- 1). Place unripe pears in a brown paper bag. Add a fully ripe apple or banana to the bag. Ripe fruits such as apples and bananas release ethylene gas that speeds the ripening process.
- 2). Shut the bag tightly. Allow it sit to on the counter at room temperature.
- 3). Open the bag after a couple of days and check the pears for ripeness. Press on the fruit near the stem to see if it gives in to pressure. If it does, it's ready to eat. If not, put it back in the bag and check it daily for ripeness. Don't allow the pear to get soft all over because it will be over-ripe and mushy.
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