My parents love pears. The crunchier drawer in her fridge usually contains a mix of pears along with many types of apples and some peaches, depending on what’s in season. My parents also peel all of their fruit, usually after a quick rinse under the kitchen faucet.
“It’s probably a good idea to wash fresh fruit or vegetable items, with the exception of items that are packaged and have already been triple washed,” says Don Schaffner, PhD, a professor at Rutgers University and a member of the Food Microbiology Division of the Institute of Food Technologists’ Food Microbiology. “Pears should be washed to remove any dirt or grime.”
The best way to clean most produce, including pears, is to rinse them under clean watersays conductor. A few seconds under running water should be plenty.
“It’s OK to use a vegetable brush for items with a thick skin. Pears don’t have thick skin and using a vegetable brush can scrape the skin and dig into the flesh,” he says.
It’s also a good idea to skip the dishwashing liquid or any type of detergent. “Soap should never be used to wash fresh fruits and vegetables,” says Schaffner. “Soap is designed for cleaning dishes and cleaning hands.”
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says they avoid commercial products that are sold just to clean fresh fruits and vegetables. “Many of them have not been scientifically tested to see whether they work better than plain water,” emphasizes Schaffner.
Clean pears with baking soda or vinegar
Some people recommend washing pears and other produce in a mixture of baking soda and water or a mixture of vinegar and water.
“Both are safe, but the scientific evidence as to whether they actually reduce the number of microorganisms than just plain water is limited, and some studies indicate there is a benefit while others found no benefit,” says Schaffner.
A studyFor example, it was found that apples took 12 to 15 minutes to remove pesticides when soaked in a baking soda solution.
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When to wash pears
It can be tempting to clean all of your produce as soon as you bring it home from the store or farmer’s market, but it’s a better idea to wait.
“In general, it’s a best practice to only wash these items when you’re ready to consume them,” says Schaffner. “If you wash them and put them away wet, that extra moisture can lead to mold growth or other spoilage.”
If you decide to wash them right away, pat them down with a paper towel or clean tea towel to get them as dry as possible. Leaving moisture behind can cause the pears to spoil more quickly.
When the pears go bad
If the pears look too ifly, you may want to consider throwing them in the compost bin.
“When pears have cuts or bruises, the location of the cut or bruise can provide an entry point for bacteria, mold, or even just enzyme activity from the plant tissues themselves,” says Schaffner. “This can lead to brown spots as well as bacterial or mold growth.”
If you see a few brown spots, he says it’s perfectly fine to just cut off the discolored part and eat the rest.
The best way to store pears to keep them fresh
It’s best to only buy the number of bulbs you can use in a few days. The US government Food Safety Website Recommends storing them in a cool, dry place such as the pantry for a day or two until ripe. Once ripe, you can refrigerate them for up to five days.
“If you find that you have fresh fruit that is reaching the end of its shelf life, you can freeze it, but be aware that the freezing process itself can produce undesirable color changes and loss of texture,” says Schaffner.
He also suggests cooking pears and making cobbler or another fruity dessert. “Cooking the item obviously makes some changes, but should still give you a few days to eat the cooked item if you keep it in the fridge.”
