Dried black cherries are a convenient pantry staple with a long shelf life and high nutrient content. They can be used in a variety of recipes, including main dishes and salads. Tart cherries are rich in antioxidants and have numerous health benefits. They are commonly grown in Michigan and used in baking and desserts.
Dried black cherries are the pitted and dehydrated fruit of different varieties of cherry. Montmorency is the most commonly grown variety of black cherry in the United States used for drying, canning and freezing. The dehydration process removes most of the water content of the cherry, extending the shelf life of this dehydrated fruit while retaining most of the nutrients. Dried tart cherries can be stored in sealed containers at cool room temperature with other non-perishable foods. Fresh cherries spoil quickly, even with refrigeration, making dried cherries a more convenient pantry staple.
A favorite for baking, tart cherries don’t lose their flavor the way cherries do when heated. Though most commonly used in baked goods and desserts, dried tart cherries are found in a wide variety of recipes. They can be used in place of raisins in any recipe, providing a distinctive flavor to the dish. Many people eat them as toppings for cereal, yogurt and ice cream, added to trail mix, or by themselves as a snack. Dried tart cherries come sweetened, unsweetened, or covered in chocolate, and different recipes may call for a specific type.
Not only snacks and desserts include cherries, but also main dishes and salads. Grilled or baked meat dishes can be served with a dried cherry sauce. A wide variety of casserole recipes are available including beef, wild rice, and dried cherry tarts. They can also be added to filling ingredients. Chicken salads with cherries and walnuts and spinach salads with cherries, red onions and walnuts are also popular recipes.
Ongoing research has uncovered numerous health benefits of cherries. Their high antioxidant content comes mainly from deep red pigments called anthocyanins. Clinical research and laboratory studies have shown that these antioxidants reduce the risk of heart disease and inflammation. Long used as a folk remedy for gout and other joint pain, studies are finding that tart cherries may also ease muscle soreness from strenuous exercise. Other areas of study include the effect of cherries on abdominal fat, insomnia, cancer and metabolic syndrome.
Originally from Central Asia, the tart cherry was later cultivated in Europe and then in North America. It is more tolerant of different climates than sweet cherry and is especially suited to conditions in the northern United States and parts of Canada. Most of the tart cherries in the United States are grown in Michigan. Globally, the major cherry producers are Russia, Poland, Turkey and Germany. Other names for tart cherries are tart or pie cherries.
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