How to Cook Asian Pears (10 Steps)

While traditionally shaped pears you usually see in grocery stores are European pears, Asian pears are round. These pears are ripe when they're harvested, so you eat them when they're firm instead of waiting for them to soften. Select Asian pears, also sometimes called apple pears, that are fragrant and without bruises. Asian pears keep well: You can store them for about a week at room temperature or for several months in the refrigerator. Knowing how to cook with Asian pears means understanding their texture--the fruit is juicier than an apple but crisper than traditional pears.

Things You'll Need

Asian pears
Cutting board
Knife
Baby greens or romaine lettuce
Jicama, grapefruit or celery
Goat cheese, optional
Salad dressing

Water
Sugar
Vanilla
Cinnamon stick
Star anise, optional
Cloves, optional

Showcase Your Pears in a Salad

Serve your Asian pears as part of a salad. Many connoisseurs prefer Asian pears raw because of the crisp, juicy texture. Because Asian pears don't oxidize when you cut them, they won't turn brown as apples do when you expose them to the air. Since you don't have to coat the pears in lemon juice or another acid as soon as you cut them, you have more flexibility for using them in a salad.
Core the pear as you would an apple, cutting it open and then trimming away the center section.
Slice your pear into thin, long strips or dice it into bite-sized pieces.
Trim and slice jicama, grapefruit, celery or another fruit or vegetable that you enjoy in salads. Toss with the pears and either baby greens or romaine lettuce. Add crumbled goat cheese for additional texture and tangy flavor.
Top your salad with a tart, slightly sweet dressing, such as a balsamic vinaigrette.

Poach Your Pears

Core four Asian pears as you would an apple, cutting them open and then trimming away the center sections. Cut the pears into quarters.
Place one-half cup of sugar and one cup of water in a pan and bring to a boil. Add one teaspoon of vanilla and a cinnamon stick. If you have them on hand, add two or three whole star anise and three or four whole cloves for additional depth of flavor. (If you don't have whole items, you can use one teaspoon of cinnamon and one-eighth of a teaspoon of cloves.)
Reduce the mixture to a simmer and add the pears. Simmer until the pears are tender, about 15 minutes.
Remove the cinnamon stick, star anise and cloves.
Serve warm or chilled, alone or as a topping or vanilla ice cream.

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