fahrenheit and 90 percent humidity. It’s the ideal temperature for pears; any warmer and they’ll ripen far faster than you want, and any colder and the fruit will be damaged and the flavor will suffer. This is why having an extra fridge is ideal; 30 degrees means slushy milk but beautiful pears.
You want your pears to be at room temperature when you’re ready to start ripening them for eating. Bartlett pears require only 4-5 days from cold storage, whilst winter cultivars require 7-10 days. These timelines will be accelerated the longer the pears are kept cold. Do Pears Need to be Refrigerated If you need to expedite the process, place a ripe apple in a paper bag with your pear, or a ripe banana if you’re in a hurry.
When a pear is ripe and ready to eat, gently press it with your thumb on the pear’s neck. If it gives slightly, the pear is ripe; if it is still too stiff to dent, leave it on the counter for another day or two.
Handle with Caution
Take care of your pears. Pears are softer and more prone to damage than many other fruits, according to fans. Do Pears Need to be Refrigerated However, like with apples and peaches, any injury to the fruit promotes the creation of more ethylene gas. This will not only cause one pear to ripen and maybe deteriorate faster, but it will also affect all the pears around.
When the clerk so casually throws them on the scale and packs them without regard, protecting your fruit only goes so far. When you’re ready to store them, spend a few moments to organize them according to any acquired damage. Any pears with damage can be separated from those without damage, prolonging the overall storage time of all the pears and using them in the order that they would deteriorate, preventing or at least reducing the number lost to spoilage.
How to Keep Pears for a Longer Time
If you want to go the additional mile and freeze some pears for later use, here’s a simple breakdown of how to get the most out of your chopped pears.
Cut, peel, and core your pears first for the best results. Do Pears Need to be Refrigerated The slices should then be soaked in a solution comprised of 3 tablespoons of lemon juice in a quart of water to prevent oxidation and browning. Soak the pears in water for 3-5 minutes.
Place these slices on a baking sheet in a single layer and place in the freezer. This will freeze the pears and keep them from sticking together. After around 5 hours, remove them from the freezer and arrange them in airtight containers or freezer bags.
To prevent freezer burn, make sure that no matter what sort of container you use for final freezer storage, you get as much air out as possible. Fill containers as much as possible without packing the pears down too tightly. If you’re using bags, roll them up and squeeze out as much air as possible before storing them. This will assist to preserve the flavor and texture for up to a year.
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