{"id":21218,"date":"2023-11-09T05:50:15","date_gmt":"2023-11-09T03:50:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.branchthetree.com\/?p=21218"},"modified":"2023-11-09T05:50:15","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T03:50:15","slug":"what-to-do-with-sour-cherries-from-tree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.branchthetree.com\/what-to-do-with-sour-cherries-from-tree\/","title":{"rendered":"What To Do With Sour Cherries From Tree"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Section 1: Overview<\/h2>\n

For centuries, sour cherries have provided cooks with joy, flavor and nutrition. Every year, new recipes are created with these tart treats, and they can be used in jams, ice cream, baking, preserves and appetizers. With a tree full of these delicious fruit, you may be wondering how best to process them. In this article, we will be exploring how to process and store sour cherries from the tree to ensure you get the most out of your harvest. <\/p>\n

Section 2: Harvesting<\/h2>\n

When it comes to harvesting your sour cherries, timing is key. Most sour varieties ripen early in the season before sweet cherries, and you should start checking for ripeness about one and a half weeks after bloom. Take note – you can begin to gently pull on the stem and if it lifts away from the tree easily, your cherry is ripe and ready to be harvested. Once harvested, pick over the fruit carefully, discarding any that don’t meet your standards, or worms. <\/p>\n

Section 3: Processing<\/h2>\n

When freezing sour cherries, you will need to remove the pit. To make this task easier, soften a batch of them in hot water for 2 minutes. The skin and pit will separate more easily, making it a simple task to remove the pit and freeze the fruit. To freeze with the pit, measure and flash-freeze 1\/2 cup portions in zip-lock bags. Frozen this way, the fruit will not lose its shape in storage. <\/p>\n

Section 4: Cleaning, Storing and Serving<\/h2>\n

A key step in processing sour cherries is to rinse them off in cold water. Allow time for the cherries to soak for about 5 minutes, then remove them from the water and gently pat them dry with a soft towel. For immediate use, you can store them in the fridge in shallow storage containers. Fill the container with water, add a few drops of lemon juice, then place the cherries in the container and place in the fridge. This will keep cherries fresh for 4-5 days. <\/p>\n

Section 5: Ideas for Serving<\/h2>\n