Bartlett pears range in color from bright lime green to spotted, deep yellow. No matter which stage of ripeness your pears are at, you can still enjoy them! Find out what each stage looks like and how to best serve any color of pear to lower food waste with more satisfied bellies at home. 

The end of summer marks the beginning of the pearfect time of year – pear harvest season.  

Pears are one of the fall fruits that we look forward to every year.  With a dozen varieties to choose from, there is literally a pear for everyone. Loved by many, but often, overlooked, pears are not hiding in the produce department – they’re waiting to be discovered!

At The Produce Moms, our goal is to get more fruits and veggies on your family’s plates for nutritious meals and less food waste. That’s why in this post, we’re going to be sharing many ways to enjoy the iconic Bartlett pear across the ripening journey. 

This post is sponsored by USA Pears.

By the time you finish reading this blog, you’ll know all about the 3 stages of Bartlett pears — what they look like, how they feel, how to serve them, and how to slow down the ripening process when you aren’t quite ready to make a recipe. 

Plus, you’ll have lots of pear recipe inspiration, no matter the color, shape, size and appearance. All pears, including Bartletts, have very sensitive skin – which is why we encourage you to look beyond the outer appearance to truly appreciate the magnificence of the pear. While the beauty of pears may be skin deep, the robust, sweet, juicy, and delicious flavor is deep. When it comes to pears, we think blemishes are quite beautiful!

What are Bartlett Pears?

Bartlett pears were originally discovered and made known in England by a man named Williams. Imported and planted in the United States, the pear tree estate was later taken over by Enoch Bartlett. Not knowing what type of trees he had, he introduced the pears under his own name in the U.S. Turns out, Williams and Bartlett pears are one and the same. But by then, Americans already knew them as Bartletts, while the rest of the world knew them as Williams Pears.  

A Bartlett pear is the iconic pear that most people think of when one comes to mind- sweet, juicy and a pleasant floral aroma when fully ripened.  There are red and green Bartletts, but we’ll focus on the green variety that turns color to yellow as it ripens. 

Grown in the Pacific Northwest and harvested when fully mature but not yet ripe, they develop a smoother texture and sweeter flavor by ripening off the tree after a “cold wake up” call. Pears are not only unique in flavor and shape, but they also have unique ripening requirements. 

Right after pears are picked from the tree, they’re immediately chilled to 32-35 degrees F in order to stimulate the pears ability to transform natural sugars into the sweet and juicy fruit we love. The cold storage of pears (or “conditioning” as they call it in the biz ) happens long before pears ever reach the shelves of the grocery store. 

When purchasing fresh pears at your local market, they’re in the second phase of their ripening journey, ready to turn color and get sweeter and juicier as they’re stored at room temperature on the kitchen counter.  

Most pear varieties don’t show a huge color change as they ripen, but Bartletts’ color changes from green to yellow and may also develop freckles from some of the sugar in the fruit that show up on the skin. And the best part is that you can enjoy them at every stage of ripeness!

Related: History of the Bartlett Pear

3 Stages of Ripeness in Bartlett Pears

There are three ripening stages for Bartlett pears. You’ll know by color and firmness which stage your pears are in when you select them, what they taste like, and the delicious ways to serve them. After this, your family will be looking forward to pear season, too!

Stage 1: The Firm and Green Phase

Pears are heartier in the beginning phase and can be baked, cooked, or coated with your favorite salad dressing. Similar in texture to crisp Granny Smith apples, green pears can also be swapped for apples, too! 

How to Select:

• Color: Bright lime-green skin 
• Firmness: No give around the stem, crunchy texture
• Flavor: Tart, subtly sweet 

How to Serve:

Baking & Galettes: Fan out firm green Bartlett pear slices over a prepared pie crust, cover with a cinnamon walnut crumble, and glaze with maple butter after baking. Like an apple pie but with less work and all the crunchy, spicy, fall flavor. 

Shaved Salads: Chop raw green pears and toss with crisp, shredded cabbage and tart dried cranberry slaw coated in a lemon buttermilk-based dressing. Creamy, tart, and a refreshing side to grilled meats.

Infusing and Pickling: Dice firm pears and add them to a jar of vodka, ginger, and warm vanilla bean, and let that steep for a few days. The green pears stand up against the alcohol content for a homemade, infused vodka without added sugar — the perfect mama nightcap.

Recipes: Baked Cinnamon Ricotta Pears, Pear Slaw, Pear Infused Vodka, Pear Galette, Pear Pastryka

Stage 2: The Golden-Yellow Sweet Spot

The classic Bartlett experience, also known as the sweet spot. The tart starches turn into natural sugars with a sweet smell that fills the room on charcuterie boards and any other fresh snacking idea desired. 

How to Select:

• Color: Warm golden-yellow skin  
• Firmness: Gently gives when you press your thumb near the neck (the stem end)
• Flavor: Aromatic, intensely sweet, buttery, and super juicy

How to Serve:

Snacking/Charcuterie & Cheese Boards: Slice yellow Bartletts into wedges and pair them with sharp blue cheeses like Gorgonzola, aged Gouda, or creamy Brie. The sweetness cuts through the funk and richness of the cheese for a balanced bite.

Recipes: Pear, Cheese, and Wine Pairing Guide, 

Stage 3: The Very Soft and Fragrant Phase

Once a Bartlett reaches peak ripeness, it’s best to use them quickly because they’re juice and sweet and won’t last for long. To slow their ripening or hold for a day or two, you can put it in the fridge – but not for too long! When Bartletts are fully ripe, they are the sweetest, and the best time to eat them fresh or to blend them into smoothies, beverages or to add sweetness to soup. If you’ve got too many very ripe pears on-hand, transform them into a syrup to use as a great addition to mocktails, cocktails, lemonade, lattes and any other beverage. 

How to Select:

• Color: Deep yellow, speckled skin 
• Firmness: A lot of give all over the skin 
• Flavor: Pure honeyed sweetness, meltingly soft texture, heavily perfumed.

How to Serve:

Smoothies: Juicy and sweet, pears are an underutilized smoothie ingredient that blends well with most flavors and adds fruity fiber in every sip! We dare you to experiment with pears in your next smoothie—it just may become your go-to ingredient from now on. 

Slow-Cooked Pear Butter: Swap the apples with peeled and cored overripe Bartletts, add to a slow cooker with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and brown sugar. Cook low and slow and blend until smooth.

Cocktail & Beverage Purees: Muddle soft pears with bourbon, amaretto, lemon juice, and cinnamon simple syrup, strain, and pour. Also great with prosecco for a bellini, or blend it into a  for breakfast or a snack.

Recipes: Slow Cooker Apple Butter, Homemade Gingerbread Loaf, Greek Yogurt Banana Bread, Apple Sour Cocktail, Pumpkin Spice Pear Smoothie

How to Control the Ripening Clock

We all get busy, and our pears ripen quicker than we thought they would, or they don’t ripen as fast as we need. Either way, don’t worry! Remember that pears ripen from the inside out, so it’s important to pay attention to which stage they’re at when you select them in the store. 

How to maintain or slow ripeness: Store ripe pears in the fridge for 3-5 days. Unripe pears can be stored for up to a week. 

How to ripen pears: Pears have to be at room temperature to ripen. Place them on the kitchen counter and use them when they are at the ripeness you enjoy. 

To speed up the process, place them in a brown paper bag with an apple or banana to help create the natural gas that causes pears to mature.

Why We Love USA Pears

Speaking of pears, they tend to take a backseat when it comes to recipes. But our friends at USA Pears are on a mission to show you just how versatile pears really are. Of course, you can eat them raw, but they can also be prepared in other ways along their ripeness journey. . We are proud to partner with the Pear experts to bring you sweet and savory recipes featuring one of our favorite fruits. With over 700 growers and 12+ varieties, be sure to look for the white and green pear logo when making your next recipe.

Our Favorite Pear Recipes

• Pear Galette
• Stuffed Biscuit Waffles
• Pear Bundt Cake
• Easy Pear Crumble
• Vegetarian Gravy
• Pear Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

This content is intended solely for responsible adults of legal drinking age (21+ in the U.S.). The Surgeon General warns that women should not consume alcoholic beverages during pregnancy due to the risk of birth defects. Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems. Please drink safely and responsibly.