Concorde Pears Delivery or Pickup

Concorde pears are a newer variety of specialty pears that originated in England. Derived from a combination of Conference and Comice varieties, the Concorde pear has the shape and crisp texture of the conference pear and is sweet and juicy like the Comice pear. 

The Concorde pear is teardrop-shaped with a round bottom and a very long tapered neck ending in almost a pointed tip. It has a long, usually curved stem and a light yellow-green skin that may have golden brown russets or light freckles. The inside flesh is white to ivory, firm, and moist. It is a large pear that averages around four to six ounces in weight. 

The Concorde is a crunchy, sweet-tasting pear with a distinct vanilla flavor. Since its dense flesh is sweet and juicy even when firm, this fruit doesn't have to ripen or soften first to become sweet and edible. Because of this and the fact that it can be served in so many different ways, both raw and cooked, the Concorde pear is becoming increasingly popular as one of the most versatile varieties of pears. They are in season from September through December. 

Concorde pears are harvested when mature, and they ripen off the tree. Select your Concorde pears by how soon you intend to eat them. Choose ripe pears only if you intend to eat them within a couple of days. To determine ripeness, push a finger into the neck of the pear near the stem. When the fruit is ripe, there will be a little bit of give at that point. Only choose pears that are not soft anywhere else on their body, as this indicates that they are overripe and the fruit will be mushy. If you want the fruit to last longer, choose pears that are still firm near the stem. 

Concorde pears are a unique tree fruit because they ripen from the inside out. They will usually be close to, but not quite ripe when purchased. Cooler temperatures slow down the ripening process, so store your pears in the refrigerator if you wish to preserve them longer. Concorde pears will stay fresh for up to two months when stored in the refrigerator. 

Concorde pears will ripen naturally a few days after purchase when kept at room temperature. These pears usually don't change color as they ripen, so use the pressure test on the neck of the fruit to identify when they are ripe. Concorde pears can be enjoyed before fully ripened, as they are slightly crisper when underripe but still juicy, sweet, and flavorful. After ripening, they will be slightly softer and taste more mellow. 

To speed up the ripening process, place Concorde pears in a brown paper bag at room temperature. Check daily, as they can go from ripe to overripe very quickly during this process due to the ethylene gas the pears emit as they ripen. 

Several other fruits and vegetables release ethylene gas as they ripen, a chemical that speeds up the ripening process. Putting unripe pears in a bowl beside ripe apples or bananas will speed up the ripening process due to this chemical reaction. Other ethylene-releasing foods include peaches, plums, avocados, and tomatoes. Storing these fruits and vegetables near each other can cause them to become overripe very quickly, so to preserve them longer, store them in separate areas. 

Enjoy the multipurpose Concorde pear with any meal or as a healthy refreshing snack over the day. When you order on Instacart, you can save time shopping and get your groceries delivered on the same day! Just add Concorde pears to your cart, and our shoppers will get your order ready to help make your day a little bit easier.