Asian pears have a crisp texture that does not change after they're picked and while they are stored, unlike European pears like Bartletts. In fact, some people call them "apple pears" because they are so crisp and juicy or "salad pears" because they're a good addition to this dish. These fruits have a more mellow taste than either European pears or apples. They provide several nutrients.
Identification
A small Asian pear has about 51 calories. A small fruit is about 2.25 inches high and 2.5 inches wide, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A large Asian pear has 116 calories. The USDA defines a large pear as one that's 3 inches wide and 3.375 inches tall.
Types
The calories in Asian pears come mainly from carbohydrates. A small pear has almost 13 g carbs, whereas a large one has just over 29 g. Of these, 8.6 g are from sugars in the small pear and about 19.4 g are from sugars in the large version. The small pear also has 0.61 g protein and 0.28 g fat. The large version has 1.38 g protein and 0.63 g fat, according to the USDA.
Benefits
Asian pears supply a small amount of fiber, according to the "The New Wellness Encyclopedia" created by the University of California, Berkley. A small fruit has 4.4 g and a large one provides 9.9 g, according to the USDA. MayoClinic.com recommends you get 21 to 25 g fiber daily if you're a woman and 30 to 38 g a day if you are a man.
Vitamins
The top vitamins that these crisp fruits give you are folate, C and K. The smaller fruit has 10 mcg folic acid, whereas the large one has 22 mcg. A small fruit provides 4.6 mg vitamin C and 5.5 mg vitamin K, while a large one gives you 10.4 mg vitamin C and 12.4 mg vitamin K. For the small fruit, that's 5 percent of your daily vitamin C if you are a man or 6 percent if you are a woman, 4.5 percent of your daily vitamin K if you are a man or 6 percent if you are a woman. For either sex it provides about 2.5 percent of your daily folic acid needs.
Minerals
Asian pears provide small amounts of some minerals, the highest of which is potassium. A small pear gives you 148 mg potassium, while a large one provides 333 mg. That's 4 percent of your recommended daily amount in the small pear. The small pear also provides 4 percent of the manganese you need. The small fruit has .073 mg manganese and the large one has 0.165 mg.
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