Cherry Guide: Varieties, Growing Tips, and Harvesting Advice

Cherries are a classic summer fruit. A large bowl of ripe, glossy cherries on the counter is a simple sign that summer is here. They appear for a brief window each year, so when the markets are full of deep-red bags, it’s the perfect time to enjoy them fresh and preserve extras for later.

This guide covers what to look for, how to store and freeze cherries, ways to use both sweet and sour varieties, and quick recipe ideas to showcase their flavor.

Cherry Varieties

Cherries fall into two broad categories: sweet and sour. Each type has multiple varieties suited to different uses—from fresh snacking to pies and preserves.

Sweet Cherries

Sweet cherries are ideal for eating fresh. With hundreds of varieties, they vary in color, size, and sweetness.

• Rainier cherries – A cross of Bing and Van, Rainiers have thin yellowish-pink skin and creamy yellow flesh. They’re intensely sweet and prized for snacking because they don’t stain as much as darker cherries.
• Bing cherries – The most common sweet cherry, Bing cherries are deep crimson with firm flesh and a sweet-tart balance. They ship and store well, which is why they’re widely available in grocery stores.
• Maraschino cherries – These are preserved and sweetened cherries, often dyed and used as garnishes for desserts and cocktails. They’re typically made from varieties like Royal Ann, Rainier, or Gold before processing.

Sour Cherries

Sour cherries are highly perishable and much tarter than sweet cherries, so they’re less common in produce aisles. Their tartness makes them excellent for baking, jams, and preserves.

Sour cherries are typically divided into two groups:

• Amarelle cherries – These have yellow flesh and clear juice, with skin that can range from pale yellow to bright red.
• Morello cherries – These have red flesh and red juice and are commonly used for cooked preparations because their bright acidity holds up well to heat and sugar.

How to Pick Cherries

Because cherry season is short, choosing ripe, healthy fruit matters. Use these tips when selecting cherries at the market:

• Avoid cherries that are soft, bruised, wrinkled, or mushy.
• Look for plump, shiny fruit that feels firm and dense to the touch.
• Color varies by variety, but it should be vibrant and glossy—deep, saturated hues for red cherries.
• Fresh cherries have green, flexible stems; brown or missing stems can indicate older fruit.

How to Store Cherries

Proper storage keeps cherries fresh and flavorful for as long as possible.

• Refrigerate cherries to preserve texture and sweetness.
• Keep stems on when possible; stems help cherries stay fresh longer.
• Don’t wash cherries until you’re ready to eat them—moisture accelerates spoilage.
• When you do rinse them, use cold water; heat speeds deterioration.

Freezing Cherries

Freezing is an excellent way to extend cherry season. Here’s a reliable method I use to enjoy summer cherries into the winter months.

1. Wash cherries in a cold water bath mixed with a little white vinegar (about a 4:1 ratio of water to vinegar) to clean them thoroughly.
2. Rinse well with clean cold water and remove the stems.
3. Pit the cherries using a cherry pitter or halve them and remove the pits by hand to ensure all pits are removed.
4. Spread the pitted cherries on a baking sheet in a single layer. Freeze until solid, then transfer to freezer bags or containers. Properly stored, they will keep for a few months.

How to Use Cherries

Sweet Cherries

Sweet cherries are often called nature’s candy. They’re perfect for snacking, fruit salads, and desserts like Black Forest cake. Their sweetness also pairs wonderfully with chocolate, cream, and citrus.

Simple ways to use sweet cherries:

• Cherry cake – Gently press pitted cherries into cake batter before baking; serve with whipped cream.
• Cherry salsa – Chop pitted cherries and toss with lime or balsamic, minced onion, and jalapeño for a fresh topping for grilled pork or fish.
• Chocolate-covered cherries – Dip maraschino or fresh pitted cherries in melted chocolate for an easy treat.

Nutritional Benefits

Cherries are low in calories, provide dietary fiber, and contain a range of beneficial plant compounds and antioxidants. They’re a healthy addition to a balanced diet.

Approximate nutrients in one cup of sweet, pitted cherries:

• Calories – 95
• Protein – 2 grams
• Fat – 0.3 grams
• Carbohydrates – 25 grams
• Fiber – 3 grams
• Sugars – 19.2 grams
• Calcium – 20 mg
• Magnesium – 17 mg
• Potassium – 333 mg
• Vitamin C – 10.5 mg

Cherry Recipe Ideas

Cherries shine in baked goods and desserts, but they also work in savory dishes and preserves. Here are a few recipe ideas to try when cherries are in season:

• 3-Ingredient Chocolate Cherry Cake – A simple, moist chocolate cake studded with cherries.
• The Best Cherry Pie – A flaky-crusted pie filled with thick, sweet-tart cherry filling.
• Easy Chocolate Cherry Muffins – Quick muffins that combine chocolate and cherries for an indulgent snack.
• Cherry Cheesecake Pie – Creamy cheesecake topped with a homemade cherry filling.
• Cherry Chocolate Pavlova – A light meringue dessert topped with whipped cream and cherry sauce.
• Black Forest Cake – Chocolate layers with white chocolate mousse and a homemade cherry sauce for a classic dessert.

With fresh cherries available only briefly each year, enjoy them fresh, preserve a batch by freezing, and experiment with both sweet and tart varieties in recipes. Their bright flavor and versatility make cherries a seasonal favorite worth savoring.