Both the pads and the fruit of prickly pears are edible, though some species are preferred. O. ficus-indica is most popular for eating, Care must be taken, however, to avoid both the spines and the small hairs (glochids) on the pads and fruit, so harvesting prickly pear is a time-consuming process. Harvesting the pads involves cutting them off the plant at any time, then carefully removing the spines and hairs. They can be eaten raw, or used in a variety of cooked dishes. The pear-shaped fruits that form along the edges of the pads ripen in later summer and fall; they are ripe when the tiny hairs (glochids) begin to fall off. Once cleaned, they can be squeezed for juice or peeled to eat—the taste is citrusy.