How to Core a Pear

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Pears are delicious in everything from desserts to salads, but nobody likes having to spit out pear seeds in the middle of a meal. This tutorial will show you a couple of simple ways to remove a pear's core, whether you want the pear cut in halves or wedges, or kept whole for poaching.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Coring Pear Halves

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Core a Pear
    Place the pear upright on the cutting board. Cut near the stem from end to end in one smooth movement, slicing your pear in half.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Core a Pear
    [1] Scoop out the core of the pair (the section with seeds) using a melon baller or a teaspoon-sized measuring spoon. The instrument you select depends on the firmness of the pear--the melon baller is better for hard fruit, while the measuring spoon is better for soft.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Core a Pear
    Slice out the stem by cutting a "V" shape around its edges using a knife, as shown in the image. [2]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Core a Pear
    [3] Remove the pear's skin using a small, sharp knife or a vegetable peeler. Now you can use the pear for your recipe or eat it as is.
    • You can also leave the skin on, since it's edible and very good for you, but it might throw off the texture of your recipe if you do.
    • If you like, you can also peel the pear before you core it.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Coring Whole Pears

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Core a Pear
    The first thing to do is peel the pear using a small, sharp knife or vegetable peeler.
    • If you want a perfectly smooth pear for poaching, the vegetable peeler is your best bet.
    • After it's peeled, go over the pear with the peeler a second time to remove any rough ridges.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Core a Pear
    [4] Starting at the bottom of the pear, use a melon baller or teaspoon sized measuring spoon to scoop out the base of the pair, followed by the core. The pear will look whole when standing upright, but will have a hole at the bottom where the core has been removed.
    • Alternatively, you can use a fruit corer - a special tool designed to remove the cores from fruit. Simply place the end of the corer (which is essentially a hollow metal tube) over the stem then press it downwards, forcing it all the way through the center of the pear. Give it one or two turns, then draw it out. You will now have a perfectly cored pear.
    • If the pear is a little wobbly after coring, you can cut an even slice from the bottom so it stands upright.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Core a Pear
    If you're not ready to use your cored pears just yet, place them in a bowl of cold water with a few slices of lemon. This will prevent them from oxidizing and turning brown. [5]
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Pear Recipes

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Core a Pear
    . Poached pears make a delicious dessert, and will put your pear coring skills to good use. This simple recipe poaches the pears in a vanilla and sugar syrup. [6]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Core a Pear
    . This warm, spicy version of poached pears makes an elegant dessert perfect for serving at dinner parties. [7]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Core a Pear
    . For a fun variation on the traditional apple pie - try this tasty pear version. [8] Perfect served with vanilla ice cream.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Core a Pear
    . These roasted pears make a delicious after-dinner treat. [9] Served with whipped cream and caramelized pecans - what's not to love?
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Core a Pear
    . If you've had a large harvest of pears that you don't know what to do with, try this cinnamon pear preserve. [10] Equally good spooned over your morning cereal or ice cream dessert.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Core a Pear
    . This tasty but low fat salad is all about bold flavors and contrasting textures, making it a perfect choice for lunchtime. [11]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I store pears?
    Sasha Reyes
    Executive Chef
    Chef Sasha Reyes is the Executive Chef and Owner of Artisan Personal Chefs. With over 20 years of food industry experience, she specializes in private dinner parties, custom sports nutrition plans for professional athletes, and cooking lessons. Chef Reyes graduated from Arizona Culinary Institute in 2011 with a degree in Culinary Arts, Baking, and Restaurant Management.
    Sasha Reyes
    Executive Chef
    Expert Answer
    Unripe pears can be kept at room temperature, but once they reach ripeness, it is advisable to refrigerate them to prolong their shelf life by an additional five to 12 days.
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  • Question
    How do I slice a peach?
    DenFren
    Community Answer
    You can cut it like an avocado. There's a pit in the middle of the peach, so if you make a cut with a knife down to the pit, you can keep cutting around it until you can pull two halves apart. Then you can take out the pit and slice the fruit like you might slice an apple.
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      Tips

      • Pears ripen when left in room temperature, so it is best to buy pears that are still hard. [12]
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      • Metal melon ballers/measuring spoons are best for this technique, since plastic breaks easily if you put too much pressure on it.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Cutting board
      • Knife
      • Measuring spoon/melon baller
      • Fruit corer

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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about cooking, check out our in-depth interview with Sasha Reyes .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-kJBB38eyQ
      2. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/three-color-poached-pears-recipe-1908789
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvNK9qizzHo
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-kJBB38eyQ
      5. ↑ https://www.theyummylife.com/prevent_apple_and_pear_slices_from_browning
      6. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/vanilla-poached-pears-recipe-1945171
      7. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/spiced-red-wine-poached-pears-recipe-1917827
      8. ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/homemade-pear-pie/
      9. ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/89854/roasted-pears-with-caramel-sauce/
      1. ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/spiced-pear-jam/
      2. ↑ https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/asian-pear-and-arugula-salad-goat-cheese
      3. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/the-best-way-to-pick-pears-tips-from-the-kitchn-207857
      4. https://www.taste.com.au/entertaining/articles/how-to-prepare-pears-for-poaching-or-cooking/a7TY3f6v

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To core a pear, slice it in half, starting at the stem and cutting down to the bottom. Use a melon baller or a measuring spoon to scoop the core from the middle of the pear, then use a sharp knife to cut the stem from the top of the pear. If you like, you can then peel the skin from the pear. If you want to leave the pear whole, peel it first, then scoop out the core from the bottom of the fruit. If you want to learn how to use your pear once it's been cored, keep reading the article!

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