Cherries, those delightful summer treats, bring joy to our days throughout the year.
They have a sweet taste and are juicy when ripe.
But what happens when they get overripe or damaged in transit?
Is it safe to eat them?
We asked our readers for their favorite cherry recipe and this time we want to hear from you.
In fact, we want to hear from you on whether or not cherries go bad.
How do you know if cherries are bad?
You can’t just look at a cherry and figure out if it’s spoiled by its appearance.
There are no specific signs of rotten cherries.
A ripe, plump cherry will be soft to the touch and give slightly under pressure.
The stem should also be firm and green (not brown) and there should be no mold or rot around the blossom end.
If you see any sign of decay or spoilage on your cherries, throw them away.
You may also notice an off odor, but this isn’t necessarily an indicator of spoilage.
What are the signs of bad cherries?
If your cherries are too old, they won’t be as juicy, which is why it’s important to check the ripeness before buying.
Also, if they’ve been sitting in the refrigerator too long, their stems will get dry and brittle.
Some fruits are more susceptible than others to going bad.
Citrus fruits like lemons, limes and oranges are especially sensitive because they contain high levels of acid, so they’ll turn mushy quickly.
This is why most people don’t eat these fruits after they’ve been refrigerated for a few days.
The same goes for berries like blueberries and strawberries.
These are very perishable fruits, so if you buy them fresh, you shouldn’t keep them for longer than a week.
Berries that are frozen or canned, however, are fine to eat even after months of storage.
Canned cherries are probably the safest option since they’re packed in syrup, but they’re always better eaten fresh.
Can you eat bad cherries?
Yes, you can eat rotten cherries if you choose to.
However, you’ll need to rinse them first and remove the pits.
Rotten cherries are usually mushier than good ones, so you might have to cut them up to make them palatable.
The stems of rotten cherries are often mushy as well, so you’ll need to discard those parts.
It’s possible that the flavor of rotten cherries could be affected by the acids in your stomach, so you may want to try eating them first and then wait a day or two before eating again.
What happens if you eat bad cherries?
If you choose to eat rotten cherries, you run the risk of getting food poisoning.
Foodborne illnesses happen because bacteria or viruses are present in food that was contaminated during processing, packaging, transport or preparation.
Since it’s impossible to know exactly where the fruit came from, it’s possible that it was contaminated by something else.
Symptoms of food poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, chills and severe headache.
How long do cherries last?
Fresh cherries have a shelf life of about 5 to 7 days once they’ve been picked.
This means that they’re only safe to consume within this window of time.
After that, they start losing moisture and their texture becomes mushy.
Cherries lose most of their sweetness after 12 hours, and most of their juice after 24 hours.
As soon as you open a jar of cherries, put them back in the fridge immediately to prolong their lifespan.
How do you store cherries?
Store fresh cherries in the refrigerator.
They should be kept at 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius).
Don’t wash them until you’re ready to use them.
Once you’ve washed them, put them in a bowl and cover them with water.
Leave them submerged overnight to remove excess dirt and debris.
Then drain them and pat them dry with paper towels.
Can you freeze cherries?
No, you can’t freeze cherries.
Frozen cherries aren’t as tasty as fresh ones, and they’re prone to freezer burn.
When cherries are defrosted, they become mushy and discolored.
To avoid this, you should only freeze cherries in half-gallon containers.
What is the best way to eat cherries?
Since cherries are low in calories and fat, they’re great for healthy snacking.
Try tossing a handful into a salad or serving them alongside a meal.
You can also add them to oatmeal, yogurt and smoothies.
Cherries are especially good with peanut butter, cream cheese and chocolate chips.
What are some recipes that include cherries?
Berry Cherry Pie
Baked Fruit Cocktail
Pecan Stuffed Cherry Pies
Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
Peach Upside Down Cake
Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake
Mixed Berry Cobbler
Blueberry Crumble Bars
Cherry Cream Cheese Pound Cake
Cherry Chipotle Chicken Tacos
Are cherries good for you?
Cherries are one of nature’s healthiest foods.
They’re full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that help protect against cancer, heart disease and stroke.
They’re rich in fiber and potassium, both of which help lower blood pressure.
Eating cherries regularly lowers cholesterol and helps prevent
diabetes.
They’re also a good source of manganese, folate, magnesium and
vitamin K.
A single cherry contains less than 1 gram of sugar and about 4
grams of dietary fiber.
One cup of chopped cherries has about 45 calories and almost 1.5
grams of protein.
Tart Cherry Juice Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Pot
- 1 blender
- 1 small cup
Ingredients
- 1 cup cherry juice
- 1 cup tea
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon passionflower
- 1 cup sparkling water
Instructions
- The first step to making this stress reliever punch is to brew a cup of chamomile tea. To do this, add 1 cup of water to a pot and bring it to a boil.
- Then, add 1 chamomile tea bag and allow it to steep for 3-5 minutes. Remove the tea bag and set the tea aside to cool.
- Next, add the tart cherry juice, lemon juice, honey, and passionflower extract to a blender. Blend these ingredients until they are well combined.
- Then, pour the chamomile tea and the blended mixture into a punch bowl. Add the sparkling water and stir everything together. Serve over ice, and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
I have a true passion for cooking and experimenting with new ingredients, and I have been creating and perfecting recipes for friends and family for years.
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