Many types of pears are in season from August through October. Here are the fresh pears to look for at the farmers market or grocery store
Concorde
Concorde pears have a beautiful shape: a tapered neck and rounded bottom with bright green skin that sometimes shows a red blush. These pears are juicy and sweet, even when they’re still firm.
Comice
This is one of the most-loved types of pears, thanks to the succulent texture and sweetness. Comice pears are sometimes called “Christmas pears” as they’re a staple of fruit gift baskets. The pears are short and round with bright green skin blushed with red, and need careful handling because of their fragile skin.
Bosc
If you see pears at the store with mottled, brown skin and a tear-drop shape, you’ve found Bosc pears. To check pears for ripeness, especially firm varieties, remember to “check the neck.” Pears ripen from the inside out, and since the necks are the narrowest part of a pear, this is the most reliable place to determine ripeness. If the flesh at the neck gives a little when pressed, the pear is ripe.
Anjou
gg-shaped Anjou pears come in green and red varieties, and they’re especially attractive when both colors are arranged together in fruit bowls or sliced onto salads. Anjou pears have a sweet, slightly citrus flavor and are available nearly year-round.
Asian Pear
Though the term is broadly applied to several varieties, Asian pears are typically round with green or brown skin and a russeted surface. They’re sweet and very crisp, and unlike most pears, are ripe when they are firm to the touch.
Bartlett
Bartlett pears (also called Williams) have what most people would consider the true “pear flavor.” Both red and green Bartletts are bell-shaped. You can find them in stores from September through the early months of winter. Since pears are harvested unripe, allow them to ripen at room temperature.
Seckel
Seckel pears are so tiny that they can be preserved whole! The skin of Seckel pears ranges from pale green to deep red, and they’re available in stores from September through February.