Kitchen Tips for Using Cherries

Posted by Michael Vyskocil Jul 13, 2008

Storing Fresh Cherries on Ice

Whether from a pick-your-own expedition at a local farm or from a purchase at the market, fresh cherries can quickly wilt from the summer sun and heat. If you plan to serve cherries fresh, place them in a bowl filled with ice cubes or crushed ice. The ice will keep them crisp and cool until you're ready to devour them. As the ice melts, replace it with a fresh supply.

Pitting Fresh Cherries

Fresh cherries are packed full of flavor. But removing the pits can be a cumbersome task. Make the job easier with a cherry pitter. These ingenious gadgets, available in fine cookware stores or online at www.cooking.com, can expertly pit dozens of cherries without making a mess of you and your kitchen. If you don't have a professional cherry pitter, try using a paper clip to pit cherries. Simply unbend the clip and use one of the ends to poke through the stem end of the cherry until you reach the pit. Push the pit through to the bottom of the cherry and remove the pit.

Since cherry juice will leave stains, cover any clothing with an apron and wipe off stains immediately.