How to Can Cherries for Enjoying Year-Round

Cherries, cherries, so many cherries! What can we do with them to enjoy their sweet and tart flavors not just in the summer, but into winter too? Let me show you the easiest and fastest way to perfectly can your cherries.

Preparing Your Cherries
First, wash your cherries and remove the stems. You can either leave the pits in the cherries or remove them, depending on your preference. There are two simple ways to pit cherries:

Using a Cherry Pitter: This tool makes pitting cherries quick and easy. If you don't have one, you can find a link in the description to purchase one.
Using a Straw: A regular straw can also do the trick. Simply insert the straw on one side of the cherry and push it through to the other side, removing the pit. It's a bit messier, but it's a free tool!
Personally, I like my cherries with the pits still in, but if I'm using them for a pie, I take the pits out beforehand

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Sterilizing Your Jars
Before you start canning, sterilize your jars by boiling them in water. Once sterilized, fill the jars with cherries, using your hands to pack them tightly. Tap the jars on the counter to help the cherries settle, allowing you to add more.

Adding Sweetener
After packing the cherries, sprinkle two tablespoons of sugar or stevia over them. Stevia is a great alternative for those with dietary restrictions, like my diabetic husband.

Filling with Water
Fill the jars with warm water, leaving about one inch of space at the top. To prevent sealing issues, remove as many air bubbles as possible.

Sealing the Jars
Place hot lids on the jars. To avoid burning your fingers, use a magnetic canning lid lifter, which you can also find linked in the description. Screw the lids on hand-tight, not too tight.

Processing the Jars
Place the jars in a large stockpot and fill it with water, ensuring the water level is one to two inches above the lids. Cook for about 20 minutes. If your pot is small, you can process the jars in batches.

Final Steps
Once the time is up, carefully remove the jars and retighten the lids, which may have loosened during processing. Turn the jars upside down to ensure a perfect seal and let them cool for about two hours. After cooling, turn the jars right side up

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Now, you can enjoy delicious cherries any time you want, not just in summer.

By following these simple steps, you can savor the taste of fresh cherries throughout the year. Happy canning!