Add flavor of Bartlett pears to meals at home

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Cooking with Bartlett pears is easy. Some tips for the cook:

* To help cut or sliced Bartletts retain their color, dip them into a mixture of one tablespoon lemon juice and one cup water.

* You can remove the skin of a Bartlett with a sharp paring knife or a vegetable peeler with a well-honed blade.

* Ripe but firm Bartlett pears are fine for poaching or baking.

* If your pears become overripe, use them as a base for a blended drink or pureed sauce.

* Bartlett pears can be a handy addition to entrees. Try them on pizza with caramelized onions and blue cheese crumbles, or in salsa with grilled seafood or poultry.

* Pears that have been ripened at room temperature will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator.

(Source: California Pear Advisory Board)

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