How to Freeze Cherries
It's cherry season! If you're fortunate enough to have a mile-high pile of fresh cherries, freezing is hands down the easiest way to preserve them for later. Learn how to freeze cherries to make cherry pie, jam, shakes, and much more all year long.
Equipment
- Sheet pan
- Silicone liner or parchment paper
- vacuum sealer optional, but recommended for long term storage
- freezer-safe bags
Ingredients
- 3-5 lbs fresh cherries washed, dried, destemmed, and pitted
Instructions
- Wash cherries, then let them dry on a clean kitchen towel. Remove any stems and pit each cherry.
- Arrange the pitted cherries in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone liner.
- Place the sheet pan in the freezer for 1-2 hours to freeze the cherries solid.
- Remove the cherries from the freezer, then transfer to a freezer-safe container.
- Freeze for 6 months to 1 year and enjoy in your baked goods, oatmeal, and more.
Notes
To keep your frozen cherries from getting freezer burn, I have a few suggestions for storage container.
First, regular freezer-safe bags are a good starting point. They'll stay fresh for about 6 to 12 months.
For long term storage, vacuum seal your cherry bags. I've used frozen berries I sealed 4-5 years ago, and they were only just starting to get freezer burn. It's worth the effort, for sure!
If you don't have a vacuum sealer, try to remove as much air from your bags as possible. You can even use a straw to suck out extra air for a DIY vacuum sealer.