How To: Freeze Cherries
Learn how to freeze cherries at the height of their freshness to lock in delicious summer flavors and nutrients for year-round enjoyment! You'll be surprised at how easy it is to freeze them, even if you don't have a cherry pitter, and you'll love having frozen cherries on hand!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs fresh cherries
Instructions
- Wash the cherries and allow them to dry.
- Meanwhile, prepare a baking sheet by lining with parchment paper, wax paper, or a silicone baking mat.
- Remove all the stems from the cherries, then pit each of the cherries. See below if you don't have a cherry pitter for other ideas.
- Spread the pitted cherries in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Place the cherries in the freezer for 3-4 hours or overnight.
- Transfer the frozen cherries to your desired packaging, label with the date, and return to the freezer.
Notes
how to pit cherries without a cherry pitter
Using a cherry pitter is nice, but if you don't have one there are other options!- Place the cherry stem side up on an empty beer bottle and using a stainless steel straw, chopstick, or kebob stick, punch through the top of the cherry and the pit will fall into the beer bottle below. This is my preferred method as I find it much easier and cleaner.
- Use a small pairing knife and cut the cherries in half to remove the pit. This method works great if you're planning on using your cherries in pies or baked goods as they are already chopped when they come out of the freezer, it is more time-intensive and definitely messier!
how to store frozen cherries
Storing your cherries in the freezer is a personal choice, depending on your equipment, available space, and desire.- Freezer safe containers: This could be anything from a plastic container to a glass jar. These containers generally stack nicely, but also take up the most room. These are less likely to be airtight, and more likely to cause freezer burn due to the excess air in the container.
- Freezer zip-lock bags: These bags are excellent for short-term storage as they are easy to flat pack, but it's not possible to remove all the air from the bags, which can cause your fruit to freezer burn.
- Vacuum sealed packages: This, in my opinion, is the best storage option. The cherries can be vacuum sealed flat and tucked nearly anywhere in your freezer. This option takes the least amount of room, while also removing all the excess air from the package preventing freezer burn.
what to do with the pits and stems
You're going to have a few stems and pits leftover after this process, as well as some discarded fruit due to bruises and mold. This doesn't all have to go into the trash! The easiest way to deal with your cherry pits, stems, and discarded fruit is to toss them into your compost bucket, bin, or pile. Some people actually keep the pits and make cherry pit liqueur!