Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “There are only ten minutes in the life of a pear when it is perfect to eat.” Truer words were never spoken, especially when they refer to Bartlett Pears. Despite the gorgeous color of the Bartlett’s peel which can range from lemon yellow to a blushing peach color, and which seems to be a false indication of lusciousness, more often than not, one minute they are hard, the briefest moment they are juicy and delicious, and, in the blink of an eye, mushy and almost inedible. I don’t find the same is true of d’Anjou or Comice pears which seem always to be lucious and I never eat Bosc pears raw but Bartlett’s are so tricky I rarely buy them. It is the peak of Bartlett season, though and I bought a bag, most of which so far seem to be at their “ten minute” peak of perfection.
