How to Store Pears So They’re Perfectly Ripe and Juicy

Pears have a reputation for being tricky—but most of that comes down to timing, not difficulty. Unlike many fruits, pears are typically picked before they’re ripe and finish ripening after harvest. Understanding how (and where) that ripening happens makes all the difference between a pear that’s buttery and juicy and one that’s hard or past its prime.

Learn how to store pears at every stage—from firm and underripe to sliced and ready to eat—using guidance from both a pear grower and a fruit tree scientist.

Why Pears Are Picked Before They’re Ripe

If you’ve ever brought home pears that felt rock-hard, that’s by design.

“Pears ripen better off the tree,” says Laura Naumes, executive VP and COO of Naumes, Inc. “We pick them at peak minimum maturity so they ripen evenly.”

From a science standpoint, pears are what’s known as climacteric fruit, meaning they continue to ripen after harvest. “After harvest, fruits are living biological systems with active metabolism that depend on stored reserves,” explains Thiago Campbell, WSU tree fruit extension educator for postharvest pathology and physiology. During ripening, pears develop aroma and flavor, convert starches to sugars, and soften from the inside out.

Commercially, pears are first cooled—often close to freezing—to condition them for even ripening later. Without that step, Campbell says, “fruits ripen unevenly and can develop off flavors.”

How to Store Unripe Pears

If You Want to Slow Ripening

If pears are still firm and you’re not in a rush, refrigeration is your friend. Cold temperatures slow down the metabolic processes that drive ripening.

“Temperature has a direct relationship with pear ripening; higher temperatures lead to faster ripening, while lower temperatures can slow it down,” Campbell says. While ideal storage is around 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the average refrigerator (35–40 degrees Fahrenheit) works well.

Just be sure to check them regularly—some pears won’t change color even when they’re ripe.

How to Encourage (or Speed Up) Ripening

When you’re ready to ripen pears, bring them out of the fridge and let them sit at room temperature.

Both experts agree on the most reliable technique, which also happens to be wonderfully low-tech: a paper bag plus ethylene-producing fruit.

“The best method I have found to speed up ripening is to put pears with apples in a brown paper bag, seal the bag and leave at room temperature for a few days,” says Naumes.

Campbell adds that paper matters: “Paper is better than plastic because it allows the fruit to breathe (remember, they’re alive!).” Apples, bananas, and avocados all release ethylene gas, which accelerates ripening.

How to Tell When a Pear is Ready to Eat

Forget squeezing the middle. Pears ripen from the inside out.

“‘Check the neck’ is always the best test,” Campbell says. Gently press near the stem—if it yields slightly, the pear is ripe. Naumes adds that most ripe pears “will also become lighter in color and have some aroma.”

Monitor the fruit daily. Pears bought together can ripen at different speeds, and once they’re ready, the window is short.

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How to Store Pears Once They're Ripe

If a pear yields to gentle pressure, you don’t have to eat it right away. “Once pears are ripe, if not used immediately, they should be stored in the refrigerator until used,” says Naumes. “This will keep pears at their peak quality until ready to use.”

Campbell explains why this works: during ripening, pectin in the cell walls breaks down, weakening the fruit’s structure. “Through refrigeration, these enzymatic processes slow down, allowing fruits more structural integrity,” he says.

How Long Do Ripe Pears Last?

Naumes finds that ripe pears keep for around four to five days in the refrigerator, though very ripe fruit may not make it that long.

Signs your pears are moving past their prime include overall softness, yellowing in green varieties, brown spots, and even fruit flies. An overripe pear, Campbell says, becomes “mushy, gritty, and quite unappetizing.”

What to Do With Overripe Pears

Not to worry if pears are soft but not spoiled. They’re far from a lost cause.

“They are great in smoothies, especially since they are high in fiber and naturally sweet,” says Naumes. She also likes using overripe fruits for pear butter or pear sauces for savory dishes like pork. And while pears bruise easily, she points out that “bruising does not impact taste.”

How to Store Cut or Sliced Pears

Like apples and some other fruits, pears brown quickly after you cut or slice them—but that discoloration is cosmetic, not harmful. Browning happens when enzymes in the fruit react with oxygen.

“The best way to stop enzymatic browning is by coating the cut fruit in lemon juice and storing it in an airtight bag/container,” Campbell says. The acidity slows enzyme activity, and refrigeration helps even more.

Naumes uses a similar approach, mixing fresh lemon juice with water. She’ll coat them in that solution and then they’re ready for salads or short-term storage without turning brown.

Pear Game

Pears aren’t difficult—they just ask for a little attention. Monitor them, use temperature to control ripening, and always “check the neck.”

As Naumes puts it: “Don’t be afraid of pears. They are easy to ripen and easy to store after ripening and they are so worth it!”