How to Freeze Dry Cherries in a Home Freeze Dryer
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Making freeze dried cherries is so rewarding. Yes, they take a little while—but oh, are they worth it! The result is a light, crunchy, sweet cherry snack that’s perfect for road trips, hiking, or just keeping on the counter in a jar.
I’ve done several batches of cherries, including one from a stash of frozen cherries I found in the back of my freezer (two years old!). They turned out delicious, and I learned some tips along the way that I’ll share with you here.
Learn more about my freeze dryer here.
How to Freeze Dry Cherries:
Prepping Your Cherries
You’ll want to pit your cherries before they go in the freeze dryer. The pits hold moisture inside, and the fruit won’t dry properly if you leave them in. A cherry pitter makes quick work of the job.
After pitting it is optional to cut the cherries in half. I did not… I probably will next time. The cherries will dry faster if cut. The moisture will be able to escape quicker. The high sugar content makes it a longer process.
Fresh or frozen cherries both work. When I used my frozen batch, some were stuck together, so I rinsed them quickly in warm water to separate them. From there, it’s just a matter of spreading them out on the trays.
If you are using fresh cherries it also helps to freeze them first. (directions here) Not required but I’ve read that most foods do better if frozen before putting in the freeze dryer.
Step-by-Step: Freeze Drying Cherries
Here’s the process I use:
- Turn on the freeze dryer to let it pre-cool.
- Pit cherries and cut in half for faster dry time.
- Spread cherries on trays in a single layer. They can be close, just not piled up.
- Load trays into your home freeze dryer and start the cycle. Follow the instructions for your model.
- Drying time will be around 36–40 hours. My batch finished in 38. Cherries are naturally sweet, so they take longer than something like strawberries. Much Longer!
- Check for dryness. A finished cherry should be crisp and crumble easily. If you find soft spots, give them more time.
- Store. Let the cherries return to room temperature before sealing them up.
When are they dried fully?
Your cherries will be dry and crunchy throughout the berry. There should be no soft spots. Do not store them away until you know they are fully dry. If in doubt give them a couple more hours. Moisture will ruin the whole batch.
Storing Your Cherries
If you’re just planning to snack on them right away, a canning mason jar with a tight lid works perfectly. That’s what I used, and they disappeared fast.
For longer storage, go with vacuum-sealed jars, mylar bags with oxygen absorbers, or any airtight container. This keeps out moisture, which is the main thing that will ruin freeze-dried foods.
This hand vacuum sealer works great. I show how I use it with dehydrated food in this article.
What I Learned from My Batch
That batch of frozen cherries I pulled out of the freezer took about 38 hours, which was even longer than I expected. But cherries are loaded with sugar, so that’s normal.
I didn’t have enough fruit to fill all four trays, so I went with a lighter load. Next time, I’ll try full trays and see if the time is about the same. If so, it makes sense to load more in since it takes a while no matter what. I’ll also cut the cherries in half to hopefully help with batch time.
And the taste? Amazing. Crunchy, sweet, and so easy to munch on. Honestly, they didn’t make it anywhere near long-term storage.
What is the disadvantage of freeze dried fruit?
Honestly, not much. They are not fresh of course. But they store long, flavors are concentrated and delicious. A few minor things that you personally might not like.
- The texture. Some people like the leathery texture of dehydrated. I’ve got a comparison of dehydrated to freeze dried food here.
- They contain the same calories and sugars as fresh, so you might tend to over eat them and the sugars included.
- You’ll need to store them properly. I discuss storage above.
Common Questions
Can I freeze dry cherries straight from the tree?
Yes you sure can. Pull the stems off, wash them and pit them. Put them o the trays and run the freeze dryer.
Do I really need to pit cherries first?
Yes, always. The pits keep the fruit from drying through.
Can I freeze dry cherries that were already frozen?
Yes, that’s exactly what I did. Just break apart any clumps before spreading them on trays.
What do they taste like?
A crunchy version of the fresh fruit—sweet and concentrated.
What type of cherries work?
Sweet cherries like Bing and Rainier are delicious, but tart pie cherries can be freeze dried too. Freeze dried sour cherries will be super tangy! While sweet cherries like Bing will still be tangy, but not as tart as pie cherries. Follow the same instructions with any type of cherry.
Recipe Card
How to Freeze Dry Cherries
Ingredients
- Cherries pitted
Instructions
- Wash and pit your cherries. Remove stems and sort out any that are damaged or show signs of insects.
- Optional – pre freeze your cherries in a single layer in your home freezer. doing this before you put them in the freeze dryer can shorten dry time.
- Turn on your freeze dryer. Follow freeze dryer directions.
- Fill trays with a single layer of pitted cherries.
- Put trays into freeze dryer.
- Let freeze dryer run for 36-40 hours, until the cherries are dry.
- Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Freeze drying cherries does take a long time, but the results are so worth it. Whether you’re working with fresh cherries or clearing out the freezer, you’ll end up with a crunchy, sweet snack that’s hard to resist.
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