Pears will ripen off the tree. A number of varieties are imported when domestic pears are out of season. Bradford pears are very popular in urban areas for their tolerance of pollution. Many pears can be distinguished by their flavor. Popular cooking methods include poaching (in wine, syrup, fruit juice, water) and baking. With overlapping seasons of availability, USA Pears are in season nearly year-round! Characteristics: This pear is easy to identify due to its small size, ovalish shape, smooth skin, and striking yellowish-green freckled skin, which turns a beautiful red as it ripens. The nearly-round Green Anjou is differentiated from the similarly-colored Comice by its shape. Many are available from September to spring, but Asian and Stark Crimson pears are only sold from August to October, and Bartletts from August to the end of the year. As long as you're familiar with the most common pear types, you should be able to easily determine what kind of pear you're looking at in nearly all situations. This article compares the top ten pear varieties commonly grown in the UK. The fruit from Shinseiki is white and crisp, and has a yellow skin. Most canned and processed pears (purées, juices) are made from Bartletts. This is a good pear for making jams, jellies, and sauces. Characteristics: This apple-shaped pear is unusual in many regards. The following is a list of the more common and important cultivars, with the year and place of origin (where documented) and an indication of whether the pears are for cooking, eating, or making perry.Those varieties marked agm have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit Prevent premature browning by dipping cut pears in acidulated water (water mixed with a little lemon juice or vinegar). Both Bartlett and Anjou pears have red cultivars, but the Anjou is more egg-shaped. Choose pears that are firm to the touch and don't have bruises or cuts. When identifying trees, people normally examine a variety of parts of the tree, including the leaves, fruit, flowers and bark. 3. 1. Unlike their fruiting cousins, these trees are grown for their attractive ornamental qualities rather than the fruit. Some pears are wrapped in paper, which protects the pears and helps keep them unblemished. The most common ornamental pear tree variety grown in landscapes is the Bradford pear. Sweet and delicate, Forelles are an old European variety. Mark Keller has been writing everything from short stories to political commentary over the course of the past decade. The Seckel is the sweetest of all commercially-grown pears. And finally, unlike many fruits, the Asian pear is ripe when it's firm, not when it becomes more pliable to the touch. Asian pears are uniform in color (yellowish-tan) and shaped more like apples, with a completely different texture and taste. The distinctive Bosc pear is a fairly common brown shade, but its elegant, thin profile sets it apart from any other variety — while the Forelle's freckles help it stand out from other pears of average shape. Since 1995, Epicurious has been the ultimate food resource for the home cook, with daily kitchen tips, fun cooking videos, and, oh yeah, over 33,000 recipes. Overripe pears are pulpy and the flesh will be mealy. He is a theater major at Hillsdale College in Michigan. Use Lemon to Prevent Sliced Pears from Browning, Escarole, Pear, Parmesan, and Basil Leaf Salad. Learn more about different pear varieties, plus get tips on cooking and baking with this delicious fruit! Anjou pears: The Anjou is the most abundant and least expensive of the winter pears. Green Anjous stay green, even when fully ripened. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger complement the fruit in both edible and drinkable recipes. Characteristics: Comice pears come in both red and green varieties. The skin is a pale green with hints of red. They have a great fruity aroma and flavor, as well as a slightly finer, less grainy texture than other pear varieties. Take advantage of the Asian pear's characteristics by eating it raw and in salads and slaws. Both Bartlett and Anjou pears have red cultivars, but the Anjou is more egg-shaped.