How to Freeze Fresh Cherries With a Pit

Freeze fresh cherries for longer storage.

Extend the short summer cherry season by freezing your fresh cherries for enjoyment all year long. While you can remove the pit before freezing, according to New Mexico State University, leaving the pits inside the cherries gives the fruit a slightly almond flavor. Once frozen, use your cherries as you would commercially frozen cherries, but remove the pits with a cherry pitter after thawing and before preparing.

Things You'll Need

• Fresh cherries
• Colander
• Towels
• Baking sheet
• Freezer containers

Instructions

1. Pull the stems from the cherries and place them into a colander.

2. Run cold water over the cherries to rinse them thoroughly.

3. Pat the cherries dry with towels and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet.

4. Freeze the cherries with their pits for one to two hours, or until frozen.

5. Transfer the cherries into freezer containers and store for up to 24 months in the coldest portion of your freezer.

References

• Oregon State University: Fresh, Canned, Frozen Cherries
• New Mexico State University: Freezing Fruit Basics
• Choose Cherries: Frozen Cherries

Resources

• Choose Cherries: Cherry Recipes