How to Choose and Store Cherries

Helpful tips for choosing cherries, plus simple storage solutions that will keep your fruit fresh for as long as possible.

Cherries are one of my favorite summer fruits, and they aren’t around for long, so it’s important to know how to choose the best, and keep them fresh as long as possible.

If you plan to do a lot of cooking and baking with cherries — think pies, tarts, crisps and cobblers — I definitely recommend investing in a cherry pity. You won’t use it often, but you’ll be glad you have it when you need it!

What should I look for when choosing cherries?

Look for firm fruit with a deep, dark red color. You don’t need to worry about a lack of stem, but any stem present should be bright green. If cherries appear wrinkled around the stem, they are probably okay to eat, but not the freshest

How should I store cherries?

Store cherries in a resealable plastic bag in the refrigerator. They should stay fresh for 3–5 days, and possibly up to two weeks. If you’d like to use your cherries immediately, store them at room temperature.

Wash cherries with cold water just before eating. Don’t wash them ahead of time, as they may absorb moisture, leading to splits or spoilage.

Can I freeze cherries?

Yes, cherries can be frozen. You can pit them, or keep them whole with stems intact. Spread cherries in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze until firm, and then place in a zip-top bag or freezer safe container.

Be sure to try these delicious recipes featuring cherries.

More Delicious Cherry Recipes

Copycat Cherry Garcia Ice Cream

Homemade vanilla ice cream with cherries and dark chocolate. Just like Ben and Jerry make!

Frozen Chocolate Mousse Cherry Pie

This easy but elegant frozen dessert features cherries and chocolate mousse in a chocolate crumb crust.

Cherry Lime Spritzer

Fresh cherries are made into a simple syrup, then combined with lemon lime soda in this cool, refreshing summer drink.

Black Forest Dump Cake

All you need are a few simple ingredients--like a chocolate cake mix and some cherry pie filling--to make this easy decadent chocolate cherry dessert.