How to Store Cherries: 5 Tips for Keeping Cherries Fresh

Cherries are a small, round, reddish fruit of the Prunus genus. Cherries grow on cherry trees, have bright green stems, and feature a shiny, slightly tough edible exterior surrounding a fleshy, juicy interior with a central pit. This pit makes the cherry a drupe, or a stone fruit, like apricots, peaches, and plums. Cherries grow worldwide, with cherry orchards commonly found in the western and midwestern United States. There are more than a thousand cherry varieties, and they range from tart to sweet in flavor and light orange to dark purple in color. Bing and Rainier are two popular kinds of sweet cherries grown in the US.

Cherry season is in the summer, but cherry trees require a certain number of cool hours at night to break dormancy and bloom. This means cherries do not grow in tropical climates. With a short growing season, they blossom in the Northern Hemisphere in the spring and are harvested in the summer. Given the fruit’s popularity, there are many cherry recipes for both sweet and sour cherries, particularly for sauces and desserts.

Fresh cherries last three to four days if kept on the counter and can last up to a week in the refrigerator. Only rinse cherries right before eating, as liquid will quicken the spoiling process. Cherries can last longer if frozen properly, keeping for up to six months.

Whether you buy your cherries at the grocery store or the farmers’ market, you’ll want to handle and store them properly so you can enjoy the freshest fruit possible. Follow these tips for storing cherries on the counter and in the fridge:

1. 1. Make sure the cherries are dry. Keep cherries unwashed, as moisture will accelerate spoilage. If they are wet, pat dry with paper towels. Only rinse with cold water right before consuming or cooking.
2. 2. Remove any bad cherries. Check your cherries for bruising. If any are misshapen, remove them from the others and discard.
3. 3. Keep the stems on the cherries. Bright green stems are a sign of freshness, and if you pluck them, your cherries may spoil more quickly.
4. 4. Place the cherries in a clean bowl in a dark place. After sorting your cherries, carefully place them in a bowl. You can keep them out for a few days at room temperature, but they will last longer in a cooler space like the refrigerator. If you keep them out on the kitchen counter, just make sure they are out of direct sunlight, as heat will make them mushy. If you leave your cherries on the counter, it’s best to keep them in a dark place.
5. 5. Extend cherries’ shelf life by placing them on a baking sheet. If you wish to store your cherries for longer, separate them on a baking sheet in a single layer and put them in the refrigerator. Spacing them out will prevent bruising, and they will last longer in the fridge than on the countertop.

Cherries are usually harvested in the late spring and throughout the summer. You can freeze cherries to enjoy them outside of cherry season. Follow this step-by-step guide for freezing cherries:

1. 1. Pick fresh, ripe cherries. Avoid freezing cherries with bruises.
2. 2. Wash the cherries. Wash the cherries and pat them dry with a paper towel. Remove the stems.
3. 3. Pit the cherries. You can push a cherry pitter or an unbent paper clip through the cherry to remove the pit. You can also slice the cherries in half to remove the pits. (Pitting the cherries after they thaw is more challenging.)
4. 4. Flash freeze the cherries. Spread the pitted cherries in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper. Freeze the cherries for at least two hours or until they’re solid. Flash freezing will prevent the cherries from sticking together.
5. 5. Store the cherries. Transfer the frozen cherries to a freezer bag or airtight container. If you store them in a bag, make sure to push out the excess air before sealing to prevent freezer burn.

Frozen cherries will lose their shape after thawing, making them better for smoothies or for cooking; fresh cherries are better for snacking. To defrost your frozen cherries, remove them from the freezer four hours before they are needed. After defrosting the fruits will ooze some liquids; clean those up before cooking.

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