Description
The Anjou is truly an all-purpose pear. They are juicy when ripe, and their subtle sweetness hints at a refreshing lemon-lime flavor.
Anjou’s are highly regarded by chefs for their long shelf life and versatility in culinary applications. They will keep up to seven months when stored in the refrigerator and their dense flesh holds up well in heated applications like baking pies and tarts, poaching, roasting, grilling, or making into sauces and purees.
Anjou pears can be consumed fresh, out-of-hand or sliced and mixed with green salads, layered in sandwiches, wraps, and grilled cheese, used as a topping on pizza, or blended into smoothies and soups. They can also be paired with cheeses that won’t overpower their flavor like brie, smoked or aged gouda, Chèvre goat cheese, Mascarpone, and mild cheddar. They compliment meats such as prosciutto, beef, or served with stuffed pork tenderloin and an Anjou pear reduction.
RIPENING
Pears ripen after being picked. Our D’Anjou pears are chilled for at least 6 weeks after harvesting. Upon delivery the pears may be ripened between 4-7 days at 65° and 75°F. You can slow ripening by storing them in the refrigerator. Or you can speed up ripening by storing your pears with ripe apples, bananas, or pears, exposing them to the ethylene gas naturally put off by these ripening fruits. Check for ripeness daily by gently pressing your thumb near the stem end of the pear. When it gives slightly, the pear is ripe.