Here’s How to Store Fresh Cranberries — And How Long They Last (2024)

FAQs

Here’s How to Store Fresh Cranberries — And How Long They Last? ›

Fresh cranberries stored in the refrigerator are usually good for up to 2 weeks. We suggest freezing them if you are not going to use them within two weeks. Cranberries will freeze nicely and last up to one year.

Cranberries can be stored in the refrigerator up to three (3) months if they are kept in their original plastic packaging or in an airtight, sealed container. Left in the open air, at room temperature, cranberries quickly lose their freshness.

Fresh cranberries are usually good stored in the refrigerator for two weeks. If kept longer, you will find a gradual deterioration of quality with more soft or bruised berries. Berries can be stored in the original packaging in the refrigerator crisper for up to four weeks.

Rinse before freezing

Sort, rinse, drain and pat the berries dry to prevent ice crystals from causing freezer burn. Place them on a shallow tray until frozen in the freezer. Pack them in a rigid freezer container or plastic freezer bag-label them with a date.

At home, keep cranberries cold. In the fridge, they'll stay fresh for a good month. "I've kept some longer than that," Lochner said.

To prepare cranberries for cooking, sort out soft berries and stems. Sometimes a few white cranberries are in the bag. They are fine to use, they just haven't been exposed to as much sunlight as the red ones. Rinse berries well with water and drain in a colander.

Yes! Fresh cranberries freeze for up to a year and can often be substituted in recipes that call for fresh cranberries. When cooking with frozen cranberries, do not thaw before using.

If stored correctly, fresh cranberries will last in the refrigerator for three to four weeks. If you opted to freeze them, they'll keep well for up to a year. When frozen, you can use them straight from the freezer without defrosting.

Many people consider cranberries to be a superfood due to their high nutrient and antioxidant content. In fact, research has linked the nutrients in cranberries to a lower risk of urinary tract infection (UTI), the prevention of certain types of cancer, improved immune function, and decreased blood pressure.

If you absolutely need to thaw the frozen cranberries, place them in a strainer and run cool water over them until thawed. Do cranberries get mushy after freezing? If you thaw the frozen cranberries, they will be pretty mushy.

Can you eat cranberries raw? ›

Eating raw cranberries is safe and easy, though their sharp, bitter flavor isn't for everyone. Be sure to clean and sort them thoroughly. You should also consume them in moderation, especially when juiced, as excessive amounts of juice may cause stomach upset or interfere with medications like warfarin.

If you expect to keep them under water, cover them with something to weigh them down. Change the water used with cranberries if it becomes murky or clouded. In water, cranberries should last about two weeks.

The way to tell if your cranberries are super fresh is to drop one on the floor from a bit of a height. If it's fresh it will bounce. The bounce means the berry is still nice and firm.

Both fresh and dried cranberries are safe to feed to dogs in small quantities. Whether your dog will like this tart treat is another question. Either way, moderation is important when feeding cranberries to dogs, as with any treat, as too many can lead to an upset stomach.

Homemade cranberry sauce will last in the fridge for 10 to 14 days. Canned cranberry sauce that has been opened will last up to a week in the fridge.

Cranberries do float, so to get the at the bottom of a vase you need to freeze them in water.

Without sealant, garlands are good for about 3 days.

If you thaw the frozen cranberries, they will be pretty mushy. But in almost every recipe in which I have ever used frozen cranberries, I have never needed to thaw them before using them.