Jim Koepke
09-21-2014, 12:10 PM
Locally Bartlett Pears are on sale at the market. Pears are one of my favorite snack foods.
Many years ago Joe Carcione was known as the Green Grocer on radio and TV.
I am not sure if he ever mentioned how to pick pears at market, but he did mention a trick that was already in my fruit picking tool box. When picking out apples I flick them with a fingernail. First come the visual cues and then the best apples will have a 'tight, high pitched sound.' The apples that have a lower 'thunk' sound are placed back in the bin.
This trick seems to also work for pears. I usually select the best looking pears with at least a little bit of pink to red blush among the green skin. Then it is the 'click test.' Years ago when my pears were selected just on looks a lot of them would mature to be mushy in the middle. Since using the click test I have only had one that wasn't good all the way to the core.
Pears seem to be currently in season. At least locally they are on sale. I just enjoyed one that was bought last week and forgotten due to some unforseen calamities. The others in the group were enjoyed a few days ago and this one would have likely been eaten last Thursday if we didn't have a sudden need to drive into Portland. Friday had a table failure, Saturday was the Farmers Market and just this morning seeing the local sale ads reminded me there was a ripe pear in the kitchen. It was delicious.
When the store label peals off and takes the skin with it, they are ripe. We keep them in a box covered with a paper bag. When we bring them home we usually also put some bananas on top to speed the ripening.
Anyone else have any tips for getting the best produce at market?
Okay, there is always growing your own...
jtk
Many years ago Joe Carcione was known as the Green Grocer on radio and TV.
I am not sure if he ever mentioned how to pick pears at market, but he did mention a trick that was already in my fruit picking tool box. When picking out apples I flick them with a fingernail. First come the visual cues and then the best apples will have a 'tight, high pitched sound.' The apples that have a lower 'thunk' sound are placed back in the bin.
This trick seems to also work for pears. I usually select the best looking pears with at least a little bit of pink to red blush among the green skin. Then it is the 'click test.' Years ago when my pears were selected just on looks a lot of them would mature to be mushy in the middle. Since using the click test I have only had one that wasn't good all the way to the core.
Pears seem to be currently in season. At least locally they are on sale. I just enjoyed one that was bought last week and forgotten due to some unforseen calamities. The others in the group were enjoyed a few days ago and this one would have likely been eaten last Thursday if we didn't have a sudden need to drive into Portland. Friday had a table failure, Saturday was the Farmers Market and just this morning seeing the local sale ads reminded me there was a ripe pear in the kitchen. It was delicious.
When the store label peals off and takes the skin with it, they are ripe. We keep them in a box covered with a paper bag. When we bring them home we usually also put some bananas on top to speed the ripening.
Anyone else have any tips for getting the best produce at market?
Okay, there is always growing your own...
jtk