Read The Health Benefits of Pears
When the Greek poet, Homer, said in one of his epic poems that the pear was “a gift from the gods,” he was absolutely right. In addition to being delicious, the fruit is very versatile in the kitchen, having various culinary uses as an ingredient in both savory dishes and desserts. Further, the pear is now being hailed as a nutritional powerhouse, providing benefits that can help maintain good health and prevent diseases. Indeed, your body will love being nourished by pears; but there are also very interesting facts about the pear that can nourish your mind as well.
- Pears are among the few fruits with very ancient histories. There is evidence that even our prehistoric ancestors were already growing and eating pears as food.
- There are over 3,000 varieties of pears existing in the world today.
- You cannot judge a pear by the color of its skin. Although a few varieties of pears change from green to yellow as they ripen, others do not change colors at all. The best way to determine ripeness is to check the part of the fruit near the stem. If the flesh gives when you press it gently, then the pear is ready to eat.
- Pears ripen best when they are already plucked from the tree. If the pears you bought from the supermarket are not yet fully ripe, you can leave them at room temperature until they ripen. Once ripe, pears need to be stored in the refrigerator and consumed within 3 days.
- Although it might be tempting to peel a pear when you find some brown spots on it, don’t. Some pear varieties undergo russeting, which is naturally-occurring and will not alter the fruit’s taste or flavor.
- Like apples and bananas, sliced pears are very prone to browning when exposed to oxygen in the air. To slow down the oxidation process, you can dip the pears in a solution of water and lemon juice.
- Before tobacco leaves were discovered, Europeans smoked pear leaves.
- Pear wood is useful in making furniture and kitchen utensils, as well as smoking meats.
- In China, it is bad luck for lovers or friends to share a pear because it may result in a quarrel or separation.
- The shape of the pear is used to describe a specific form of the female body. The typical “pear-shaped” woman has narrow shoulders, a small bust size and waist, wide hips and thick thighs.
- The phytonutrients found in the skin of the pear is three to four times the amount contained in the flesh. Thus, to optimize the benefits you get from the fruit, eat if fresh and unpeeled.
- You will rarely get an upset stomach when you eat a pear because its low acid level is very gentle on the digestive system. In fact, the ancient Greeks used it as a remedy against nausea.
Pears: A Country Garden Cookbook