Want to enjoy juicy, homegrown pears well into the fall and winter? The secret is all in the storage! With a little know-how, you can keep your harvest fresh for months. Here’s my guide on how to do it right and which varieties work best for the long haul.
Harvesting Your Pears the Right Way
If you’re planning on storing your pears, timing is everything. You actually don’t want to wait until they are fully ripe and soft on the tree. If they’re already soft, they won’t last long in storage. Instead, pick them just before they reach peak ripeness while they are still firm and crisp.
Be extra gentle when harvesting . You’ll want to sort through your haul and set aside any fruit with missing stems, bruises, or bird pecks. Only the “perfect” pears should go into long-term storage; the damaged ones are better off being eaten right away or turned into sauce!
The Secret to Perfect Storage
To keep your pears fresh for as long as possible, you need to find the “Goldilocks” spot. A frost-free garage, an unheated basement, or even a protected balcony or attic can work great. The goal is a chilly environment—ideally around 39°F (4°C), though they can handle temperatures down to freezing (32°F). If the room is too warm, the fruit will ripen way too fast.
Humidity is another big factor. Pears love moisture in the air! While a refrigerator is actually a fantastic storage spot because it’s cold and humid, most of us don’t have enough shelf space for a whole harvest.
Pro Tip: Keep your pears away from apples and tomatoes. These neighbors release ethylene gas, which acts like a ripening “turbo-boost” and will cause your pears to go mushy before you can eat them.
When packing them away, use wooden crates or sturdy cardboard boxes. Lay the pears out in a single layer—never stack them! Pears bruise easily, and a single pressure point can lead to rot. I like to line my boxes with corrugated cardboard to provide a little extra cushion and insulation.
Make sure to check your “pear stash” once a week. If you spot any mold or soft spots, pull those fruits out immediately so they don’t spoil the rest of the bunch. Depending on the variety, you can keep pears fresh for two to five months this way.
Which Varieties Should You Grow?
- Conference: This is a superstar in many gardens. It’s a heavy producer and tastes amazing. If you keep these between 39-46°F, they’ll stay delicious through late December.
- Gute Luise (Good Louise): This variety has a wonderful, almost melon-like aroma. It holds up well in a cool spot for several weeks after picking.
- Abate Fetel: This is a classic “winter pear.” In fact, it actually tastes *better* after it has been in storage for a while, becoming incredibly sweet and juicy.
- Williams Christ (Bartlett): While these are famous for their incredible flavor and slightly tart kick, they aren’t great for storage. These are best enjoyed fresh right off the tree!
My Advice: If you want to be eating pears by the fireplace in December, make sure you check the variety before you plant or buy. Not every pear is built for the long winter stretch!