Varieties like Comice will soften into lush ... Use firm, just-ripe Barletts for baking in recipes like a Pear Tarte Tatin with Red Wine Caramel to retain a bit more tang and ensure they hold ...

as will certain apple varieties and medlars. Pears ripen at room temperature and have to be eaten before they start to rot; however, if you have access to cooking pears such as wardens ...

Raw pears need to be prepared at the last moment. Use them in savoury salads, where they can be mixed with bitter leaves, sharp-flavoured cheeses, nuts or air-dried ham. To cook, peel and simmer ...

If you plan on cooking pears, make sure they are a bit under-ripe so they will hold their shape. Native to Asia, pears come in more than 5,000 varieties. Pears were strictly seasonal years ago ...