Azure Standard is busy gathering the harvest, bringing delicious, affordable, organic food to your table! And with the pear harvest fast approaching, I thought this would be the perfect time to compare pears. Note:Pears are seasonally available. Check Azure's Produce Page for what's in stock.
COMICE PEARS (QP233)
The Doyenne du Comice pear, commonly known as Comice, is considered to be one of the sweetest and juiciest pears. It has more of a silky smooth texture -- less grainy, with a blush of red, and a slightly more rounded figure. It was first cultivated in France in the mid-1800s, and is one of the four most cultivated varieties today.
It can easily be used for cooking but is sought after for its luxurious palatability straight out of hand!
Comice is a winter pear variety, and stores well when kept cold (in the low 30′s Fahrenheit) for up to 3-5 months. They actually continue their ripening process (slowly) while being chilled. When you are ready to eat or prepare them, just pull them out of cold storage for a day or two to finish up the process -- even put in a bag with a ripe apple or banana to speed along, if necessary.
ASIAN PEARS (QP189)
Asian Pears are round, super-crisp and spicy-fresh (sometimes called “pear-apples"). The term Asian pear describes a large group of pear varieties having crisp, juicy fruit. When mature, the fruit are good to eat when harvested or for several months after picking if held in cold storage. The crisp texture of an Asian pear remains unchanged after picking or storage, unlike the flesh of European pears such as Bartlett or Comice.
CONCORD PEARS (QP077)
The Concord Pear first originated in England with the cross of the Conference and Comice pears. This pear is quickly recognized by its elegant shape and long neck. The Concord pear has a firm texture with a sweet and juice flavor. Concord pears are an excellent multipurpose pear. Great to use for baked dishes or cooked recipes.
D'ANJOU PEARS (QP118)
D’Anjou pears are juicy with a sweet brisk flavor and hint of citrus --instantly refreshing. A true multipurpose pear, d’Anjou is excellent for fresh eating, baking, poaching and roasting right before it is fully ripe. D’Anjou pears are great eaten fresh out-of-hand, in salads, and for both baking & poaching.
A true heirloom variety, they have been a favorite for more than 200 years. D'Anjou pears will keep for several months if unripened, but for optimum flavor, they need to be ripened. The most important thing to know about d'Anjou pears is that they do not change color as they ripen. Unlike Bartletts, another familiar green pear variety whose skin color does change to yellow during ripening, d'Anjous will remain green or red even when fully ripe. Ripen d'Anjou pears at room temperature. Depending on their level of ripeness when purchased, d'Anjou pears may take between three and five days to become fully ripe. Once ripe, you can store them in the refrigerator, where the ripening process will be slowed for a few more days.
Check the neck for ripeness daily by gently pressing your thumb near the stem end of the pear. When it gives slightly, the pear is ripe. Why do you “Check the Neck?” Because pears ripen from the inside out, and the neck is the narrowest part of the pear, which is closest to the core. If you wait for the wider, bottom half of the pear to become soft to the touch, you’ll find the inside to be over-ripe. When that happens, though the mouth-feel may not be perfect for eating fresh, this is the perfect time for your super-ripe pear to be pureed into a tasty smoothie!
BOSC PEAR (QP470)
The Bosc pear makes its debut each autumn in the Oregon/Washington area. The Bosc season starts in late September or early October. With a few distinct characteristics, the Bosc pear is easy to separate from the others. The texture of the Bosc pear is crunchy with a thick flesh and spicy sweet flavor. They are normally preferred as a baking pear, and they work really well in the Honey Pear and Puff Pastry dessert.
Which pear is your personal favorite? Mine would have to be the Asian pear! I especially enjoy using it in fruit salads, eating it fresh or adding to our cooked oatmeal on a crisp morning!