My husband is a big fan of freezing cherries. He and my sons eat them like popsicles. I like them too, and the plus is…they are much better for you than popsicles. Freezing is so easy too.
Can you freeze fresh cherries? Yes! This method of freezing cherries makes it so you can also just pull a few cherries from the freezer and pop them in your mouth. YUM! Cold and icy.
Freezing Cherries: Step-By-Step Instructions
You will need:
- freezer paper
- large cookie sheet or shallow pan
- fruit preserver
- freezer bags or other freezer container
- cherries
- sugar – optional
Pitting Cherries
Do You Have to Pit Cherries Before Freezing?
Pitting your cherries is an optional step. If you know for sure you’ll just be eating them, then you can just leave the pits in and spit them out when you eat them. Just like fresh!
However, frozen cherries are more versatile if you get them pitted now. Recipes call for pitted cherries, and pitting thawed out cherries is more difficult. I can be done, but it’s so much easier if you pit them while they’re fresh. Check out our cherry pitter of choice here: Cherry Pitter.
How to Freeze Cherries
After you have decided whether or not you are going to pit your cherries, follow the same procedures for freezing.
You can soak your cherries in a fruit preserver if you wish. There are several varieties available at Amazon. Mine was Fruit Fresh.
Following directions on the package, soak cherries in fruit preserver.
Lay freezer paper on your cookie sheet or pan.
Drain cherries well.
Optional – You can sugar coat cherries by sprinkling with sugar.
Spread cherries out in a single layer on freezer paper. Lay another sheet of freezer paper on top of the cherries.
Spread more cherries out on top of that sheet.
I have done up to 3 layers and had no problem. I don’t know if I would go too much deeper than that.
Place this pan with all the layers of cherries in the freezer. When frozen, remove cherries from the freezer and place in freezer bags or containers.
Here’s a tip: When you remove the cherries from the freezer, lift the top layer of cherries by the freezer paper. Use it like a funnel to dump the cherries into your freezer container or bag.
Don’t forget to label and date.
Recipe Card
Freezing Cherries
Ingredients
- Cherries
- Fruit preserver (optional)
- Sugar (optional)
Equipment
- Freezer paper
- Large cookie sheet or shallow pan
- Freezer bags/containers
- Cherry pitter (optional)
Instructions
- Pit cherries if desired.
- Soak cherries in fruit preserver if desired.
- Lay freezer paper on cookie sheet or pan.
- Drain cherries well.
- Coat cherries with a sprinkling of sugar if desired.
- Spread cherries on a single layer of freezer paper, then repeat.
- Place in the freezer.
- Once frozen, transfer to freezer bags/containers.
- Remove air, seal, and label.
- Freeze.
Processing
Last Updated: 6/3/2021
Related Pages
Canning Cherry Pie Filling
Cherry pie filling, canned in batches, gives you the freedom to make a cherry pie or cobbler on the fly! Just pop open a jar and pour into a pie crust.
Canning Cherries
Canning cherries is a good alternative to freezing and adds some bright color to any pantry. Use them for making quick cobblers, pies, or candied cherries.
Cherry Cobbler Recipe
This is old-fashioned goodness from an old-fashioned recipe.
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Page last updated: 6/3/2021
