How to Freeze Fresh Cherries
When you know how to freeze fresh cherries you can enjoy the beloved fruit of Door County, Wisconsin all year long! This method works for any fresh cherry – tart or sweet. So, when they’re in peak season, pick to your heart’s content and preserve until you’re ready to use.
Servings: 1 serving
Calories: 286kcal
Equipment
- Colander
- Cherry Pitter (or chopstick)
- Clean Kitchen Towel (or paper towels)
- Rimmed Baking Sheet
- Freezer-safe zip-top bags
- Tape
- Sharpie or Pen
Ingredients
- Fresh Cherries
Instructions
- Place cherries in a colander and thoroughly wash with cool water. Take care to gently run your fingers through the cherries, picking out and discarding any that are bad (they’ll be discolored and squishy – yuck).
- After rinsing, allow cherries to drain excess water for a few minutes.
- Using a cherry pitter or a chopstick, pit the cherries and discard the pits, placing the pitted cherries in a separate bowl.
- Pour the rinsed and drained cherries onto a rimmed baking sheet that has been lined with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel.
- Ensure the fruit is in an even, single layer and place the baking sheet flat in the freezer for at least four hours, or overnight, or until the cherries have frozen solid. This is a process referred to as flash freezing.
- Transfer the flash-frozen cherries to a freezer-safe zip-top bag, labeling it with the contents, weight, and date of storage.
- Frozen cherries can be kept for up to one year and can be used just as fresh cherries in most recipes!
Notes
- Nutrition facts calculated based on 1 pound of frozen cherries as 1 serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1pound | Calories: 286kcal | Carbohydrates: 73g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Potassium: 1007mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 58g | Vitamin A: 290IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 2mg