Cherries are one of the first crops to come in season and being able to freeze cherries is a fabulous way to start off our canning season. We begin with picking cherries in our local orchards and end with stained fingers and full bellies. Emmaline and I are always sure to pick more than we want to can because we know the vast quantities that our families are sure to eat. We want to be able to continue enjoying the fruits of our labors throughout the year, so we need an easy long-term storage method. There are many different options for doing this, but one of the simplest methods is to freeze cherries. Freezing cherries helps them maintain more of their fresh flavor.
Frozen cherries are great for a variety of uses including baking, smoothies, and even just eating plain. I especially like that I can freeze cherries now and then can them later when the summer is not so hectic. Let me show you just how simple it is to freeze cherries so you can have them all year round.
Cherries
The first step is to freezing cherries is to prepare your cherries by washing and pitting them.
Wash and Pit
Now that the cherries are ready, let’s individually freeze them. This is my preferred method of storing frozen cherries because it allows the cherries to be removed from the freezer individually instead of in one large ice block.
How to Freeze Cherries
Freezing cherries is done by placing the cherries on a cookie sheet and placing them into the freezer to freeze for 2 to 4 hours. After they have been frozen place them in long-term storage freezer bags.
Freeze cherries on a tray first to prevent sticking.
Remove as much air as possible. I then label the storage bag with the date and contents. Then, I lay the bag as flat as possible in the freezer so it will stack better.
Frozen Cherries
Note: It may be easier to label the bag before putting the cherries in.
