How to Store

It is best to keep cherries and apricots refrigerated in an unsealed container. Avoid exposure to moisture as it will accelerate any possible spoilage. Do not wash cherries or apricots until you are ready to eat them, unless they will be served within the next few hours. 

Wash and thoroughly dry the cherries, removing the stems. Cherries with or without pits should be placed in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Once frozen, place cherries in an airtight zipper style storage bag. Cherries should be thawed in the refrigerator for a few hours before used in a "fresh" use. Pitted cherries can be added directly to blenders for smoothies. For pies, frozen pitted cherries should be used directly from the freezer and mixed with pie filling ingredients, placed in the pie and baked immediately, increasing the time to account for the frozen cherries. 

Wash and thoroughly dry the apricots. Cut the apricots in half and remove the pit and slice if you desire. The apricot halves or slices should be placed in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Once frozen, place the apricots in an airtight zipper style storage bag. Apricots should be thawed in the refrigerator for a few hours before used in a "fresh" application. Sliced apricots can be added directly to blenders for smoothies. For pies, frozen sliced apricots should be used directly from the freezer and mixed with pie filling ingredients, placed in the pie and baked immediately, increasing the time to account for the frozen apricots.