Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Design elements: Getty Images. EatingWell design. Asian pears are ready to eat when purchased; European pears ripen after harvest.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Sweet, succulent and refreshing—a ripe pear is a thing of beauty. Unripe pears, on the other hand, are not nearly as rewarding.

As ubiquitous as they are come fall, pears remain a bit of an enigma. Why are they so hard when you buy them? Why do they seemingly take forever to ripen? Why do they finally ripen exactly when you ...

Ripe, juicy pears can be such a treat—especially during the cold winter months when those spring and summer fruits are long gone and you're craving something sweet and fresh. These delicate fruits are ...

A simple, science-backed guide to ripening, refrigerating, and storing pears at every stage Pears are picked firm on purpose and ripen from the inside out. Refrigeration slows pear ripening, while ...

Asian pears are ready to eat when purchased; European pears ripen after harvest. Check European pears for color changes, sweet aroma and soft flesh near the stem to spot ripeness. To speed ripening, ...

Not all pears are created equal—so we asked a seventh-generation fruit farmer for guidance. Asian pears are ready to eat when purchased; European pears ripen after harvest. Check European pears for ...