Pear puree not only tastes delicious, it is also a good source of fibre and is rich in vitamin C. Delicious on its own, spiced or mixed with a range of other purees.
Jump to:
Ingredient Information
- How to pick a ripe pear - Press a finger gently into the top of the pear (where the stem joins the fruit). If it yields the fruit is ripe. The pear should be fairly firm with just a little give at the top.
- What if you have unripe pears? - They can be ripened at room temperature. They should ripen in a few days, if you want to speed up the process then store in a brown bag with a banana.
- Store pears at room temperature until ripe, once ripe store in the refrigerator.
Step By Step Instructions & Cooking Tips
- Wash and peel - wash your pears and use a vegetable peeler to peel. If you prefer you can keep the skin on, but your puree may not be as smooth (depending on your blender.)
- Remove stem - cut the pear in half and carefully remove the stem with a pairing knife.
- Chop and add to a pan with 4 tbsps of water. This does not seem like a lot of water but you want to use scant amounts of water to preserve the fresh taste and vitamins. If you have a steaming basket you can also steam.
- Cover and cook over low heat until tender. It is important that low heat is used or the water will burn off before the pears are softened and you risk them burning. Keep a close eye on the pears. The cooking time will vary depending on how ripe the pears were. It will generally take around 4-16 mins.
- Blend until smooth - If you wish to add more texture you can mash.
Pear Puree For Babies
I always encourage parents to experiment with herbs and spices when making baby food. Pears pair beautifully with a range of spices and herbs, why not try...
- SPICES - Add a little cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, clove, nutmeg or star anise when cooking the pear. If using whole spices, remove before blending.
- HERBS - Try livening up the puree with a little fresh basil, mint or rosemary. Add before blending or grind the herb to a paste and stir through as needed.
Pear combines great with both sweet and savoury purees. Why not try mixing it with...
- Apple Puree
- Banana Puree
- Beet Puree
- Blueberry Puree
- Blackberry Puree
- Butternut Squash Puree
- Chicken Puree
- Kiwi Puree
- Oatmeal
- Papaya Puree
- Prune Puree
- Strawberry Puree
- Sweet Potato Puree
- Yoghurt
Other Uses...
This deliciously sweet puree shouldn't be limited to babies! Other great uses include
- Swirling - swirl through oatmeal, yoghurt or ice-cream to add sweetness and flavour.
- Baking - use it to naturally sweeten baked goods or as a fat/egg/apple sauce replacement.
- Smoothies - add a frozen cube or two to a smoothie.
- Cocktails - when the kids go to bed whip yourself up a fancy cocktail (this Pear Collins sounds delicious!)
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerate: Place in an airtight container and store overnight. If you wish to store longer you can add some lemon juice when cooking the pears.
- Freeze: Spoon the puree into ice-cube trays and freeze until solid. Once fully frozen, quickly pop them all out and place into a freezer bag or airtight container and return to the freezer.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, if your pears are really ripe they should be able to blend without cooking.
No. Pear skins are totally safe and easy to digest for the stomach. In fact, a lot of the pear's nutrients are found on the skin or just below the skin. If you do keep the skin on you may need to cook the pears for longer and the puree will not be as smooth (unless you have a powerful blender).
Pears are a popular natural remedy for constipation in little ones.
Yes, you can use a food processor or stick blender. If your pears are really soft you can also mash with a masher or fork (for a chunkier puree)
Nothing! Pears contain stone cells which can give them a gritty texture. Stone cells are developed in pears as they ripen on the tree and this is why they are picked before they are ripe.
Other Puree Recipes
Looking for more healthy kid recipes?Sign up for my free recipe newsletter to get new family friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing more kid-friendly inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram.
Pear Puree
Equipment
- Blender / Food Processor / Stick Blender
- Pot with lid
Ingredients
- 6 Pears
- 4 tablespoon Water
- Spices optional - see notes
Instructions
- Wash and peel the pears.
- Halve and core each pear and then cut into small pieces.
- Add the chopped pears and 4 tablespoon of water (and spices if desired) to a pot. Cover and cook over low heat until tender. (This will depend on how soft the pears were before cooking - anywhere from 4-16 mins)
- Once cooked transfer the pears to a food processor/blender and puree to desired consistency.
Recipe Notes
- You can use any variety of pear.
- If you prefer a thicker consistency you can mash instead of puree.
- If your pears are really ripe you may not have to cook before pureeing/mashing.
Jessica says
Thank you for all the tips and information, the recipe turned out great. One thing I struggled with was the video that played as I found it difficult to close down. Maybe something you want to look at.
Amy says
I'm glad you liked the recipe and found the tips helpful. Sorry about the intrusive video, I will have a look at my settings.
Curly Carla says
I added fresh ginger and it was really good, shame I went to all that work and ate half of it before my LO got to try it
Amy says
Ha ha! I used to do that too - apple puree was always my favourite! 🙂