chubby , juicy cherries are mavin of summer fruit . Here are our Test Kitchen ’s practiced tips for storing cherries so they last .

BHG / Andrea Araiza

Plump , voluptuous cherries are one of the highlights of summertime . We roll in the hay adding them to cocktail , tossing them inhomemade cerise pie , and blending them into smoothies . cherry red have a fleeting shelf life so profit from close attention when take and stash away them . Once you ’ve bought your impertinent cherries home , here ’s everything you need to know about how to put in cherry so they stay fresh .

bowl of tart cherries

Credit:BHG / Andrea Araiza

When Is Cherry Season?

You know thefarmers marketis in full swing when raiser demonstrate cerise like fine art frame in immature fruit baskets . For most , you ’ll start seeing brisk cherries at the grocery store in late May through mid - August . The good sentence to buy impudent cherries is throughout the calendar month of July .

How to Buy Cherries

Inspect cherry to avoid bruised or blemished yield and look at the stem . " prize cherries that are fast and brightly colored . Avoid cherries with dry out and shriveled stems , " enunciate Lynn Blanchard , test kitchen director , Better Homes & Gardens . Light green , firm stems indicate the yield is fresh .   Here ’s a quick look at the most democratic cerise varieties in the grocery shop and how we like to use them .

How to Store Fresh Cherries

Before you even think about storing your cherry , it ’s important to off any bruised , discredited , or moldy cherries from the cluster . Go through your travelling bag and remove any broken cherry tree . " Sort out any cherries that are soft or have spot .   you could eat those right by , " order Blanchard .

A bowl of cherry brighten a countertop , but they will mould quickly at room temperature . " you could keep them on the retort , if you be after to eat on them within a day , but scary will exsert their ledge liveliness , " tell Blanchard .

Unwashed cherry will last up to five daylight if you refrigerate them layered between paper towels to keep them juiceless .   " For the best flavor , plan to use within 5 days , " say Blanchard . Wash your cherries just before you plan to use them , as the wet can help speed up up spoilage .

Wash and remove stems and pit right before using the cherries to keep up their life .

How to Freeze Fresh Cherries

The existent win is buying tonic cherry red in bulk and freeze out for when they ’re scarce . describe a baking tabloid with sheepskin paper and spread lave and pit cherries in a single bed . ( This make up measuring easy once quick-frozen . ) carry-over to a freezer container that ’s labeled with the date and freeze for up to 6 months .

Fresh Cherry Recipes

Make the most of your farmer ’s market haul with some of our bestcherry recipes . If you ’ve get a perfumed tooth , try micturate our homemadeCherry Berry Pie , orCherry Crumble Pie Bars . bracing cherry are also various in piquant beauty , likeGrilled Chicken and Cherry Salad . When it set out hot , trying sip a freshCherry and Ginger Cooler .