The short answer: put your cherries in the fridge as soon as they arrive, keep them in the carton they came in, and enjoy them in the first few days. Here is how to get the best out of every box.
1. Get them into the fridge straight away
Cherries keep their crunch when they are cold. Our boxes are picked to order and sent overnight, so the fruit reaches you fresh. The sooner the box goes into the fridge, the longer it stays that way.
If you will be out when the courier arrives, ask someone at home or at work to pop the box in the fridge for you. A box left in the sun or in a hot car will soften quickly.
2. Keep them in the carton
The carton your cherries are packed in is the best place to store them. It lets air move around the fruit and protects it from knocks.
3. No need to wash them
Every box is pre-washed before packing, so our cherries are ready to eat straight from the carton.
4. Leave the stems on
Keep the stems on until you eat the cherries. Fruit with the stem pulled off does not keep as well. When you are ready to eat, try the pop test to check how fresh they are.
5. Take out only what you will eat
Each time the whole box warms up and cools down again, the fruit softens a little. Take out a bowl at a time and leave the rest in the fridge.
6. Eat them at their best
Cherries are at their best texture and flavour in the first few days after delivery. We recommend enjoying them promptly, not storing them for a long time. Sweetheart, picked in mid to late January, is the variety that keeps the longest. Read about our six cherry varieties.
Can you freeze cherries?
Yes. If you have more than you can eat, freezing works well:
- Remove the stems and stones.
- Spread the cherries on a tray in a single layer and freeze until firm.
- Tip them into a freezer bag or container and return them to the freezer.
Frozen cherries are lovely in smoothies, baking and desserts, or eaten half-thawed on a hot day.
Spreading your cherries through summer
If you want fresh cherries for longer, the easiest way is to order more than one delivery date. Each box is picked fresh for its own week. See the dates on our order page, or read when cherry season runs in New Zealand.