How To Wash Pears To Remove Dirt and Pesticides, According to an Expert

My parents love pears. The crisper drawer in their fridge usually contains a mishmash of pears along with many kinds of apples and a few peaches, depending on what’s in season. My parents also peel all their fruit, usually after a quick rinse under the kitchen faucet.

“It's probably a good idea to wash any fresh fruit or vegetable item except for items that come packaged and say that they have already been triple washed,” says Don Schaffner, PhD, professor at Rutgers University and member of the Institute of Food Technologists’ Food Microbiology Division. “Pears should be washed to remove any dirt or debris.”

The best way to clean most produce items, including pears, is to rinse them under clean water, Schaffner says. A few seconds under running water should be plenty.

“It's fine to use a vegetable brush for items that have a thick skin. Pears do not have a thick skin and using a vegetable brush might scrape off the skin and dig into the flesh,” he says.

It’s also a good idea to skip the dishwashing liquid or any kind of detergent. “Soap should never be used for washing fresh fruits and vegetables,” Schaffner says. “Soap is designed for cleaning dishes and for cleaning hands.”

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says to avoid commercial produce washes that are sold just to clean fresh fruits and vegetables. “Many of these have not been scientifically tested to see if they work any better than plain water,” Schaffner points out.

Cleaning Pears with Baking Soda or Vinegar

Some people suggest washing pears and other produce in a mix of baking soda and water or a mixture of vinegar and water.

“Both of these are safe but the scientific evidence on whether they actually reduce the number of microorganisms more than just plain water is limited and some studies say there's a benefit while others did not find a benefit,” Schaffner says.

One study, for example, found that it took apples 12 to 15 minutes to remove pesticides when soaked in a baking soda solution. 

When to Wash Pears

It can be tempting to want to clean all your produce as soon as you bring it home from the store or farmers market, but it’s a better idea to wait.

“Generally speaking, it's a best practice to wash these items only when you're ready to consume them,” Schaffner says. “If you wash them and put them away wet, that additional moisture can lead to mold growth or other spoilage.”

If you decide to wash them right away, make sure to pat them with a paper towel or clean dish towel to get them as dry as you can. Leaving moisture behind can cause pears to spoil more quickly.

When Pears Go Bad

If pears start to look too iffy, you may want to consider tossing them into the compost bin.

“If pears have cuts or bruises, the location of the cut or bruise can provide an entry point for bacteria, mold, or even just enzyme activity from the plant tissues itself,” Schaffner says. “This can lead to brown spots as well as bacterial or mold growth."

If you see a few brown spots, he says it’s perfectly fine to just cut off the discolored part and eat the rest.

The Best Way to Store Pears to Keep Them Fresh

It’s best to buy only the number of pears you think you can use in a few days. The U.S. government’s food safety website recommends storing them in a cool, dry place, like the pantry, for a day or two until they’re ripe. Once they’re ripe, you can put them in the refrigerator for up to five days.

“If you find that you do have some fresh fruit that is starting to reach the end of its shelf life, you can freeze it, but note that the freezing process itself may produce undesirable color changes and loss of texture,” Schaffner says.

He also suggests cooking pears and making cobbler or other fruity dessert. “Cooking the item will obviously produce some changes but should give you a few more days to eat the cooked item if you store it in the refrigerator.”

5 Recipes to Use Up Your Pears

• Pear Tarte Tatin
• Homemade Pear Butter
• Pear Cake with Cinnamon Sugar
• 5-Ingredient Pear Crisp
• Maple-Glazed Chicken with Caramelized Onions and Pears