VANILLAGOODS / FRESH MARKET BUYING GUIDE

Sour cherries: Buying, Storage & Baking Guide

Learn how to choose, store, and bake with sour cherries, with quality checks and U.S. season guidance.

Stone fruit
Sour cherries: A bowl of bright red sour cherries

Look for

Developed background color; no extensive green patches on peaches

Feel & texture

Gentle give around the shoulders for eat-now fruit

Aroma

A characteristic fruity scent can help; not conclusive

What to avoid

Fermented odor, deep bruises or leaking

How to store

Ripen suitable climacteric fruit at room temperature, then refrigerate

Typical U.S. season

Typical U.S. months: Jun, Jul

Growing regions and availability

High-level growing suitability depends on variety, climate and local conditions.

Seasons and growing conditions vary by location and variety. Imported or stored ingredients may be available outside typical growing windows.

Visual buying guide

Sour cherries, where it grows: Bright red sour cherries on a tree branch

Where it grows

Sour cherries, pick this one: Glossy, bright red sour cherries

Pick this one

Developed background color; no extensive green patches on peaches

Sour cherries, skip this one: Split, shriveled sour cherries

Skip this one

Fermented odor, deep bruises or leaking

What can you bake with Sour cherries?

Cobblers, pies, tarts and compotes

Explore sour cherry recipes →

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