Select and Store Cherries

Cherries are a wonderful summer treat. In the southern hemisphere, cherry harvest begins in November and lasts through to January, making them a traditional Christmas fruit in plentiful supply. Selecting good cherries and keeping them well is an important part of enjoying them.

Steps

 * 1) Look for cherries that have firm and glossy skin. There should be no blemishes on the fruit. They should feel hard and have a darker tinge (the depth of which will be dependent on their variety).
 * 2) Look for bright green stems. These are a good indicator of cherry health and freshness.
 * 3) Keep cherries for a very short time at room temperature, for longer refrigerated or frozen.
 * 4) *Keep at room temperature. These will only be good for up to 2 days. If cherries are to be eaten from a bowl left out at room temperature, be sure to wash and dry all cherries so that people can take them without worrying whether or not they are already washed. Replace every day.
 * 5) *Place in the refrigerator. Keep cherries in a plastic bag. They will stay fresh for 3–5 days, or even up to two weeks. If you have a lot of cherries, divide between smaller bags to prevent bruising. Do not wash before placing in the fridge (this will encourage deterioration); do so prior to eating instead.
 * 6) Freeze if wished. Cherries will freeze well:
 * 7) *Rinse the cherries and remove any grime or debris. Pit if wished.
 * 8) *Allow to dry completely.
 * 9) *Cover a baking tray/sheet with baking paper.
 * 10) *Arrange the cherries on the baking tray and place in the freezer.
 * 11) *Remove once frozen and transfer to individual storage bags. Squeeze as much air out as possible to avoid freezer burn. Label and date individual bags. Return to freezer. Frozen cherries can be kept for up to a year.

Tips

 * If harvesting cherries from the tree, look for mahogany colour in the cherries. Test cherry ripeness by taste; pick a cherry straight off the tree and see if it is sweet enough. Those that are will have the same hue and appearance as the one that you have enjoyed eating. After a time, you will know by sight which cherries are ripe and ready to harvest.
 * Still Tasty recommends adding sugar to frozen cherries: add 3/4 cup sugar to each quart of cherries.
 * Cherries are suitable to candy.
 * Tart cherries are best for baking and will usually be found canned rather than sold for eating.
 * If you are looking for sour cherries to cook with, the stems should come off easily when pulled.

Things You'll Need

 * Plastic bag
 * Refrigeration
 * Baking tray/sheet
 * Baking paper/parchment paper