How to make dried cherries?

Best cherry varieties for drying

These are the sweetest and fleshiest cherries, such as Bigarreaux Cœurs de pigeon, Napoléon or Burlat. But all cherries can be dried.

Varieties ‘Bigarreau Coeur de Pigeon’, ‘Napoléon’ and ‘Burlat’ (Photos Pixabay)

Where, when and how to dry cherries?

Fruit drying consists of removing water to preserve them longer, without cooking them. This is why drying is done at low temperature (40 to 50°C).

Drying can be done at home or outdoors in your garden after picking cherries, if you live in a sufficiently sunny region.

Preparing cherries

• Pick cherries when ripe, between May and August depending on variety, and with their stalks. You can use a fruit picker or climb a ladder to harvest them. A cherry tree yields on average 20 to 50 kg of fruit per year, even more depending on variety
• Stem cherries, wash them then pat them dry with absorbent paper.
• Cut cherries in half and remove stones, or, if you prefer them entire, you can use a cherry pitter. The smaller the pieces, the shorter the drying time.
• Then, dry them using one of 3 techniques: in the oven, in a dehydrator or outdoors in the sun.

Different techniques for drying cherries

Oven drying

• Spread cherries on a baking tray lined with baking paper or in a dish, and place rounded side of cherries down.
• Space cherries sufficiently so they do not touch
• Dry at a low temperature (50°C). If oven heats up too much, leave door slightly ajar. Drying time depends on your oven. Expect between 18 and 24 hours on average.
• As they dry, cherries shrivel and resemble raisins.
• Check they have no juice left by pressing them
• Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Drying in a dehydrator

• • Place cherries on dehydrator tray, rounded side down
  • Set temperature and dry according to dehydrator instructions
  • This technique is generally faster than oven drying (13 to 15 hours on average)

Drying outdoors

• This is the traditional, most natural drying method. It requires plenty of sun and no rain.
• Arrange cherries on a tray, spacing them, and cover them with a stamen to protect them from insects and birds
• Place in full sun during the day and bring in at night to shelter
• Remove damaged fruits as you go
• Drying takes from 2 to several days, depending on weather and region you live in

How to store them?

• Place then your dried cherries in an airtight plastic container or a glass jar and keep them dry and away from light.
• At first, check that no condensation forms inside the container to avoid any mould. If you notice condensation, dry them again to remove all water.
• You have between 6 months and one year to consume them!

What can you do with dried cherries?

• Dried cherries can be used as dried fruit, to enjoy as a snack or as an accompaniment to yoghurts or cereals at breakfast.
• They can also be used to flavour all kinds of cakes: from yoghurt cake to fruit cake.
  Enjoy!

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