Tips And Tricks To Pick The Freshest

Cherries

This Monsoon Season

The monsoon season in India brings an assortment of stone fruits, such as cherries, plums, apricots, and more, that fill the market. Among all, shiny red-coloured cherries have a special charm and are sourced from Himalayan regions such as Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Cherry season in India is defined by its harvesting window: June and July. These fruits are the perfect blend of sweet and tangy flavour, relished in different desserts. Here are some tips and tricks for identifying the perfect fruit on market display tables to help you better appreciate them next time.

Cherries come in different varieties when in season. Here is the list of five varieties:

• Morello Cherries: Added to pies and jam, deep red in colour, tart flavour and highly rich in vitamin C and antioxidants

• Dried Cherries: Perfect for snacking, boosting immunity and aiding digestion.

• Bing Cherries: Juicy and rich in sweetness, great for snacking

• Rainier Cherries: Red-yellow flesh, delicate and very sweet.

Choose a variety from the list above based on what you plan to make.

The journey of picking the blooming cherries from the market starts by noticing their colour. When picking Rainier cherries, look for their golden-yellow hue with a red blush. On the other hand, opt for Bing cherries with a deep red to almost black colour. However, in summary, cherry colour varies by varietal; make sure you always choose cherries that are dark for their variety, as darker colour often indicates ripeness and better flavour.

A great indicator of freshness is the stem. The bunch of cherries you are picking should have green stems attached. Discard the ones that have dry, brown, or blackened stems, as this might indicate spoilage, decay, or overripeness. You can also pick cherries without stems; just check that they are firm and unbruised. Shiny cherries with flexible green stems usually mean that they are freshly harvested.

It is a misconception among people that bigger fruits are always better. But it isn't when it comes to cherries. If you are looking for the best bunch of cherries, you'll need to consider more than just the fruit's diameter. Check the skin of cherries; it should be smooth, glossy and plump. The vibrant skin signals the fruit's high moisture content and freshness. So if you find cherries that look dull, shrivelled, or wrinkled, simply say no to the seller, as those may be drying out.

The human body is blessed with sensory receptors that can be very helpful while picking cherries. So, smell the fruit; if it smells sweet and fruity, then that's the right pick. Don't pick one that smells sour; it indicates the fruit is starting to go bad. Additionally, give the cherries a gentle squeeze; if they feel firm to the touch, then pick them. If the cherry feels mushy under this gentle pressure, then it is best to skip it.

If you are lucky enough to visit an organic farm, picking cherries straight from the trees is a fun activity. Different stone-fruit trees have different harvesting techniques; you cannot pick the cherry the way you pick an apple. The cherry has to be picked along with the stalk, which should come clean with the fruit. Do not touch the spur attached to the stalk. Simply go right to the end of the stalk and give it a gentle twist. This way, the stalk comes clean, and the spur remains on the branch. This spur will give you more cherries next year.

Don't keep fresh cherries at room temperature for too long. Store them in the refrigerator in a breathable container. These fruits stay fresh for 5-7 days when stored properly. Moreover, if you are planning to finish your cherries right away, you can prepare various recipes, such as cherry cobbler, a simple dessert served warm with a side of plain ice cream. Also, why not layer your cherries with chocolate sponge cake and whipped cream to make a classic Black Forest cake?