The prickly pears are a fruit from the South, not much used in northern Italy, but I find them delicious. Juicy, with soft and tasty pulp, they have nothing to envy to any exotic fruit coming from afar. At the greengrocer or supermarket, you can find them already available without thorns, making them very easy to use for your sweet and savory dishes.

If you are lucky enough to pick them directly from the cactus, use the appropriate metal tool, a plastic bottle cut in half, or sturdy work gloves to avoid pricking yourself while removing them from the branches. Rub them inside the sand, a sturdy cloth (disposable), or paper bags, always using gloves to remove the glochids, then place them in a basin with water, gently rotate them on the bottom with the help of a metal utensil and leave them to soak for at least 30 minutes, so the thin thorns on the skin will soften. Here is how to remove thorns from prickly pears under running water.

If, despite all precautions, you get thin thorns lodged in your skin, do NOT use tweezers as it could worsen the situation. Try applying a layer of Vinavil (or wide adhesive tape) on the skin area where you have thorns, let it dry, and when solidified, remove it; the thorns will come off with the glue layer.

Learn here how to grow prickly pears.


When are prickly pears harvested?
Depending on the variety, the SEASONALITY of prickly pears goes from July to December, a delicious autumn fruit.

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