ShelfLife
How long do cherries last?
Fresh cherries keep 2 to 3 days in the fridge from the day you buy them, according to FoodKeeper, and 8 to 12 months in the freezer. Keep them cold and dry, with the stems on.
| Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Cherries | 2–3 daysfrom purchase | 8–12 months |
Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.
How to tell if cherries have gone bad
- Mold, often gray or white fuzz around the stem: remove those and any touching them.
- Soft, mushy, leaking or wrinkled cherries.
- A fermented, sour smell, or brown, dull skin.
How to store cherries
- Put cherries in the fridge as soon as you get home: they soften quickly at room temperature.
- Don't wash them until you eat them, and leave the stems on.
- Pick out any split or soft cherries first, as they spoil the rest.
- Keep them in a bag or container with a little air flow.
Can you freeze cherries?
Yes, for 8 to 12 months. Wash, dry and pit them, freeze them in a single layer on a tray, then bag them. Frozen cherries are great in smoothies, clafoutis, pies, compotes and sauces.
Questions
Should cherries be washed before storing?
No, wash them just before eating. Moisture speeds up mold and splitting.
How long do cherries last at room temperature?
Not long: they soften within a day or so. Cherries keep best in the fridge.
Do you need to pit cherries before freezing?
It's easier to pit them before freezing, but not essential: frozen cherries with pits are fine for cooking if you strain them afterward.
Add cherries to ShelfLife, and get a reminder before their few days are up.
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Storage times: USDA FoodKeeper (Food Safety and Inspection Service), public domain. Text by ShelfLife.