What is the saying? You shouldn’t compare apples with pears. Even if the two are not the same fruit, they still have some similarities. For example, both are very loved. The pear is even one of the most popular fruits worldwide. Furthermore, both grow on trees, belong to the same family and both can shine in the same hues. And most importantly, both fruits are healthy.
The origin, properties and history of the pear
Pears have been around for a very long time. They for millennia a well-known fruit and is believed to have originated in southwestern China. From there it spread through Central and Western Asia to us in Europe.
The Romans were particularly fond of pears; they cultivated about 40 different varieties. Here in Europe, pears were planted in monasteries. A distinction is made between European and Asian pears, as breeding took place independently of each other on the two continents.
About the pear there are also various myths and legends. For example, in the Middle Ages, the pear tree served as a love oracle. So they asked girls at that time a pear tree for advice.
In itself, the pear is divided into table, cooking and cider pears:
- The table pears are our eating pears. They have an intense fragrance and taste deliciously sweet. Their flesh is juicy and soft.
- The cooking pear is actually the predecessor of today’s table pear. This variety is often used for cooking or baking, as it is neither sweet nor juicy. Moreover, it is quite hard even when ripe.
- The cider pear is very acidic and therefore not suitable for raw consumption. However, they are optimal for making must and fruit wines.
The sweet fruit is available all year round. However, its main season is from August to November.
The ingredients of the pear
Although the pear contains countless vitamins and minerals, it is not the most nutritious fruit. In itself, the fruit contains vitamins A, C and B1. In terms of minerals, it contains potassium, magnesium and folic acid. On 100 g of pear also come just 55 kcal.
The effect of the pear on our body
Although pears do not exactly shine with their vitamin and mineral values, they are still very healthy. This is mainly due to the fact that the fruit contains a lot of secondary plant compounds, which have a positive effect on our health.
For example, the pear helps us with intestinal problems and constipation, because the fruit is very rich in fiber and thus has a digestive effect.
Due to the high potassium content, the pear has a draining effect on us. Thus, it helps our body to flush out water retention and this in turn has a detoxifying effect. In addition, this also promotes our bladder and kidney activity.
Another positive effect has the pear on diabetics, because it does not release insulin. As a result, it has little effect on blood sugar levels. Other positive effects are: it prevents cell aging, it promotes fat metabolism, it has an anti-inflammatory effect and lowers blood pressure.
The pear in the kitchen
The pear can be used in many ways. So you can cook them, bake, steam, dry and even grill. That is, they can be processed into cakes, smoothies, cereals, fruit salad, jam, compote, mush. Accordingly, they can be served as an appetizer, side dish, main course or even dessert. However, it is especially popular as a dessert after dessert — this refers to “Williams Christ” brandy. If you eat the pear raw, you should not peel it, because the healthy active substances are hidden among others in its skin.
Purchase and storage of the pear
Pears are very sensitive fruits. Due to the fact that they are very sensitive to pressure, they quickly develop brown spots. Depending on the variety, they cannot be stored for long. This is partly due to the fact that they are usually sold ready for consumption.
When buying should make sure that the shell is smooth and unharmed. In particular, the pear should be examined for pressure marks. It is best to choose pears that are not ripe, but prefer to let them ripen at home. The brown spot along the stem is completely normal and need not be further observed.
If the pears are already ripe, they should be stored in the fruit compartment of the refrigerator. Since their shelf life is limited, they should be consumed within a few days.
However, if the pears are still hard and need to ripen, the ideal place to store them is at room temperature. To increase the shelf life of the pears you have several options. The best way is to boil them down and put them in a vacuum-sealed jar. Alternatively, they can be made into a puree or compote and then frozen.