How To Store Cherries So They Last Longer
Cherries have a short season and are brittle. Learn how to keep them so they don’t spoil and you can extend the time you can enjoy them.
Seasonal cherries are a short delicacy. In the summer months we are lucky to find many varieties of cherries in all markets. To make them last as long as possible, it is important to know how to preserve them correctly.
How to choose and preserve cherries
Cherries are at their best when they show a deep red hue on the tree and the flesh is firm and crisp. Therefore, if we have the opportunity, in the market we will choose those that show an attractive color and a clean appearance, without stains or imperfections. It is the sign that they are very rich in anthocyanins and ellagic acid with antioxidant properties.
A smooth green tail is also a sign of freshness, as is shiny skin. Check the hole for mold or rot.
Consumed at this point, they are a real health injection: with only 60 cal per 100 g, cherries help you lose weight, they are rich in vitamins A and C, and in folic acid, the vitamin that pregnant women especially need to guarantee development correctness of the child’s nervous system.
Keep them in the fridge
When we can find cherries at a good price we can enjoy them instantly, but we have to know how they are kept in better condition so that they do not spoil. The first thing to do is not remove the tail, so that they do not dry out or lose too many nutrients.
With their tails, unwashed and uncovered, in a glass, steel or ceramic tray rather than plastic, the cherries keep perfectly in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 days. From that time on, they begin to lose qualities, but they can endure without spoiling for up to 2 weeks.
Make compotes or jams
If in this time you cannot consume them, you always have the solution of making a compote or a jam. This way you can eat them during the rest of the year and remember the summer in, for example, the middle of winter.
Freeze them
You can also debone them and freeze them. To do this, put them in a colander and wash them under the fresh water tap. Then dry them well with absorbent paper. Once dry, put them in a bag or a container and freeze them. Frozen cherries are, as is, without thawing, perfect for frozen summer smoothies, for example.
