Pears Are Massively Underrated—These Recipes Show Why You Should Cook with Them (2024)

FAQs

What are the best pears for cooking? ›

You'll want to choose pears that hold together well when making poached, baked, or grilled pears. Look to the crispest raw pears to find those that can withstand heat. The popular Bosc pear is the best option. Anjou pears are another top choice and Concorde and French butter pears are also reliable.

Yes, much of my sweet bounty finds its way into sorbets, cakes, ice creams, and jams. But one of my favorite ways to keep those pears around a little longer is to poach them. Poaching is gentle, stove-top cooking, and winter pears are ideal candidates since they keep their shape.

Each medium pear contains 6g of fiber, 21% of the recommended daily value, and they contain vitamin C. Eating two pears every day meets your fruit needs as outlined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Pears — particularly red varieties — may help decrease diabetes risk. One large older study in over 200,000 people found that eating five or more weekly servings of anthocyanin-rich fruits like red pears was associated with a 23% lower risk of type 2 diabetes ( 34 ).

The Bottom Line. Pears are good for your digestion, heart and blood glucose levels. They're also free radical warriors. Eat pears raw or try cooking with them in recipes like Baked Oatmeal with Pears, Roasted Butternut Squash & Pear Quinoa Salad and Pear Custard Pie.

Apples and pears have equal amounts of minerals potassium, phosphorous and sodium, and vitamins C and B2. Pears contain more iron, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc and vitamins B3 and K than apples, while apples are richer in vitamins A, E and B1.

Pear juice adds sweetness and helps to tenderize the beef in this bulgogi dish that is traditionally cooked over a grill. You can serve it with rice, in a lettuce wrap, or try it fusion style in a taco or burrito. Grate the pear in a large bowl or if it's soft enough, mash it.

Ripe, juicy pears are one of the season's best treats. They add sweetness to fall salads and roasts, pair perfectly with warm baking spices in autumnal desserts and effortlessly dress up seasonal co*cktails.

You can eat pears just like you eat an apple, by holding them and eating around the middle. Pears have cores too, so don't eat too far in (unless you want to)! If you don't like the taste of the pear's skin and find it too bitter or tough, you can carefully remove the skin with a knife first.

Bananas have a 1:1 ratio of glucose to fructose while pears have twice as much fructose as glucose. Sports drinks have a sugar profile similar to bananas, but in a 2012 study Gillit and Nieman showed that bananas are not only an effective alternative to sports drinks but also a healthier option.

Can diabetics eat pears? ›

We also know that pears can help control blood sugar and lower your chances of type 2 diabetes and stroke. They can even help you digest food better. And, as a bonus, they're a good way to make you feel like you've had a small treat with some added nutrition.

Pears improve kidney health

Pears are low in sodium, which can help prevent kidney disease. Kidney disease prevents your body from being able to properly balance sodium and water in the body. One study found that pears protected patients from kidney stones because of their high malic acid content.

Yes, dogs can eat pears. Pears are a great snack because they're high in copper, vitamins C and K, and fiber. If you're sharing pears with your dog, just be sure to cut the pear flesh into bite-size chunks and remove the pit and seeds first, as the seeds contain traces of cyanide.

Pear has antioxidants that might show a beneficial effect on liver health. In an animal study conducted by Ajilore B et al. 2016, the seed extract of pear fruit showed a decrease in oxidative stress on the liver. These results were due to the phytochemicals, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of pear.

Anjou pears are especially great for baking because they can withstand high temperatures.

Comice. The ultimate cook's pear, Comice poach like a dream. They have a rich taste enhanced by aromatic flavours and spices and are very juicy when ripe.

Bosc pears have a more firm, dense flesh than other pear varieties, so they are ideal for use in baking, broiling or poaching. They retain their shape and texture better than other varieties, and their flavor is less likely to be overwhelmed by the use of strong spices like cinnamon, clove or nutmeg.

The Anjou is truly an all-purpose pear. They are juicy when ripe, and their subtle sweetness hints at a refreshing lemon-lime flavor. Their dense flesh holds up well in heated applications like baking, poaching, roasting, or grilling and they are delicious when sliced fresh in salads or eaten as an out-of-hand snack.