Dried Pear

Name: Dried pear — pears (Pyrus communis and related species) that have been halved or sliced and dried, with a soft, chewy texture and a honeyed, slightly grainy flavour. Fresh pears have their own pages under Apples and Pears.

Description

Pears have been grown in Europe and Asia for thousands of years, and drying has long been a way of keeping them through winter. In parts of Central Europe, such as Austria, Germany and Switzerland, dried pears were baked into traditional fruit breads, and are still used in dishes such as Kletzenbrot and Hutzelbrot.

Dried pears are very sweet, with a soft, slightly gritty texture from the pear's stone cells. They are sold as halves or slices and are used in baking, in compotes and as a snack.

Main nutrition value

Dried pears are a concentrated source of natural sugar and dietary fibre, and also provide potassium, though most of the fresh fruit's vitamin C is lost.

How best to be consumed

Dried pears are sweet and soft, and a few pieces are enough.

1. Eat as a snack with nuts or cheese.
2. Chop into porridge, salads, stuffing or baking.
3. Stew gently in water with cinnamon or a vanilla pod for a simple compote.
4. Use in traditional winter breads and puddings.
5. Choose unsweetened dried pears and check for sulphite preservatives if sensitive.

Overconsumption could cause…

Drying removes water but leaves the sugar, so dried fruit is far more concentrated in sugar and energy than the fresh fruit.

1. Higher sugar and calorie intake than expected from a handful.
2. Loose stools or bloating from concentrated fibre and natural sorbitol, which pears contain.
3. Reactions in people sensitive to sulphites, including some with asthma.
4. Tooth decay from sticky dried fruit.

GroupsDried FruitsRose family (Rosaceae)High fibreLow fatLow sodiumDried

Made fromPear

Related foodsDried AppleDried ApricotsDried PeachDried CherriesDried PrunesDried Persimmon

Wikipedia — Pear, used for origin and general background: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pear Wikipedia — Dried fruit, used for general background on drying and storing fruit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dried_fruit