Q&A for How to Eat Cherries

Yes, cherries are healthy. They have high levels of potassium, iron and magnesium. They also contain vitamins C, B and A. They contain a powerful antioxidant anthocyanin that can help to reduce or prevent inflammation––20 cherries will provide 25mg of anthocyanin. As with any food, the benefits are best derived from a balanced diet of a variety of different healthy foods.

Yes, you can grow cherry trees at home. Most cherry trees prefer full sun but some can be grown in partial shade, so be sure to choose the tree that suits your home environment best. If you’re growing sweet cherries, you may need to plant two trees to get fruit (check to see if it’s a self-unfruitful cultivar and if so, get two trees); sour cherry trees will usually bear fruit without another tree. For details on growing cherry trees, see How to Grow Cherries .

You can freeze cherries in syrup or in juice, or just as they are, spread out on a tray. For help with all of these freezing methods, see the wikiHow How to Freeze Cherries .

Yes, you can keep cherries beyond the harvest season. To do this, you'll need to preserve your cherries by canning, freezing, drying or keeping them in alcohol. For some of these ways for keeping cherries longer, see the wikiHow How to Preserve Cherries .

Cherries are mainly in season during summer and early fall. However, their season can be "prolonged" with bought cherries by flying them in from abroad during the cooler months.

No, the pits cannot be digested. Pit them or spit them out.

Cherries are some of the best fruits to preserve, because they maintain their flavor well when stored properly. If you're interested in learning how to make jam or preserves, there are many reputable books about the subject. You could also research classes that are offered in your area, or ask a friend or family member who has experience with canning and preserving. Be careful, though: making preserves is easy and fun once you understand the process, but it can be dangerous at first.

No, you just eat the fruit, not the stem.

If they are hard, they may not be ripe. Eating unripe cherries can give you a stomachache. Try leaving them out to ripen some more. Don't eat them if they are rock hard.

Begin to eat foods that you somewhat like that are related in taste to cherry, or have just a bit of cherry mixed into something else, like a berry pie, or cherry bits in a salad.

Whenever you want them. There isn't a "best" time to eat cherries, and they can be consumed the moment you're craving them.