Cheerful Cherries

Anna Delany, adapted from www.Fruits&VeggiesMatter.gov

Never underestimate the power of the cherry! Cherries are small fruits big on vitamins, antioxidants and good flavor. They make a tasty and nutritious summer treat. Claimed by many to bring pain relief, cherries have also been nicknamed “the healing fruit”.

Read on to find out why cherries are so good for you.

Did you know you can lose weight online, and access the CalorieKing.com Program with innovative tools and specialized tutorials on all aspects of weight control? Learn more

Varieties

There are two main types of cherries: sweet and sour. Sour cherries are lower in calories and higher in vitamin C and beta carotene than sweet cherries.

Montgomery	This variety is the best known sour cherry. It is mostly canned or frozen for use as pie filling or sauce. They are grown mostly in the eastern and Midwestern states.
Bing	This variety is the best known sweet cherry. It is large, round, extra-sweet and has a purple-red flesh and a deep red skin that is close to black when fully ripe. The Bing is available from the end of May until early August.
Lambert	This variety is the second most popular sweet cherry. It is smaller than the Bing and is more heart shaped. It has a dark-red skin and a rich flavor. Lamberts are available a bit longer than the Bing, usually until the end of August.
Rainer	This variety is sweet with a yellow or pinkish skin. It is milder and sweeter than the Bing. However, this variety is grown in limited quantities.
Royal Ann	This variety has a blush-yellow skin and is often canned or made into maraschino cherries.

Cherries for good health and headaches

According to ongoing research, cherries are a rich source of antioxidants than can help fight cancer and heart disease. In addition, they contain compounds that can help relieve the pain of arthritis, gout and even headaches. The secret is in the pigments that give cherries their rich red hue.

Tart cherries in particular pack a health promoting punch. Ongoing research shows that tart cherries are a rich source of antioxidants, including melatonin, which may help to relieve the pain of arthritis, gout and possibly fibromyalgia. Melatonin in cherries may also help to improve sleep patterns.

How to choose

Buy cherries that have been kept cool and moist, as flavor and texture both suffer at warm temperatures.

Good cherries should be large (one inch or more in diameter), glossy, plump, hard and dark-colored for their variety. Buy cherries with green stems on — they should be fresh. Reject undersized cherries or those that are soft or flabby. Avoid fruit that is bruised or has cuts on the dark surface.

Keep in mind that spoiled cherries in a bunch will start causing the others to spoil also.

How to store

Loosely pack unwashed cherries in plastic bags or pour them into a shallow pan in a single layer and cover with plastic wrap to minimize bruising. Store cherries in the refrigerator. Cherries in good condition should last up to a week. Check the fruit occasionally and remove the cherries that have gone bad. Wash the fruit before eating.

You can freeze cherries by rinsing and draining thoroughly, spreading them out in a single layer on a cookie sheet and placing in the freezer overnight. Once the cherries are frozen, transfer them to a heavy plastic bag. The frozen fruit may be kept up to a year.

How to eat

Most cherries bought at the market are eaten raw, alone or accompanied by other fruits. Simply wash the fruit and serve with the stems.

For cooking, pit cherries either by hand or with a pitter. Poaching is the most common form of preparation for cooked cherries. Drop cherries into a small amount of simmering water, or a combination of water and wine, and cook for one to three minutes until soft. Use one cup liquid to two cups cherries.

Cherry ideas

Add cherries to a fruit salad or green salad for color, flavor and variety

Poach cherries as an excellent topping for low fat ice cream or low fat frozen yogurt

Add dried cherries to oatmeal or trail mix for extra sweetness

Bag into 100-calorie portions and enjoy as a tasty snack

Lose weight online with CalorieKing.com

Did you know that you can lose weight online using our powerful online diet diary, food database and by completing the CalorieKing Program?

We've already helped thousands take control of their weight with the privacy and convenience of online weight loss, isn't it time you tried us too?

Learn more about the benefits of joining our online club.

Back To Article