Michigan State University Extension
Preserving Food Safely - 01600657
10/13/97

### STORING PEARS

        Several  varieties of pears can be stored for fall  and

    winter
     use  in  a basement fruit cellar.   They  should  be

    picked
    at optimum maturity when they are hard and the  color

    has
     changed from dark to pale green.   Select only  perfect

    specimens
    for storage.

        Pears  are very sensitive to temperature and should  be

    stored
     at 29  to 31 degrees Fahrenheit.   The storage  life

    of
     some  pears  can  be  one  third  longer  at  30 degrees

    Fahrenheit
    than at  32  degrees Fahrenheit.   Also,  precise

    temperature
    control is required to prevent freezing.

        Pears  lose  moisture  rapidly.    For  storage,   wrap

    individually
     in tissue or newspaper and store in  cardboard

    boxes
    lined with perforated plastic.

        Pears  ordinarily do not ripen at storage  temperatures

    as
    do apples.   If pears are stored too long or at too  high

    (above
    85 degrees Fahrenheit  for most varieties, but as low

    as
    70 to 75  degrees  Fahrenheit  for Keiffers)  they   will

    break
    down  without  ripening,  often becoming rotten inside

    while
    the outside looks sound.

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