How Long Does Cherries (Fresh) Last?

Fresh cherries stored unwashed in the fridge, ideally in a container with some airflow, typically last 1-2 weeks, longer than most stone fruit thanks to their firm skin and relatively low surface moisture compared to a peach or plum.

Shriveled or wrinkled skin, a soft or mushy texture where cherries should stay firm, and mold (often starting at the stem, if one is still attached) are the signs of decline or spoilage. Because cherries are sold in bulk bags or containers where they touch each other closely, sorting through and removing any soft or moldy cherries as soon as they're noticed helps prevent that spoilage from spreading to their neighbors.

Dark sweet cherries, like Bing, and tart cooking cherries, like Montmorency, both follow the same general fridge-life guidance, though tart cherries are almost always destined for a cooked application anyway, which somewhat reduces how much their fresh-eating window matters compared to a sweet variety meant to be eaten out of hand.

Cherries with their stems still attached generally last a bit longer than stemless ones, since the stem attachment point is where moisture loss and bacterial entry most easily begin — buying cherries with stems intact where possible is a small choice that extends their already-decent fridge window.

Cherries kept in their original perforated clamshell container, rather than transferred to a sealed bag, retain the airflow they were packaged with for a reason.

See Cherries (Fresh)'s full storage & shelf-life guide (with spoilage signs) →