The Proper Way To Cut Pears

A step-by-step guide for perfect slices.

Pears are a tree-grown fruit widely available in the United States and around the world. Like apples, they are typically harvested in late summer and into mid-fall. There are many varieties of juicy, edible pears—Bartlett, Green Anjou, Red Anjou, Bosc, Comice and many more—and proper pear cutting is key to enjoying the fruit.

How you cut a pear really depends on what you plan to do with it. For example, will you be snacking on it with cheese and charcuterie? Perhaps you want to slice it for a salad? Or maybe you have hopes of poaching it for a dessert? Whether you’re wanting to know the best way to cut a pear for simple snacking or for pie baking, we are here with a step-by-step guide to perfect pear cutting.

Related: 20 Perfect Pear Recipes To Serve From Breakfast To Dessert

Selecting Ripe Pears

Before you can think about the importance of proper pear cutting, you must first choose your pears wisely. Knowing how to select ripe pears can lead to juicy bursts of bright flavor and help you avoid unripe or mealy pears. Here are two tips we recommend:

• Check for imperfections. You'll want to be on the lookout for fruit that appears unbruised and unblemished. Bartlett pears are interesting because their color changes when they are ripe, changing from green to yellow. Most pears, however, don’t change color.

• Check for firmness. Once you’ve ruled out any noticeably flawed pears, you can take your checking-for-ripeness a step further. Gently press your thumb at the base of the pear’s stem. If you feel a slight give in pressure, the pear is ripe and ready. 
  

Related: The Best Way to Tell If an Avocado Is Ripe

Essential Tools For Cutting Pears

Technically, you only need one standby kitchen tool for cutting pears: a sharp knife.

But if you plan to peel your pears, either because of personal preference or because a recipe calls for sliced, peeled pears, you will also need a peeler.

A corer or apple and pear slicer may come in handy, depending on what you plan to do with the pears. A melon baller or large spoon can also be useful.

Step-By-Step Guide To Cutting Pears

How To Peel (Optional)

1. Wash your fruit before you begin. It’s important to wash the pears even if you're planning to peel them.

2. Let them dry. After washing the fruit’s surface, dry it thoroughly and then move on to the peeling step (again, only if you're choosing to peel it as the skin is perfectly fine to eat).

3. Peel carefully. Using a peeler, hold the pear in one hand while you slowly run a fruit peeler away from you down the fruit on a vertical angle from the stem. Missing small pieces is normal, so once you’ve gone all around the fruit, you might need to go back and peel away any stray pieces of skin.

How To Cube Or Slice Pears

1. On a cutting board, lay the peeled or unpeeled pear on one side and cut through the entire fruit vertically—the long way—on one side of the core. The goal is to cut as close to the core as possible to retain as much fruit as possible.

2. Once you have the pear in two pieces, turn the piece with the core flat side down and cut on either side of the core again.

3. Turn the pear once more and cut the final piece away from the core. Discard the core.

4. You now have four pieces of (core-less) pear, which you can continue to slice as thinly or thickly as you like. Or, move on to cubing:

5. Once you have your slices—aim for ½ inch slices if cubing is your plan—cut each one in thirds. 

Related: How To Peel Apples For Cooking And Baking

Tips For Safe Cutting

• The prep area: Make sure you’re working with a sharp knife on a flat surface. Your cutting board should be clean and free from any other foods to make cutting pears easier.

• The proper way: When peeling, always be sure to work the peeler away from your body. Staying as close to the core as possible will also make for the most efficient pear cutting.

Storing Tips For Cut Pears

• For unripe pears: Store unripe pears at room temperature, allowing them a chance to ripen.

• For ripe pears: Store ripe pears in the fridge; 35 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit is best.

• Check for ripeness: USA Pears.org recommends checking unripe pears daily to see if they have ripened yet. Again, you can check for ripeness by applying gentle but firm pressure to the stem area and if it yields to your pressure, it’s ready.

• How long they'll keep? Pears will stay ripe in the fridge for about five days, but longer than that, and they may turn mushy or mealy.

• How to avoid browning: Like apples and avocados, once cut, the flesh of the exposed pears will start to turn brown due to oxidation. The quality and taste are not impacted by this discoloration, but if you want to keep your cut fruit looking nice, say for a cheese plate, try a squeeze of lemon.

Recipe Ideas For Pears

From brown sugar baked pears to hearty pear salads to pear upside down cake, let your cravings for sweet or savory guide you.

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