How to Store Cherries So They Stay Fresh

ClosePhoto: Getty ImagesCherries are an all-around winner in the kitchen. Whether they’re sour or sweet, cherries are delicious indesserts,drinksandsnacks. The fruit also has somegreat health benefits, including being packed with antioxidants and melatonin. Cherry season is fleeting—they’re best in the summer. Learn the best way to store cherries so they stay fresh so you can reap all the benefits of the tasty fruit.Here’s Why Eating Too Many Cherries Makes You PoopHow Do You Keep Cherries Fresh for Longer?Before you get to storing, there are a few things you can do to help your cherries stay fresh for longer. Here are some helpful tips for storing cherries:Wait to wash your cherries:When it comes to storing cherries, moisture is their biggest enemy, so it’s best to wait and wash them until right before you’re ready to eat them. Any excess water may cause the cherries to spoil at a faster rate.Leave the stems on:If your cherries have stems, leave them on. Removing the stems exposes the cherries to additional moisture, which can lead to potential spoilage.Remove any bad cherries:When one cherry is spoiled, it can ruin the whole batch. Sort through your cherries and discard any that are bruised, damaged or have signs of mold.How to Store CherriesWhen it comes to storing cherries, the colder the environment, the better. That’s why the refrigerator is the best place to store cherries. While you could leave cherries on the counter, we only recommend that if you plan to eat them within a few hours.What Is the Best Way to Store Cherries in the Fridge?When storing cherries in the fridge, you could use any number of vessels, including:A bowl:If storing cherries in a bowl, make sure the cherries aren’t too tightly packed. Proper airflow is needed to keep the cherries fresh.A storage container:You can also store cherries in a container, but don’t put the lid on! Sealing the cherries in an airtight container can lead to moisture forming, and as we already discussed, moisture and cherries do not mix well! If you choose this method, we recommend lining the container with paper towels to help absorb any excess moisture.A perforated plastic bag:A plastic bag can also work well for storing cherries, just make sure it has holes in it. The holes provide proper airflow while also releasing any potential moisture that may build up.With any of these methods, cherries can be stored in the fridge for two to three days. If you’re looking for a long-term storage solution, you can freeze cherries.How to Freeze CherriesFreezing cherries is an excellent way to lengthen their shelf life. Here’s how to freeze cherries:Rinse cherries and thoroughly pat dry. Remove any stems and pit the cherries.It’s easier to remove cherry pits when they’re fresh, so save yourself the hassle and pit them before freezing. You can cut the cherries if desired, but they can also be frozen whole.Place on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid, about 2 hours.Individually quick-freezing the cherries ensures they won’t stick together in the freezer, so you won’t have to chip away at a block of cherries when you’re ready to use them.Transfer frozen cherries to an airtight container or reusable silicone bag and seal.Once the cherries are frozen, place them in a reusable silicone bag or airtight container. Be sure to label and date the bag so you know when to use the cherries.Cherries can be stored for up to one year in the freezer, so it’s a great way to enjoy the flavors of summer in other seasons.The Bottom LineThe best way to store cherries is in the refrigerator. Refrigerated cherries can last up to three days, while frozen cherries can last up to one year. Be sure to remove any excess moisture from the cherries before storing so they stay fresh for longer.Tart Cherry Juice BenefitsWas this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit

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Cherries are an all-around winner in the kitchen. Whether they’re sour or sweet, cherries are delicious indesserts,drinksandsnacks. The fruit also has somegreat health benefits, including being packed with antioxidants and melatonin. Cherry season is fleeting—they’re best in the summer. Learn the best way to store cherries so they stay fresh so you can reap all the benefits of the tasty fruit.Here’s Why Eating Too Many Cherries Makes You PoopHow Do You Keep Cherries Fresh for Longer?Before you get to storing, there are a few things you can do to help your cherries stay fresh for longer. Here are some helpful tips for storing cherries:Wait to wash your cherries:When it comes to storing cherries, moisture is their biggest enemy, so it’s best to wait and wash them until right before you’re ready to eat them. Any excess water may cause the cherries to spoil at a faster rate.Leave the stems on:If your cherries have stems, leave them on. Removing the stems exposes the cherries to additional moisture, which can lead to potential spoilage.Remove any bad cherries:When one cherry is spoiled, it can ruin the whole batch. Sort through your cherries and discard any that are bruised, damaged or have signs of mold.How to Store CherriesWhen it comes to storing cherries, the colder the environment, the better. That’s why the refrigerator is the best place to store cherries. While you could leave cherries on the counter, we only recommend that if you plan to eat them within a few hours.What Is the Best Way to Store Cherries in the Fridge?When storing cherries in the fridge, you could use any number of vessels, including:A bowl:If storing cherries in a bowl, make sure the cherries aren’t too tightly packed. Proper airflow is needed to keep the cherries fresh.A storage container:You can also store cherries in a container, but don’t put the lid on! Sealing the cherries in an airtight container can lead to moisture forming, and as we already discussed, moisture and cherries do not mix well! If you choose this method, we recommend lining the container with paper towels to help absorb any excess moisture.A perforated plastic bag:A plastic bag can also work well for storing cherries, just make sure it has holes in it. The holes provide proper airflow while also releasing any potential moisture that may build up.With any of these methods, cherries can be stored in the fridge for two to three days. If you’re looking for a long-term storage solution, you can freeze cherries.How to Freeze CherriesFreezing cherries is an excellent way to lengthen their shelf life. Here’s how to freeze cherries:Rinse cherries and thoroughly pat dry. Remove any stems and pit the cherries.It’s easier to remove cherry pits when they’re fresh, so save yourself the hassle and pit them before freezing. You can cut the cherries if desired, but they can also be frozen whole.Place on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid, about 2 hours.Individually quick-freezing the cherries ensures they won’t stick together in the freezer, so you won’t have to chip away at a block of cherries when you’re ready to use them.Transfer frozen cherries to an airtight container or reusable silicone bag and seal.Once the cherries are frozen, place them in a reusable silicone bag or airtight container. Be sure to label and date the bag so you know when to use the cherries.Cherries can be stored for up to one year in the freezer, so it’s a great way to enjoy the flavors of summer in other seasons.The Bottom LineThe best way to store cherries is in the refrigerator. Refrigerated cherries can last up to three days, while frozen cherries can last up to one year. Be sure to remove any excess moisture from the cherries before storing so they stay fresh for longer.Tart Cherry Juice BenefitsWas this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit

Cherries are an all-around winner in the kitchen. Whether they’re sour or sweet, cherries are delicious indesserts,drinksandsnacks. The fruit also has somegreat health benefits, including being packed with antioxidants and melatonin. Cherry season is fleeting—they’re best in the summer. Learn the best way to store cherries so they stay fresh so you can reap all the benefits of the tasty fruit.Here’s Why Eating Too Many Cherries Makes You PoopHow Do You Keep Cherries Fresh for Longer?Before you get to storing, there are a few things you can do to help your cherries stay fresh for longer. Here are some helpful tips for storing cherries:Wait to wash your cherries:When it comes to storing cherries, moisture is their biggest enemy, so it’s best to wait and wash them until right before you’re ready to eat them. Any excess water may cause the cherries to spoil at a faster rate.Leave the stems on:If your cherries have stems, leave them on. Removing the stems exposes the cherries to additional moisture, which can lead to potential spoilage.Remove any bad cherries:When one cherry is spoiled, it can ruin the whole batch. Sort through your cherries and discard any that are bruised, damaged or have signs of mold.How to Store CherriesWhen it comes to storing cherries, the colder the environment, the better. That’s why the refrigerator is the best place to store cherries. While you could leave cherries on the counter, we only recommend that if you plan to eat them within a few hours.What Is the Best Way to Store Cherries in the Fridge?When storing cherries in the fridge, you could use any number of vessels, including:A bowl:If storing cherries in a bowl, make sure the cherries aren’t too tightly packed. Proper airflow is needed to keep the cherries fresh.A storage container:You can also store cherries in a container, but don’t put the lid on! Sealing the cherries in an airtight container can lead to moisture forming, and as we already discussed, moisture and cherries do not mix well! If you choose this method, we recommend lining the container with paper towels to help absorb any excess moisture.A perforated plastic bag:A plastic bag can also work well for storing cherries, just make sure it has holes in it. The holes provide proper airflow while also releasing any potential moisture that may build up.With any of these methods, cherries can be stored in the fridge for two to three days. If you’re looking for a long-term storage solution, you can freeze cherries.How to Freeze CherriesFreezing cherries is an excellent way to lengthen their shelf life. Here’s how to freeze cherries:Rinse cherries and thoroughly pat dry. Remove any stems and pit the cherries.It’s easier to remove cherry pits when they’re fresh, so save yourself the hassle and pit them before freezing. You can cut the cherries if desired, but they can also be frozen whole.Place on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid, about 2 hours.Individually quick-freezing the cherries ensures they won’t stick together in the freezer, so you won’t have to chip away at a block of cherries when you’re ready to use them.Transfer frozen cherries to an airtight container or reusable silicone bag and seal.Once the cherries are frozen, place them in a reusable silicone bag or airtight container. Be sure to label and date the bag so you know when to use the cherries.Cherries can be stored for up to one year in the freezer, so it’s a great way to enjoy the flavors of summer in other seasons.The Bottom LineThe best way to store cherries is in the refrigerator. Refrigerated cherries can last up to three days, while frozen cherries can last up to one year. Be sure to remove any excess moisture from the cherries before storing so they stay fresh for longer.Tart Cherry Juice Benefits

Cherries are an all-around winner in the kitchen. Whether they’re sour or sweet, cherries are delicious indesserts,drinksandsnacks. The fruit also has somegreat health benefits, including being packed with antioxidants and melatonin. Cherry season is fleeting—they’re best in the summer. Learn the best way to store cherries so they stay fresh so you can reap all the benefits of the tasty fruit.

Here’s Why Eating Too Many Cherries Makes You Poop

How Do You Keep Cherries Fresh for Longer?

Before you get to storing, there are a few things you can do to help your cherries stay fresh for longer. Here are some helpful tips for storing cherries:

How to Store Cherries

When it comes to storing cherries, the colder the environment, the better. That’s why the refrigerator is the best place to store cherries. While you could leave cherries on the counter, we only recommend that if you plan to eat them within a few hours.

What Is the Best Way to Store Cherries in the Fridge?

When storing cherries in the fridge, you could use any number of vessels, including:

With any of these methods, cherries can be stored in the fridge for two to three days. If you’re looking for a long-term storage solution, you can freeze cherries.

How to Freeze Cherries

Freezing cherries is an excellent way to lengthen their shelf life. Here’s how to freeze cherries:

Cherries can be stored for up to one year in the freezer, so it’s a great way to enjoy the flavors of summer in other seasons.

The Bottom Line

The best way to store cherries is in the refrigerator. Refrigerated cherries can last up to three days, while frozen cherries can last up to one year. Be sure to remove any excess moisture from the cherries before storing so they stay fresh for longer.

Tart Cherry Juice Benefits

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit

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Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!OtherSubmit

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