Pears, canned, heavy syrup, drained
Whole food · Fruits and Fruit Juices
Photo: Wikipedia
These are pear halves or slices preserved in a thick, sweet sugar syrup, then drained before serving. They offer a soft, tender, and consistently juicy texture with a mellow, sugary pear flavor. Nutritionally, they are a concentrated source of quick energy from carbohydrates, primarily in the form of added sugars.
Calorie split: 1% protein · 97% carbs · 2% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love them for their reliable sweetness, soft texture, and nostalgic comfort, often evoking memories of classic desserts. Their versatility makes them a staple for quick fruit salads, yogurt toppings, and baking.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high sugar content (over 16g per 100g) can cause rapid blood-sugar spikes, making them a poor choice for those managing diabetes or reducing added sugars. To counteract this, pair them with a source of protein or healthy fat (like Greek yogurt or nuts) to slow sugar absorption, and practice strict portion control.
Key benefits
- Provides quick energy from natural and added sugars
- Offers some dietary fiber, which supports digestive health
- Contains small amounts of essential minerals like potassium
- Shelf-stable and available year-round
- Convenient for quick desserts or salads
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The heavy syrup they are canned in is typically a 40% sugar solution, which is significantly sweeter than the fruit's natural juice.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 80.3 g |
| Energy | 74.0 kcal |
| Energy | 309 kj |
| Protein | 0.24 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.18 g |
| Ash | 0.15 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 19.1 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 2.7 g |
| Total Sugars | 16.4 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 6.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.22 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 4.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 8.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 66.0 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 5.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.08 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.06 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.10 ug |
| Fluoride, F | 7.5 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 1.1 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.01 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.02 mg |
| Niacin | 0.24 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.01 mg |
| Folate, total | 1.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 1.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 1.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 1.3 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 4.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 2.0 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 8.0 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 50.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.12 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.30 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.01 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.04 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.04 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.04 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.04 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Pears, canned, heavy syrup pack, solids and liquids — USDA does not publish this profile for Pears.
| Threonine | 0.01 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.01 g |
| Leucine | 0.01 g |
| Lysine | 0.01 g |
| Methionine | 0.00 g |
| Cystine | 0.00 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.01 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.00 g |
| Valine | 0.01 g |
| Arginine | 0.00 g |
| Histidine | 0.00 g |
| Alanine | 0.01 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.04 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.01 g |
| Glycine | 0.01 g |
| Proline | 0.01 g |
| Serine | 0.01 g |
FAQ
How are canned pears in heavy syrup different from those in juice?
Heavy syrup is a prepared sugar-water solution (often 40% sugar), making the final product much sweeter and higher in calories. Pears canned in their own juice or light syrup have less added sugar and a more natural pear flavor.
Can I reduce the sugar content before eating?
You can rinse the drained pears thoroughly under cool water to remove some surface syrup, but the fruit itself will have absorbed sugar during the canning process, so the reduction is limited.
Are canned pears as nutritious as fresh pears?
While they retain some vitamins and minerals, the canning process and added syrup significantly increase the sugar and calorie content compared to fresh pears, which have more fiber and a lower glycemic impact.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 0.74 kcal/g · 1% calories from protein · 2.7 g fiber · 16.4 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.08 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.