Do you have a lot of hard, unripe pears? Each year our pear tree overproduces. Besides that, it wasn’t properly pruned for years, leaving us with smaller immature fruit. Over the years, I’ve learned what to do with unripe pears so they don’t go to waste.
Two recipes in one: These stewed pears are perfectly soft and sweet, with or without the skin. The fall flavors make it taste great on its own, but they also go great with yogurt, ice cream, or oatmeal. Stop at the stewed pears or keep baking to create pearsauce.
To make the stewed pears faster, you can cut the cooking time in half if your pears are already ripe. ).
If you’re lucky enough to have a productive pear tree in your yard, you know the bounty and joy of the fall harvest. But you may also find yourself wondering what on earth to do with the overwhelmings amounts of pears each season. While it’s tempting to let excess fruit rot on the ground, there are actually so many great ways to use up pears when you have a prolific tree.
With a little creativity in the kitchen, you can enjoy your homegrown pears all year long. Here are 17 tasty ideas for putting your pear harvest to good use.
Fresh Eating Ideas
When pears are perfectly ripe and juicy, it’s hard to beat eating them fresh. Here are some easy ways to enjoy pears right off the tree:
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Slice them to eat raw as a healthy snack. Sprinkle with a bit of cinnamon or drizzle with honey for extra flavor.
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Dice pears to toss into your favorite salad like spinach arugula, or lettuce. Their sweetness balances sharply dressed greens.
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Mix diced pears into plain Greek yogurt for a fiber-filled breakfast snack or light dessert. Top with granola or nuts.
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Grill slices of pear and serve warm with a cheese platter or use them to top pizza bruschetta, or flatbreads.
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Make a simple fruit salad with pears, apples, grapes, and berries. Toss in lemon and honey for dressing.
Preserved and Canned Pear Ideas
Preserving pears by canning, freezing, or drying allows you to enjoy their flavor all year long after harvest season.
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Can pears in syrup to use like canned fruit from the store. Enjoy on yogurt, oatmeal, or ice cream.
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Freeze sliced pears flat on a cookie sheet, then transfer to bags. Use for smoothies or snacking once thawed.
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Dehydrate pear slices or halves in a dehydrator or low oven. Rehydrate later to use in baking.
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Simmer pears down into a thick fruit butter. Use as a spread or dip.
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Pickle spiced pear rings or spears. Delicious in cocktails, on cheese boards, or as a condiment.
Baked Pear Recipes
The sweet flavor of pears transforms into something even richer when roasted or baked. They pair wonderfully with all kinds of ingredients.
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Bake halves or slices with brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and nuts for a heavenly side dish.
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Mix pears into your favorite muffin, quick bread, or tea cake batter and bake into a treat.
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Layer thinly sliced pears with sugar, spices, and pie crust to make hand pies.
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Stuff baked pears with blue cheese, chopped walnuts, honey, and thyme for an elegant appetizer.
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Poach pears in red wine and serve with whipped cream or ice cream for dessert.
Savory Dishes Using Pears
While we often think of pears as a sweet ingredient, they can also be used in balanced savory combinations.
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Sauté pear slices to serve alongside your favorite pork, chicken, or duck entree.
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Toss shredded pear into slaws or leafy salads for a pop of sweet crunch.
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Mix diced pears into your next batch of stuffed squash or baked acorn squash.
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Stir chopped pears into pilafs, risottos, or savory oatmeal.
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Grill pear slices and add to sandwiches, flatbreads, or bruschetta with Brie.
Creative Juice and Drink Ideas
The natural juice of pears adds pleasant sweetness and body to beverages.
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Juice or puree pears as the base for smoothies, shakes, or lassis. Combine with yogurt and ice.
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Make a spritzer by mixing pear nectar with soda water and mint.
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Infuse liquor like vodka or rum with pear slices and spices in a mason jar for 2 weeks.
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Simmer pears with apple cider and mulling spices to serve warm or chilled.
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Blend pear, lemon, ginger, honey, and water into a refreshing fruit agua fresca.
Simple Pear Desserts
When you want a fast, easy dessert, pears are your friend. They require minimal prep but feel elegant.
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Bake halves filled with chocolate, caramel, or almond paste for individual treats.
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Layer alternate slices of pear and your favorite cake in a trifle or parfait glass.
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Make an easy galette by arranging sliced pears in a round of pie dough and folding up the edges.
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Top cheesecake, panna cotta, or pudding with sautéed pears for gourmet flair.
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Pan fry or broil pear slices in butter and sugar for fast caramelized goodness.
Creative Ways to Use up Pear Scraps
Don’t let those little bits of leftover pear go to waste. You can transform scraps into something delicious:
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Make pear sauce from peelings and cores in the slow cooker. Sweeten to taste.
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Dehydrate peels and grind into pear powder. Use for baked goods or smoothies.
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Purée cores then strain out solids. Use the strained juice like you would apple juice.
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Chop peels finely and use in place of candied ginger in recipes.
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Infuse vodka with any scraps in a Mason jar. Enjoy pear vodka cocktails!
Next time your pear tree leaves you overwhelmed with fruit, try some of these ideas. You’ll be amazed at how many ways there are to put those homegrown pears to use.
How to Tell When a Pear is ready to Harvest?
Pears ripen OFF the tree.
If you leave a pear on the branch for too long, the inside will get soft before the outside does. So, how do you know when a pear is ready to harvest?.
The easiest method is to try picking it. Grasp the pear by the bottom and gently lift straight up.
If the stem breaks off easily, it was ready. If it doesn’t break, leave it on the branch until it comes off without resistance.
Different pear species are ready at different times between August and October in most locations. Check your local area to see when it’s most likely time to start checking your pears!.
What to do with Pears that Won’t Ripen
However, if you’re like me, you always end up with pears that refuse to ripen! There are a few possible reasons for this.
The most common is that they were picked too soon. But you can still use hard pears! What should I do with pears that won’t ripen?
Make these three delicious recipes!
- Pear Pie
- Stewed Pears
- Pear Sauce
How to Grow Pear trees – Complete Growing Guide
FAQ
What to do with pears after you pick them?
Can I eat pears from my pear tree?
How do you store pears after picking them?
What can I do with wild pears?
What to do with extra pears?
Use up extra pears and craft a delicious gift with this pear jam with vanilla. While the recipe calls for a whole vanilla bean, you can also use vanilla bean paste or vanilla sugar. Powdered pectin makes it quicker to prep. Make a big batch and save some for later. Greet the day the right way with this pear streusel coffee cake.
What is the best recipe for poached pears?
Bartlett pears are also a common choice for poached pears. This easy recipe barely takes any time at all. Here’s how to do it. Mix the gelatin. Add the water and the Jell-O packets to a pot, and mix to combine. Boil. Bring the liquid to a boil, and stir until the gelatin is fully dissolved. Add the pears.
What can you eat with Pears?
Feel free to toss in some nuts, candied ginger, or even chocolate chips. A compote is simply stewed fruit, and this easy one — pears stewed with ginger and vanilla beans, brightened with fresh lime juice — can be served over ice cream, cake, yogurt, or even oatmeal. Pear juice is crisp and refreshing — perfect in fall cocktails.
How do you eat stewed pears?
Two recipes in one: These stewed pears are perfectly soft and sweet, with or without the skin. While it is an amazing stand alone dish, the delicious fall flavor also pairs perfectly with yogurt, ice cream or oatmeal. Stop at the stewed pears or keep baking to create pearsauce. Slice the pear flesh off the core. Peel if desired.
