Few things compare to the deliciously sweet taste of a perfectly ripe pear.
But what happens when they’re past that point of ripeness? You know — when they start to form brown spots and become mushy and unappealing.
Don’t throw away those mushy pieces of fruit! Here are 11 recipes that are perfect if you’re wondering what to do with overripe pears.
1. Freeze for Smoothies
Do you love to make smoothies? Yes? OK, good, because overripe fruit is perfect for freezing and using in smoothies. Cut off any parts of the pear that have gone bad, cut up the rest, place it in a resealable bag and put it in the freezer.
2. Pear Jam
If your pears are just slightly overripe, you can cook them into a pear jam. You need a lot of pears for this recipe — about three pounds — but the only other two ingredients are lemon juice and sugar.
Store the finished product in Mason jarsand spread it on toast, add it to desserts or yogurt or even cook it with meat. There are so many ways to use jam it’s not even funny.
3. Pear Crumble
Pear crumble is not only delicious, it’s also easy to make. Besides pears, the rest of the ingredients are staples you probably already have in your pantry or fridge. For this recipe, the mushier the pears, the better.
4. Mash Into a Pancake Topping
Kitchn.com suggests mashing your browning pears and using them as a pancake topping or folding them into your batter. Fruit is always a delicious complement to breakfast foods.
You could also use the mashed pear on top of ice cream. Sundaes, anyone?
5. Blend Them Into a Salad Dressing
Blend them with some olive oil, vinegar and seasoning for a salad dressing that’s a little on the sweet side. Perhaps try out this delicious pear vinaigrette. Hint: The sweetness pairs well with salty toppings.
6. Bake Into Fruit Leather
This is pretty much a homemade Fruit Roll-Up.
Slow-bake your fruit into pear and cinnamon fruit leather. Although it does take a while in the oven (two to four…
