Maraschino cherries are a pantry staple for many home cooks. In addition, they are often used as a topping for ice cream, desserts, and cocktails.
But how long do they last? With proper care, you can enjoy maraschino cherries all year round!
The texture, color, or flavor of the maraschino cherries may alter over time, but they will still be safe to consume if they have been properly stored, the bottle is intact, and there are no signs of spoilage.
Maraschino cherries have a lengthy shelf life due to their high sugar content and preservation process but can eventually go bad. When unopened and stored in a cool, dry place, they can last for 6-12 months. Once opened, they should be refrigerated and can last in the fridge for 6-12 months, though quality may start to decline after a few months. Signs that maraschino cherries have gone bad include changes in color, texture, or an off smell, and they should be discarded if any of these signs are present.
It’s no secret that maraschino cherries are delicious. But how long do they last? And what’s the best way to store them? Keep reading to find out!
OPENED UNOPENED
| 1-2 months in the pantry | 2-3 years in the pantry |
| 6-12 months in the refrigerator with sealed jar | 3 years in the refrigerator |
| Do not freeze | Stay fresh for up to 1 year in the freezer |
Do Maraschino Cherries Expire?
Yes, maraschino cherries can expire. Is it safe to use unopened maraschino cherries after the “expiration” date on the can or package has passed?
Yes, as long as they are kept in an airtight container and the can is intact.
Commercial maraschino cherries are frequently dated with a “Best By,” “Best if Used By,” “Best Before,” or “Best When Used By” date.
However, this isn’t a safety date but rather the manufacturer’s prediction of how long the cherries will remain at peak quality.
Maraschino cherries have a shelf life of about 18 months, provided they are stored in a cool, dark place.
However, once opened, they should be used within six weeks. If you notice that your maraschino cherries have begun to change color or develop mold, it is best to discard them.
Do Maraschino Cherries Go Bad? If So, When?
While maraschino cherries don’t technically go bad, their quality will deteriorate over time.
After about 18 months, the cherries will no longer be as crisp, and the flavor will begin to fade. If you want to extend their shelf life, you can store them in the fridge.
But keep in mind that the flavor and texture will change once they’ve been refrigerated.
However, if the bottle is undamaged and there are no indications of spoilage, they will usually be safe to consume even if they have been kept for a long time.
So, if you’re not planning on eating them all within a few months, it’s best to store them in the fridge.
How Long After Expiration Date Are Maraschino Cherries Still Good?
Maraschino cherries are a type of cherry that has been preserved in sugar and brine. The cherries are then dyed red and typically used as a garnish for cocktails or desserts.
While maraschino cherries do not go bad in the traditional sense, the quality of the fruit will degrade over time.
The sugar and brine solution will cause the cherries to become mushy, and the color will fade from bright red to dull pink.
For this reason, it is best to use maraschino cherries within one year of the expiration date.
After that, the cherries can still be eaten, but they will not be as tasty or visually appealing.
How can you tell if maraschino cherries are no longer safe to eat? The easiest method is to inspect and smell the maraschino cherries:
If they develop an odd odor, flavor, appearance, or mold appears, they should be thrown away.
Best Way To Store Maraschino Cherries?
Unopened maraschino cherries should be stored in the pantry, where the temperature is consistently below 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
After opening, the cherries should be kept re-sealed in their jar in the refrigerator. If they were bought in a can, transfer them to a jar or other tightly sealed container.
Homemade maraschino cherries have a little more prepping than when you buy them from the store but will last just as long in the pantry or the fridge.
How To Prolong The Shelf Life of Maraschino Cherries
The pantry is the ideal location to store unopened maraschino cherries. They should be kept sealed in their jar in the refrigerator once opened.
If they were bought in a can, they should be transferred to a jar or other hermetically sealed container.
Hint
Cold storage is ideal for keeping maraschino cherries fresh for a more extended period. However, cherries will deteriorate more rapidly in one hour at room temperature than in one day in the fridge.
As a result, put your cherries in the refrigerator as soon as possible; if you must store them at room temperature, do so for a very short period.
Also, remember that freezing changes the texture of cherries; they will become mushier and more translucent. Maraschino cherries can be frozen for up to a year.
How Can You Tell if Maraschino Cherries Are Spoiled or Not?
If you find mold on maraschino cherries, they’re probably bad. Because the jar was not fully sealed, the maraschino cherries have most likely gone rancid if the lid is round and domed rather than flat.
If you open the jar and don’t hear a snap, the seal has been broken, and the maraschino cherries have most likely spoiled.
If anything is brown or black within, do not eat the cherries. The color of the cherries will fade as they become older and spoil.
Another way to tell if they have gone bad is that the cherries will start to float, and the syrup will become cloudy.
How Long Do Maraschino Cherries Keep in the Freezer?
The best approach to preserving cherries is to freeze them. Then, when you defrost frozen cherries, they will be as fresh as they were when initially frozen.
Maraschino cherries may last up to ten or twelve months in the freezer. This only happens if the freezer environment is kept constant. Temperatures fluctuations might cause spoiling.
When storing them in the freezer, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet before placing them in a freezer bag.
This way, they will not stick together, and you can take out only the number you need.
How Long Do Maraschino Cherries Take To Digest?
It takes anywhere from 14 – 52 hours to digest maraschino cherries. Individual digestion times are relatively consistent, although they vary from person to person.
If something doesn’t finish digesting in the time it usually takes you to digest food, it will simply pass through your system as feces.
How Long Do Luxardo Maraschino Cherries Last?
Luxardo Cherries have an unopened shelf life of more than three years. Even after opening the jar, you can enjoy the taste of cherries dipped in a jar for approximately 1-2 years. The rich flavor and deep, dark color will not change.
If you keep the cherry jar in a refrigerator or deep freezer after opening it, the sugar will crystallize, and solid pieces will fill it.
By putting the jar in an oven at an average temperature for 15-20 seconds, you may reverse this to make it useful again.
It’s a mistake to leave the cherry jar lid open after use. If you keep this tentatively tight jar in damp or unclean storage, mold will develop around it in a few days.
This may become hazardous, so you’ll need to toss the jar in the trash.
How Long Do Glace Cherries Last?
Because sugar keeps the fruit preserved, it will not go bad for quite some time. If you take appropriate care of your candied fruits, they can last a year or more.
However, even if properly maintained, the flavor of your candied fruit may alter over time. Place the candied fruit in an airtight container to keep it fresh for longer.
Candied fruit can usually last two years on your shelf under ideal circumstances.
However, keep in mind that the maximum duration stated is how long your fruit will stay good, but because of the way it’s made and stored, its flavor will begin to deteriorate after a year.
Final Thoughts
So, how long do maraschino cherries last? If they are stored in a cool, dark place and checked regularly for spoilage, they can last up to two years.
However, it is essential to remember that not all cherries will last this long – if any show signs of spoilage, discard them immediately.
You can also extend the shelf life of maraschino cherries by keeping them refrigerated.
Another important factor to consider is how you will be using the cherries. If they are going to be eaten fresh, they will not last as long as if they are going to be used in a recipe.
As a general rule, the less sugar in the preserving process, the shorter the final product’s shelf life.
As you can see, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how long do maraschino cherries last.
Instead, it depends on various factors, including the type of cherry, how it is stored, and how it will be used.
However, with a little bit of knowledge and vigilance, you can keep your cherries fresh for as long as possible.
My name is Keren Tayler. I am a stay-at-home mama to three lovely girls, Sarah + Rachel + Hannah. Prior to becoming a mom, I had a successful career in the accounting field, steps away from becoming a CPA. I decided to give up on my career in order to raise my own kids (as opposed to letting a nanny do it, no judgment here :)) I learned a lot and I love sharing it with other moms. Along the way, I also became a Certified Food Handler.