If this summer’s cherries have left you disappointed, you’re not alone. Who hasn’t picked a delicious-looking bag of cherries this season only to be disappointed?
Part of the reason cherries can be so inconsistent has to do with when they’re picked. According to UC Davis’s Postharvest Research and Extension Center, ripeness is judged mainly by skin color and sugar content — in California, cherries need to show at least light red color across the whole surface, or hit 14 to 16% sugar content, before they can be harvested.
For context, cherry season on the West Coast runs through the end of August. It has just come to an end for varieties grown in California, but fans of the stone fruit can continue to enjoy varieties from Washington state, like Rainier — a golden variety with a red blush — and Bing — a classic deep red variety.
Before you give up on the season, here’s a what produce experts say to look for when you’re shopping.
No. 1 Check for firmness
When you’re looking for cherries at a farmers market or in the store, you want to look for firmness. If you can’t touch them, you can still see if the skin is sort of smooth, plump and glossy, according to Erin Mittelstaedt, CEO of Fruit Guys.
“If it’s wrinkled at all or if there’s a lot of cuts or gashes, obviously that’s going to be less fresh,” Mittelstaedt added.
No. 2 Look for green stems
Another thing to look for is the stems. Ideally, stems should be mostly attached.
Mittelstaedt said it’s common for a few to fall off, but generally, the stems should still be attached to the cherry. They should be greener. The drier and darker brown they are, the longer they’ve been off the tree. Greener, more pliable stems mean they were picked more recently.
Draper Girls Country Farm recommends always picking cherries with stems still attached since cherries with their stems intact last longer and stay fresher, ensuring that you can enjoy their delicious flavor for a longer period.
No. 3 No bruises, cuts or moisture
It’s important to make sure there isn’t a lot of damage.
According to The Produce Nerd, any openings in the fruit will be the first place for pathogen growth to occur so it’s best to avoid cherries with any splitting in them.
Mittelstaedt noted that moisture on the cherries can also be a problem.
“If you’re buying them in the store, they shouldn’t be super wet. If they are, it may mean that they might break down a little faster,” Mittelstaedt said.
When you get cherries, you don’t want to wash them right until you’re ready to eat them.
No. 4 Bigger doesn’t always mean better
One of the misconceptions about cherries is that bigger is better. Although bigger cherries might be more aesthetically appealing, they aren’t necessarily sweeter.
Each variety can grow to different sizes. So when you’re looking for cherries, focus on freshness by checking which varieties are in season.
Each variety grows at different times throughout the year.
Rainier, for example, has a short seasonal window and is harvested in California in May and again in Washington from mid-June to August, according to Stemilt.
Rainier’s short window was created at Washington State University, where the variety was originally bred by crossing Bing and Van cherries. It was originally planted mainly to help pollinate Bing trees, and growers didn’t start marketing it on its own until the 1980s.
Dark sweet cherries are harvested fresh daily in the winter from the Southern Hemisphere and in the spring and summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Stemilt grows dark sweet cherries in California from April to May and in Washington from June to August.
No. 5 Store and inspect properly
Most cherries should last 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator, but they are very perishable and should be eaten quickly. If you don’t plan on finishing your cherries right away, try freezing or preserving them for later.
According to the Produce Nerd, because cherries are commonly sold in bulk, you need to inspect the fruit inside of the bag, both superficially at the store and thoroughly once you get home to make sure and remove any pathogen growth on the cherries. If not, it will spread rapidly and impact the rest of the batch.
“It is one thing to buy a bag with an incidence of decay, but if you remove it quickly once you get home, your fruit has a better chance of lasting longer compared to if you leave the decayed fruit in the mix,” The Produce Nerd noted in a blog post.
