Fermenting cherries is a wonderful way to extend their shelf life and create a unique and flavorful ingredient for use in a variety of recipes. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to ferment cherries:
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
Before you begin the fermentation process, you will need to gather the following supplies:
- Fresh cherries
- Water
- Sea salt or pickling salt (non-iodized)
- Clean glass jar with a lid (mason jars work well)
- Optional: spices or flavorings such as cinnamon sticks, vanilla beans, or star anise
- Cheesecloth or coffee filter (for covering the jar)
- Rubber band or twine (to secure the cover)
Step 2: Prepare the Cherries
Thoroughly wash your cherries and remove any stems or leaves. You can choose to leave the cherries whole with pits, or you can pit them if you prefer. Pitting the cherries can lead to a faster fermentation and a different texture, but whole cherries will also ferment well.
Step 3: Make the Brine
Prepare a brine solution by mixing water and salt. A good ratio to start with is 1-2 tablespoons of salt per quart (4 cups) of water. Make sure the salt is completely dissolved in the water.
Step 4: Pack the Jars
Place your cherries into the clean glass jar, leaving about an inch of space from the top. If you are adding any optional spices or flavorings, add them in with the cherries. Pour the brine solution over the cherries until they are completely covered, but make sure there is still some space at the top to allow gases to escape during fermentation.
Step 5: Weigh Down the Cherries
It is essential that the cherries stay submerged in the brine to prevent mold from forming. You can use a fermentation weight, a smaller jar filled with water, or a clean zip-top bag filled with brine to weigh down the cherries.
Step 6: Cover the Jar
Cover the jar with a piece of cheesecloth or a coffee filter and secure it with a rubber band or twine. This allows gases to escape while keeping out insects and debris.
Step 7: Ferment
Place the jar in a cool, dark place. An ideal temperature for fermentation is between 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit (15-24 degrees Celsius). Check the cherries daily to make sure they remain submerged, and skim off any foam or mold that may form on the surface. The cherries will usually take 1 to 2 weeks to ferment, depending on the surrounding temperature and your taste preference.
Step 8: Taste and Store
Start tasting the cherries after a few days to determine if they’ve reached your desired level of sourness. Once the cherries are fermented to your liking, place a tight lid on the jar and store them in the refrigerator. Fermented cherries can last for several months in the fridge.
Enjoy your fermented cherries as a snack, on salads, in desserts, or as a unique addition to various dishes. Remember to always use clean utensils when removing cherries from the jar to keep the rest of the batch from being contaminated.
Important Tips
- Always use clean equipment to prevent the introduction of harmful bacteria.
- If mold or an unpleasant smell develops, discard the batch and start over.
- Fermentation times can vary; trust your senses to determine when the cherries are ready.
- If you prefer a sweeter flavor, you can add a small amount of sugar to the brine.
With these simple steps, you can enjoy the taste and health benefits of fermented cherries.