By Layla Khoury-Hanold for Food Network Kitchen

Layla Khoury-Hanold is a contributor at Food Network.

Juicy, sweet pears usher in fall and beg to be snacked on fresh or added to bubbling crisps, buttery pies and hearty salads. Here’s everything you need to know about pears, including how to select, cut and store them. Plus, get some of our favorite pear recipes.

What Are Pears?

Pears are a type of bell-shaped orchard fruit grown on trees and a relative of apples.

Pears range in height and width depending on the variety. Some are short and fat; others are tall and slender. Pears come in a range of colors, including green, red, yellow and brown. Inside, pears have an ivory flesh that’s juicy and slightly grainy. Asian pears, also known as Chinese pears, are a different species from pears like Bosc. They have a similarly sweet flavor to pears, and a round shape and crisp texture akin to apples.

From a nutrition standpoint, “pears are an excellent source of fiber, which helps fight hunger and lower cholesterol," says Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition. "One medium fruit has covers more than 20 percent of your daily need and only knocks out 100 calories. They’re also a good source of vitamins C and K.”

When Are Pears In Season?

Pears are in season from August through October. More than 95 percent of pears grown in the U.S. come from western states including California, Washington and Oregon.

How to Know When Pears Are Ripe

You’ll know pears are ripe by checking the firmness around the neck of the pear. Use your thumb to gently apply pressure; if your thumb yields to the pressure, then the pear is ripe and juicy. If it doesn’t yield, the pear needs more time to ripen.

Pears are one of the few fruits that don’t ripen on the tree; they’re harvested when mature but not quite ripe to eat. The longer pears ripen on the tree, the mealier they become, so it’s best to choose ones that are slightly firm and then allow them to ripen at home for a few days. Be sure to select pears that are free of blemishes and dents.

8 Varieties of Pears

There are thousands of pear varieties, but these are eight common commercial varieties of pears.

Bartlett (aka Williams): thin yellow or green skin with juicy, buttery and sweet flesh.

Bosc: golden-brown skin with a firm, crunchy and sweet interior.

Anjou: red or green skin with a sweet and juicy profile.

Seckel: small and either brown, yellow or red-skinned with a crunchy, grainy texture and super sweet flavor.

Comice: yellow-green or light-green skin with a sweet, custard-like flavor and texture.

Concorde: green-yellow skin with red blush. Crunchy texture and earthy flavor with a touch of vanilla.

Forelle: petite, yellow-skinned with red freckles. Crisp texture and tangy flavor with a hint of sweetness.

Starkrimson: red-skinned with a sweetness that has an underlying floral essence.

How to Store Pears

Store soft, ripe pears in the refrigerator for up to three to five days and store firm, unripe pears at room temperature until they ripen. To speed up ripening, store under-ripe pears in a bowl with fruits that give off ethylene, such as bananas. Wash pears thoroughly before eating to eliminate dirt and bacteria; you may need to gently scrub the stem and bottom.

How to Cut Pears

Step 1: Cut pears in half: Place washed pear on cutting board and use a sharp paring knife to cut it in half length-wise.

Step 2: Cut pears into quarters: Place pear halves face-down on cutting board and cut in half again to create quarters.

Step 3: Remove the core: Lay quarters flat-side down and position your knife diagonally to cut away the core.

Step 4: Slice and dice pears: Slice quartered pears into strips, then slice cross-wise to dice.

What to Cook with Pears

Pears are delicious when consumed raw, but they add a juicy sweetness to salads and roasts, pair nicely with warming spices in desserts, and dress up sides and cocktails, too.

Accompaniments

Like apples, pears make a wonderful pureed sauce to eat as a snack or to serve alongside a variety of dishes. Try making these Potato Latkes with Spiced Apple-Pear Sauce and save leftover sauce to spoon over oatmeal or pancakes. This festive Cranberry-Pear Relish pulls in buttery-sweet Bartlett pears to balance the cranberries’ tartness, while petite Seckel pears add an unexpected sweetness to this Pear and Pistachio Guacamole. Make a batch of this syrupy, spiced Pear Compote to serve alongside a cheeseboard; blue cheeses pair especially well with pears.

Salads

Try mixing and matching different varieties of pears and grains to form the base for hearty fall salads, as with this Pear-Walnut Quinoa Salad or this Pear, Celery and Farro Salad. Thinly sliced pear and fennel team up in this sweet, crunchy Pear and Fennel Salad, while chopped pear brings an earthy sweetness to complement sturdy greens in this Kale and Pear Salad. For this Pear and Blue Cheese Salad, choose mild blue cheese and sweet, juicy pears such Anjou, Bartlett or Comice.

Sides

For an easy side dish, simply roast pears alongside fall vegetables and add warming spices, like these Gingered Pears and Parsnips. For a twist on classic holiday sides, pull in seasonal pears such as Bosc to make Celery Root and Pear Puree or Pear Pecan Stuffing.

Main Dishes

Pears prove their versatility by pinch hitting in savory dishes, too. Thick wedges of Bosc pears hold their shape and make a fine accompaniment for a roast, as with this Herb and Garlic Roast Pork Loin with Roasted Pears and Onions. Pears make a cozy addition to chops, too, especially when amped up with fresh ginger and Madras curry powder as with these Pork Chops with Pear Chutney. Firm Anjou pears bring a juicy sweetness to Coriander Chicken with Spaghetti Squash. For a hearty fall lunch or a lighter autumnal supper, wrap diced pears with squash, kale, turkey, bacon and blue cheese to make the aptly named Autumn Wrapsody.

Desserts

Pears love warming spices like ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg whether they’re mixed in pies, crisps or cakes. Try using firm baking pears such as Bartlett or Bosc to make Ginger Pear Crisp, Spiced Apple and Pear Pie, Ginger Pear Cake or Pear Gingersnap Cheesecake. Bourbon’s caramel and vanilla flavors perfectly complement buttery Bosc pears in this festive Bourbon-Pear Star Pie. You can poach pears to make an easy, elegant dessert, especially when you employ the microwave as with these Vanilla Poached Pears. Instead of apples, try pulling in firm Anjou or Bosc pears to make these autumn-ready Caramel Pears.

Drinks

A triple dose of pears, including pear nectar, pear vodka and pear slices for garnish, bring an earthy sweetness to these zesty Pear Lemon Martinis. Cocktails made with pear Brandy are an invitation to add fresh pears to the glass or rim, as with these sparkling Pear Cider Cocktails and Pear-Brandy Cocktails. Thinly sliced Seckel pears add a spicy-sweet flourish that complements the whiskey-based tipple Comfort Me With Pears. For a non-alcoholic sipper that’s packed with vitamin C, try making this Pear Celery Lemonade.

Related Links:

Sweet and Savory Pear Recipes

26 Fabulous Fall Desserts

21 Cozy Fall Cocktails You’ll Want to Drink All the Time