Cherries are low in calories, contain minimal amounts of fat, and provide plenty of fiber. One cup of cherries provides over 25 percent of the recommended daily value for vitamin C; which supports collagen formation, neurotransmission, blood cholesterol levels, and triglycerides levels reduction.
Recipes often call for quantities of cherries measured either by volume (2 cups) or weight (4 ounces). Weighing ingredients is essential when creating recipes.
Sweet Cherries
When cooking with fresh cherries, it’s essential to know exactly how many are in one pound. Many recipes specify either in volume (cups) or weight (4 ounces), with 16 tablespoons being one pound of cherries. When selecting different types of cherries for different recipes (e.g. sour or sweet cherries), this number may change accordingly; more information can be found below.
Cherries are an antioxidant-rich fruit with powerful anti-inflammatory benefits and rich source of anti-oxidants, providing anti-inflammatory nutrients and protection from diseases such as cancer. Packed with vitamins A and C as well as fiber, cherries contain A and C to support immune health as well as prevent diseases like cancer while vitamin K helps prevent blood clots while supporting bone health.
Just about everyone enjoys fresh cherries year-round, whether purchased at a store or picked fresh from your backyard tree in summertime. Cherries contain high levels of soluble fiber which is proven to lower cholesterol and risk factors associated with heart disease and diabetes, and potassium, an electrolyte essential for cell function; just one cup of pitted sweet or sour cherries provides more than 23 percent of their recommended Daily Intake (RDI).
One cup of fresh sweet or sour cherries provides 22 grams of carbohydrates, most coming from natural sugar sources. Their low glycemic index makes them an excellent option for diabetics but should still be enjoyed with caution; canned varieties with juice or syrup could contain even higher levels of carbohydrates so check labels closely!
Preserving cherries involves boiling them in water, juice or syrup until a compote or jam is produced, or drying the fruit to store for future use. Cherry fruit is often used for baking purposes as well as being frozen for later use. For safe canning of cherries at home the USDA suggests following an established recipe and canner (boiling water or dial pressure canner is ideal), as well as finding instructions online or from your local extension office for home canning instructions for cherries. You could even create cherry sorbet for later use or dry them out for later use later!
Tart Cherries
Cherries are an aromatic, delectable fruit that can be enjoyed both raw and cooked into various dishes. Common grocery store varieties of tart cherries such as Bing or other sweet varieties make a delightful dessert topping; there are also Montmorency cherries used for baking that make great pie filling, jam making or are added into other main courses.
One pound of fresh stemless cherries with pits equals approximately 3 cups or 80 cherries, enough for one pie. When cooking with fresh cherries, however, more sugar may be required than with other fruits. When purchasing fresh cherries there are various options for purchasing such as visiting an orchard, specialty market, large produce garden or local grower who offer pick your own options that can save both money and time in finding exactly the cherries you need for your recipe while keeping prices low.
If fresh cherries are unavailable to you, canned and frozen varieties still provide delicious cherry flavor. Canned cherries come in various sizes; smaller cans make great snacks while larger sized cans can be used in making cherry pies, cobblers or other desserts.
Dried cherries offer another convenient way to use cherries in snacks and baking applications, perfect for both snacking and baking. Dried sour or tart cherries can also be purchased in bags or jars for easy shopping convenience.
Cherries provide many health advantages beyond just being delicious treats. Cherries are packed with antioxidants and contain melatonin to aid sleep patterns; additionally they contain vitamin C and potassium as well as dietary fiber that promotes digestive health and may even lower cholesterol levels and regulate blood sugar.
Dried Cherries
Cherries make delicious snacks and are versatile enough to be used in recipes for both sweet and tart dishes. Available fresh for only a short season in summer, canned cherries provide good sources of antioxidants and other essential nutrients; eating dried cherries provides additional satiety and can even aid weight loss efforts! Dried cherry recipes should be incorporated into weight loss plans for added benefits that come from fiber, low glycemic index ranking and overall satisfying experience.
Cherries provide essential nutrition, including vitamins A and C, magnesium, potassium, boron, iron and calcium. As low-calorie foods they’re great source of anthocyanins – powerful antioxidants which may protect against chronic diseases like heart disease, arthritis and Alzheimer’s. In addition, their anti-inflammatory properties help soothe sore muscles after physical activity while aiding sleep quality.
Dried cherries can easily add sweetness and texture to a recipe, as they provide an abundance of soluble fiber that can lower cholesterol, blood sugar levels, aid digestion, reduce blood pressure and support overall cardiovascular health. When mixed with other food items they provide a significant portion of daily recommended fiber consumption.
One cup of raw dried cherries provides less than 100 calories and 15 percent of your daily vitamin C requirement. Dried cherries contain high concentrations of melatonin to relax the body and promote peaceful sleeping patterns; additionally they supply your body with anthocyanins that are known for their anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties.
Start your morning off right by adding dried cherries to your cereal or granola breakfast for an energy-boosting and naturally sweet breakfast option! Dried cherries also work great when combined with dark leafy greens, pear slices and chopped roasted walnuts as part of a salad, sandwich topping or orange juice vinaigrette-topped grain salad as an energy booster or in a Cranberry and Raisin muffin for lunch.
Canned Cherries
There are approximately two cups of cherries in a can, which should be enough for most recipes calling for cherry pie filling and snacking on them! When selecting canned cherries for purchase, it is essential that they be of superior quality – clean, plump and free from cuts or blemishes – with firm skins free from stale stems – ideal conditions. Canned cherries should stay fresh up to one year unopened in cool dark cupboard storage conditions.
When it comes to canning cherries, two methods exist: hot pack or raw pack. Hot packing involves cooking the fruit in canning liquid before packing; this prevents shrinkage that could otherwise result in uneven sealing jars.
To prepare raw packed cherries, start by washing and pitting the fruit. A cherry pitter is an inexpensive tool designed to quickly extract pits from cherries; otherwise you can use a knife to carefully extract the pits. Next, combine sugar and Clear Jel in a large saucepan along with any desired liquid such as water or juice and heat on medium high until thickening begins to occur. Add lemon juice then fold in your drained cherries. Fill jars leaving 1-inch headspace.
Both varieties of cherries make excellent candidates for canning; sweet varieties make delicious jams and jellies, while tart varieties can be turned into preserves. You’ll find recipes for both types in home canning books or pectin packages you have purchased.
When canning, for best results it is essential that you follow your recipe closely and sterilize all canning jars and tools prior to beginning. Also consider setting up a canning station so all of the items necessary are at hand – this way you’ll avoid having to juggle hot jars while trying to can; additionally vacuum seal cherries to prolong shelf stability as long as possible.