How Long Do Cherries Last?
How long do cherries last? The shelf life of cherries depends when the cherries were picked and how they are stored. Cherries are a delicious fruit best in the spring and summer when they are fresh off the tree. Cherries are a popular fruit because of their fresh sweet taste and ease of preparation - they can be eaten right off the stem (after rinsing of course) or used in hundreds of different ways including baked goods.
Cherries come in different varieties, the most common being Bing cherries. Bings are ripe when they are slightly maroon in color. Rainers are ripe when they are yellow & red in color. Dark Hudsons are ripe when they are a dark maroon color. Bright Red Sour cherries are ripe when they are, you guessed it, bright red. Choose cherries that are firm and shiny with green stems attached. [1].
So, how long do cherries last? When properly stored, the shelf life of cherries past their picked or purchased date is approximately ...
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Cherries Expiration Date
(Unopened/Opened) | Counter | Refrigerator | Freezer |
---|---|---|---|
Fresh Whole Cherries last for | 2-3 Days | 5-10 Days | 6-8 Months |
Of course, all foods last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly. But remember that cherries, like a lot of other fresh fruits, usually do not have a use by date or a best before date so you will have to use the date purchased. Sometimes when cherries are purchased in a package it is labeled with the date the they were packed or there will be a best buy date on frozen fruit - this date can be used to calculate the eat by date.
How to tell if Cherries are bad, rotten or spoiled?
Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.
Some common traits of bad cherries are a mushy, soft texture and some discoloration and bruising and then mold will start to appear beginning where the stem was attached when they are rotten. If they are moldy, throw them out!
There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!
How to store Cherries to extend their shelf life?
Cherries should be stored directly from the store into a bowl or other container with ventilation in order to prevent the build-up of moisture. They will indeed keep longer in the refrigerator.
Always rinse your cherries well, but not until immediately before use - very important in extending the shelf life of cherries. The added moisture will increase the decaying process.
For a long term option, cherries can be frozen. Spread the cherries on a baking sheet and place it in the freezer for about 2 hours then transfer them into a freezer safe bag or airtight container. To defrost, place them into a bowl for about an hour and then use them for baking since they will be soft. Although freezing is an indefinite form of storage, frozen fruit tends to form ice crystals rapidly due to the high water content of fruit. Fruit frozen too long will eventually have more ice crystals than fruit as the cherries dry out and shrink.
Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.
How long are Cherries good for when prepared in a dish?
How long do cherries last? That depends. How long does pie last? In general, cherries last only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the recipe.
What are our shelf life resources?
In determining how long Cherries lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Cherries.
*An important note about expiration dates...
Although the Cherries shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!