Freeze-Drying Freshly Picked Traverse City Cherries for Long-Term Storage

If you’ve ever visited Traverse City, Michigan, you know it’s cherry heaven! We recently took a trip there, brought back some amazing cherries from a local farm, and decided to freeze-dry them so we could enjoy their vibrant flavor year-round. Freeze-drying is a fantastic way to preserve food because it retains most of the fruit’s original nutrients and taste, and keeps it shelf-stable for years. Here’s the step-by-step process we followed, from washing and prepping the cherries to storing them in mason jars.

Preparing Fresh Cherries for Freeze-Drying

After washing, we moved on to pitting. Pitting cherries by hand can be time-consuming, but we used a cherry pitter to make the job easier. Removing the pits not only helps with the freeze-drying process but also makes the cherries easier to use once they’re dried. Whether you plan to use them in recipes or snack on them directly, having pitted cherries ready to go is super convenient.

Pre-Freezing the Cherries

Before freeze-drying, we chose to pre-freeze our cherries. This step isn’t strictly required, but it can make the freeze-drying process a bit more efficient. By freezing them first, we ensured that the cherries were fully solid and ready to be freeze-dried without extra preparation time. If you’re short on time, feel free to skip this step—it just gives a small head start to the freeze-drying.

Setting Up the Harvest Right Freeze Dryer

Next, we set up our Harvest Right medium-sized freeze dryer, which is equipped with five trays, making it perfect for processing larger batches of fruit. We arranged the cherries evenly across all five trays, spreading them out to avoid any overlap. This allows for better airflow and ensures that each cherry is dried consistently.

For this batch, we used the default freeze-drying settings on the machine, but we also added a 24-hour extra drying time. This additional time is particularly helpful for ensuring that every bit of moisture is removed from the fruit. Freeze-drying can sometimes leave tiny pockets of moisture, and we wanted to make sure the cherries were completely dry to prevent any spoilage. The extra drying time also gave us some flexibility, so we didn’t have to be there right when the drying cycle finished.

Storing Freeze-Dried Cherries in Mason Jars

After the freeze-drying was complete, we moved on to packaging our cherries for storage. We chose 64 oz mason jars because they provide plenty of space and are easy to vacuum-seal. To further preserve the cherries, we added an oxygen absorber to each jar, which helps to remove any residual oxygen that could impact the fruit’s freshness over time.

Once the oxygen absorbers were in, we used a mason jar vacuum sealer to remove as much air as possible, creating an airtight seal. Vacuum-sealing is essential for maintaining the quality of freeze-dried foods, as it protects them from exposure to oxygen, which can cause them to lose flavor and texture over time.

Ideal Storage Conditions for Freeze-Dried Cherries

With our jars sealed and ready, we stored them in a cool, dark place. Storing freeze-dried foods away from light and heat helps preserve their taste and nutrients. A pantry or basement storage area works well—any spot that stays consistently cool and dark will help your freeze-dried foods stay in top condition for years.

Why Freeze-Dry Your Own Cherries?

Freeze-drying offers several benefits, especially for seasonal produce like cherries. Here’s why we love this method and recommend it:

• Long Shelf Life: Freeze-dried cherries can last for years when stored correctly, so you can enjoy the taste of fresh cherries long after cherry season is over.
• Retention of Nutrients and Flavor: Freeze-drying preserves much of the original fruit’s nutritional value and taste, making it one of the best methods for storing food. Unlike canning or traditional drying, freeze-dried cherries stay flavorful and retain their vibrant color and texture.
• Convenience and Cost Savings: By freeze-drying cherries ourselves, we were able to process a large quantity at once, which saves money compared to buying pre-packaged freeze-dried fruit. Plus, we know exactly what went into the process, from hand-picking to washing and sealing.

Freeze-drying is a wonderful way to preserve seasonal produce, giving you access to fresh-tasting fruit year-round. It’s efficient, retains the fruit’s nutrients, and significantly extends its shelf life. Whether you’re stocking up for emergencies or simply want a fun, healthy snack on hand, freeze-drying cherries (or other fruits) is well worth the effort. So next time you visit a cherry farm or find an abundance of fruit in season, consider freeze-drying—it’s a great way to capture those delicious flavors for later!

What We Used For This Process

(Click the item link to view on amazon)

• 64oz Mason Jars with Lids & Bands – (https://amzn.to/4fxqV0m)

• Electric Mason Jar Vacuum Sealer Kit – (https://amzn.to/3YM06if)

• Harvest Right Freeze Dryer – Medium 5-Tray