Summertime is cherry time. From mid-June until well into August, you can buy the delicious fruits fresh in stores or eat them directly from your own cherry tree. However, the fruits must be washed before consumption because there may be dirt and pesticides on the peel. We will explain how you should proceed in the following article.
How do you wash cherries correctly?
To properly wash cherries, place them carefully in a sink filled with water, move them gently, and rub off any dirt with your fingers. Only remove the stem after washing and avoid running water to prevent the cherries from bursting.
Wash cherries carefully
So that you can enjoy the full aroma, there are a few points to consider when washing:
- Wash the fruits before removing the stem and stone, otherwise they will lose juice and therefore taste.
- Put water in the sink and put the cherries in it.
- Move gently and rub off dirt with your fingers.
- Pick out burst and spoiled fruits.
- Finally, twist off the stem.
Cherries must never be rinsed under running water, as the delicate fruits easily burst open.
Store cherries correctly
To ensure that cherries taste aromatic, they should not be picked unripe. Unlike apricots or nectarines, for example, cherries no longer ripen. The aroma of the fruits harvested too early is unpleasantly sour and not very intense.
Wash cherries just before eating, as this is the only way they will last for about two days wrapped in a kitchen towel in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. Cherries are often offered in a plastic bag. It is better to remove this, as condensation can form under the plastic skin, which leads to rapid rot and mold formation.
How do I recognize ripe cherries
You don't have to taste the delicious fruits to find out whether they are actually ripe. If the stem sits firmly on the fruit and is smooth and green, the cherries were picked at exactly the right time. The outer skin should be shiny and fully colored.
Tip
If you have problems pitting the cherries, put them in the freezer for a few minutes. This makes the pulp a little firmer and the stone can be easily removed.
