How to Store Cherries to Keep Them Fresh

With cherry season nearly upon us, let's take a look at how to store cherries so you can use them anytime for jams, pies, and other tasty recipes.

In many regions of the US, the popular sweet cherry varieties like Rainier or Bing, are in season from May to August. That means cherry season is just around the corner, so head to your favorite local shop of farmers’ market to source fresh and organic cherries.

They don’t last very long at room temperature, so to get the most out of your cherries you’ll want to store them either in the fridge or freezer, depending on when you plan to use them, as soon as possible. They also retain moisture from water which can water them down and cause them to ripen faster – so don’t rinse them until you are ready to eat them, use the them in a recipe, or freeze them. Keep reading to find out how to store cherries in the fridge or in the freezer. 

How to Store Cherries in the Fridge

After you’ve purchased your cherries, it’s important to keep them cool. Store them in either a paper bag, or a container with moderate air-flow. Make sure not to wash them or remove the stems before storing them in a fridge (ideally around 35 degrees F). 

Sweet cherries will last for up to about two weeks in the refrigerator, while the sour varieties will only last about three to seven days. If you want to keep the cherries for longer than these time frames, you can also store them in the freezer. 

How to Store Cherries in the Freezer

To store cherries in the freezer, you need to pit them first. Rinse the cherries with cool water, then remove their stems. To pit the cherries, you can use a chopsticks to poke a hole in the cherry and remove the pit. You can also just cut cherries in half with a knife to remove the pits if you prefer. 

Place pitted cherries in a reusable freezer bag, making sure the remove as much as possible so the bag is tight. Then you can store the cherries in the freezer until you are ready to use them. Cherries should remain fresh for your recipes this way and can last about six to eight months in the freezer. 

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