From August to October, you may be thinking about Apples, but I am thinking of Pears. This fruit gets forgotten, but it should be the star. Pears are a delicious fruit to eat this season, fresh and combined with foods. Learn all about Pears and how they can be good for you, because it’s Pear Season.
Pear Trees
I have two pear trees in my backyard. Some years they produce many pears. Other years, they have a hard time ripening. The deer love pear season; they wait for them to fall and visit our backyard each day, letting the juice flow down their faces.
One year, I had so many pears that I had to make some pear sauce out of them. It was so delicious that I started making it every year. I froze the sauce; it was so good to defrost and eat just like applesauce.
My favorite joke. What was the only fruit allowed on Noah’s Ark? Pears. (Only pairs of animals were allowed on the ark.)
Types of Pears
Pears come in a variety of types, and most are green, yellow, and reddish as they fully ripen. The most common types include Bartlett, which is my favorite, Anjou, Bosc, and Asian. These are all available at the local grocery store from August to November.
When a pear is soft and ready to eat, you need to eat it because some varieties tend to bruise more easily. If pears are getting too soft to eat, turn them into pear sauce.
Pear Health benefits
Pears have lots of pectin fiber in them and are great for regulating your bowel movements and reducing constipation. They are an energy booster, regulate blood pressure and cholesterol levels, improve bone health, and are rich in antioxidants.
Pear Nutrition
I love pear season. According to the USDA, one medium pear has 5.5 grams of fiber. 100 calories, 17 grams of sugar, and 27 grams of Carbohydrates. Nutrients include vitamin C, potassium, Vitamin K, and B vitamins.
Pears contain soluble and insoluble fiber. The soluble fiber in pears is mostly pectin and can bind to cholesterol and lower the levels. The insoluble fiber helps by adding bulk to your stool, aiding in digestion, and keeping you regular. This is why I give kudos to Pears! For some, this may give them a laxative effect.
Pear Recipes
Pear Sauce Recipe
Wash 6-30 pears, peel them, and cut out the seeds. Cut into quarters. If you keep the peelings on, make sure you have a good food mill.
Place the pears in a large pot with about 1/2 cup of water on the bottom. On medium heat, cook the pears, stirring occasionally, until they are soft and look like a sauce. Run through a food mill or a mesh strainer over a bowl. If your pear sauce is runny, return to the stove and cook until it is thickened. Cool and place in containers to freeze or in jars to continue with normal canning.
The pears are sweet enough on their own not to add any sweeteners.
Pear Yogurt
When I was 18, I spent the summer in Finland, and my favorite yogurt came in a quart buttermilk container, which was the consistency of kefir. My favorite flavor was pear. This recipe was made to bring back that taste.
Pear Yogurt Recipe Blend
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- 1/3-1/2 cup pear sauce or use applesauce
- 1 TBSP chia seeds- for the fiber.
Mix with a spoon and serve with blueberries and granola. This is my low-sugar granola recipe.
Pear Add-ins
Other ways to use pears are:
- Slices on a fruit tray.
- Add them to smoothies for fiber.
- Use them in place of apples in muffins.
- Add pears to a salad with caramelized walnuts.
Enjoy those Pears because it’s pear season. They may be your favorite fruit this season.
Sign up to get the Dabillaroundthetable Digest 10-12x/year. You will get it in your email inbox. Sign up at the bottom and never miss a blog.
