Picked pears. Now what? [View all]

Last edited Sat Sep 8, 2012, 02:56 PM - Edit history (1)

So this year my apple tree took a break from giving fruit this year -- which was a good thing, because the peaches and pears went nuts.

From my two small pear trees I've brought in about 30 pounds of fruit. I know I'm meant to store them at 30F for a few days, but I didn't have a spare freezer (mine lives at 0°F) so I've put them in the bottom of a 38°F fridge for about a week. Is this going to do whatever it is the cold storage part is meant to do?

I want to eat some, and intend to juice the rest for a lovely perry. How much longer do I need to keep these guys in the fridge before I take them out to ripen? And does anyone have any tips for ripening a whole lotta pears?