Buy pears when they are firm, but not rock hard. Most pears develop a better flavor and smoother texure when ripened off the tree. Ripen them for 2 to 7 days on your kitchen counter in a paper bag or in a covered fruit-ripening bowl. Because they ripen from the inside out, most pears do not show ripeness with a color change; the best indicator of ripeness is the stem end yielding slightly to pressure. Once ripe, pears will keep for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

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