Cherries are one of the most beloved fruits of summer. Their sweet juicy flavor is a tasty treat that many look forward to each year. But knowing exactly when to pick cherries at their peak ripeness can be tricky. Harvest too soon and you’ll end up with underripe fruit that lacks flavor and texture. Wait too long and they’ll be overripe, mushy and quickly deteriorating.
Follow this complete guide to identify perfectly ripe, ready-to-eat cherries. We’ll explore all the visual and tactile signs of ripeness, from color changes to stem characteristics. You’ll also find tips on when to start checking fruit, how to gently harvest ripe cherries, and how to store your fresh-picked bounty. Let’s discover how to enjoy summer’s cherry season to the fullest!
What Determines When Cherries Ripen
Several key factors influence the ripening timeline for cherries:
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Variety – Early season cultivars like Bing ripen first, followed by mid and late season types.
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Growing Region – Cherries ripen earlier in warmer southern climates vs. cooler northern areas.
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Weather Conditions – Warm sunny weather accelerates ripening. Cool cloudy conditions delay it.
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Tree Age – Fruit on younger trees often ripens later than on mature trees. Proper care and pruning also play a role.
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Type – Sweet cherry varieties ripen sooner than tart cherries.
Knowing your variety’s typical harvest window for your growing region is a helpful starting point. But use other more precise indicators to determine ideal ripeness.
How to Tell When Sweet Cherries Are Ripe
Ready-to-eat sweet cherries like Bing and Rainier display these signs:
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Color – Deep, vivid red to nearly black when ripe. Avoid pinkish-red hues.
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Size & Shape – Plump, round. Shriveled means overripe.
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Firmness – Firm flesh with smooth, tight skin. Soft is overripe.
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Stem – Green, intact. Dry, brown stems indicate an aged fruit.
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Taste – Bursting with sweetness when ripe. Underripe is more tart.
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Aroma – Sweet, fruity ripe smell. Fermented odor is overripe.
How to Tell When Tart Cherries Are Ripe
Tart cherry varieties like Montmorency exhibit these maturity indicators:
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Color – Deep ruby red without orange/yellow tones.
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Size – Normal, plump. Shriveled is overripe.
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Firmness – Firm but tender flesh. Soft means overripe.
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Stem – Usually drops when ripe. Attached stem means underripe.
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Taste – Still tart but softer texture. Bland flavor indicates overripe.
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Aroma – Full, fruity aroma. Musty smell is overripe.
When to Start Checking for Ripe Cherries
Monitor cherries closely in the week or two before their estimated ripening date. Examine fruit every 2-3 days as maturity approaches.
Once cherries are fully colored, begin tasting samples from around the tree daily. When most taste ripe and sweet, plan to harvest very soon. Ripe cherries deteriorate quickly in heat.
How to Gently Harvest Ripe Cherries
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Pick in dry weather to avoid splitting skins.
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Lift fruit with stem attached to avoid spur damage.
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Use scissors on high, hard to reach branches.
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Gently twist/roll ripe cherries off their stems. Avoid yanking.
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Catch falling cherries in soft pails or baskets.
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Keep harvested cherries cool and shaded.
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Refrigerate within 2 hours of picking.
Storing Your Fresh Cherry Harvest
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Sort out and use up any bruised/damaged fruit right away.
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Place intact, ripe cherries in a single layer in a shallow container.
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Line container with paper towels to absorb moisture.
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Refrigerate unwashed cherries promptly, ideally within 2 hours of harvest.
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Store loosely covered to allow airflow and high humidity.
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Enjoy fresh cherries within 3-5 days for best flavor and texture.
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Freeze excess harvest flat in a single layer until solid, then transfer to bags.
Key Things That Signify Underripe Cherries:
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Pink, orange or yellowish color with greenish tones (depending on variety).
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Smaller, harder fruit that lacks plumpness.
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Very firm, crunchy texture.
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Tart, sour taste with low sugar content.
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Stem doesn’t detach easily from spur.
What Overripe Cherries Look Like:
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Wrinkled, shrivelled, deflated appearance.
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Soft or mushy flesh.
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Leaking or oozing juices.
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Dull, faded color.
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Fermented smell.
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Stem scar is often brown.
Pick all ripe cherries as soon as possible before they deteriorate. Overripe fruit won’t store well.
Tips for Cherry Variety Ripening Times
Here’s a quick guide to approximate ripening windows for popular sweet and tart cherry types:
Sweet Cherries
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Bing – early to mid June
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Rainier – mid June
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Brooks – late June
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Van – late June
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Lapins – early July
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Sweet Georgia – mid July
Tart Cherries
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Montmorency – early July
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Balaton – mid July
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Danube – late July
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Northstar – early August
Learning to identify perfectly ripe cherries takes a bit of practice. But with this complete guide to signs of maturity, you’ll soon be a cherry picking pro! Pay close attention to color, firmness, taste and ease of stem separation to harvest cherries at their peak. Enjoy the bounty of flavor and nutrition from tree-ripened cherries this summer.
How to tell when cherries are ripe & sweet
Once harvested, cherries no longer ripen which means they are at the sweetest they will ever be. Thats why it is important cherries are harvested at peak ripeness.
Farmers markets are your best chance of finding sweeter, more flavorful cherries. The riper ones dont stand up to transport as well so they dont make it to the grocery stores but are perfect for markets.
For dark sweet cherries like Bing, the sweetest ones will look like they are black instead of red. But you should also consider buying the yellow Rainier cherries as they often taste sweeter due to their lower acidity.
Ripe, in-season cherries should have the following characteristics:
- Firm (squishy cherries are over ripe)
- Plump (wrinkled skin is a sign of decline)
- If stems are attached, they should be fresh and green-ish (dry or brown stems are a sign they were picked a while ago and wont be as tasty)
- Color: dark sweet cherries should be very dark red or black. Rainier cherries should be a bright yellow with blush red.
When cherries start to go bad, they wrinkle and soften, as pictured below. Both the 2021 and 2022 season was plagued with bad cherries like this as the weather was not at all cooperative. I also found cherries imported from Chile this winter (2023) that look like the picture below as well. Heres to hoping for a better 2023 season.
Store cherries, unwashed, in a plastic bag in the fridge and they will last about a week.
The yellow-red Rainier cherries are prized for their lower acidity and sweeter flavor.
They also tend to be more watery than the dark sweet cherries, so keep them in mind when making or cooking with them.
Rainier cherries are usually more expensive for several reasons. They are more susceptible to bad weather conditions, bruise easier, and have a shorter harvest window. All of these combined raise their costs.
What is the difference between sweet and sour cherries?
Sweet cherries: These are better than sour cherries for eating fresh. They also work great in salads and in baking.
Bing cherries have a deep red color when ripe. Rainier cherries are yellowish with red blushes and are sometimes a bit more sweet than Bing and less acidic. These are commonly found in stores and farmers markets.
Tart (aka sour) cherries: These are most commonly used for pies, juices, jams, and drying. Fresh sour cherries are rarely found in grocery stores but you might luck out at the farmers markets. They have a shorter season (usually mid-June through July) and spoil easier.
How to know when your cherries are ripe
FAQ
How do you tell when a cherry is ripe?
The sugar content rises significantly in the last few days of ripening, so wait to harvest the fruit until it is completely red. When the fruit is ready, it will be firm and fully colored. Sour cherries will come off the stem when they are ripe enough to be harvested, while sweet cherries should be tasted for maturity.
Should cherries be hard or soft?
If a cherry is hard, it’s unripe and won’t taste as good — they should be soft to the touch, but not mushy. 3.Jul 20, 2012
When should you pick cherries?
Most cherries will be ready by mid-June if you plan to pick the fruit around then.Mar 29, 2022
Do cherries ripen on the counter?
Like the other non-climacteric fruits, cherries, grapes and citrus fruits don’t ripen once they’re severed from the plant. What you see in the store is what you will get at home, and all of these fruits should be stored in the fridge to keep them from going bad. Don’t let your perfectly-picked produce go to waste!
How do you know if a cherry is ripe?
The size of the cherry is a helpful indicator of its ripeness. Ripe cherries appear plump and full. They have a robust roundness that sets them apart on the branch or in the box. If the cherries look shriveled or unusually small, they may not be ripe. The size signifies not only the fruit’s maturity but also its juiciness.
What is the serving size of cherries?
You can eat the portion you want of cherries. However, one compote per day is fine. Excess cherry can result in excess blood sugar and can also cause gastrointestinal upset.
Why do cherries ripen at peak ripeness?
Once harvested, cherries no longer ripen which means they are at the sweetest they will ever be. That’s why it is important cherries are harvested at peak ripeness. Farmers markets are your best chance of finding sweeter, more flavorful cherries.
Do cherries ripen after picking?
Fruits that don’t ripen after picking, like cherries (Prunus, USDA plant hardiness zones 4-9), have to be watched carefully because if you harvest them too soon, they won’t have the best taste and texture. Experts describe cherries as a nonclimacteric fruit that produces very little or no ethylene gas to aid with ripening.
What does ripe cherries smell like?
Ripe cherries exude a pleasant and inviting fragrance that is distinct to each variety. Take a moment to inhale the cherries’ scent, and you should be greeted with a delightful aroma that hints at their deliciousness. The aroma should be fruity, fresh, and free from any off-putting or sour odors.
How do you know if a tart cherry is ripe?
Tart cherries become a rich ruby red at maturity. Avoid oranges, yellows or mottled color. Ripe cherries feel firm and plump, filling out to a round shape. Avoid shriveled or flattened fruit. Ripe sweet cherries release cleanly from branches when lifted, leaving the stem attached.