How to avoid worm-infested cherries: Tips and tricks you need to know

The first appearance of cherries in stores always comes with shock, an automatic reach for the wallet, and a quickened heartbeat. Fortunately, in June, the prices of these tasty and healthy fruits become more reasonable, although they're still not the cheapest culinary indulgence. Of course, this is only the first of two reasons for the immense disappointment when discovering that the cherries we purchased are worm-infested. The second reason is simply that we had a massive craving for them! And how can we not get upset?

Before throwing a fit at home over it, look at the cherries while still in the store. The worm-infested ones are straightforward to identify. You don't need a knife to cut and sift through the fruits. It's simpler than you think, and everything will be clear after this article.

The pests that particularly favour residing in cherries are cherry fruit fly larvae. Although accidentally consuming one shouldn't negatively impact our health, it will undoubtedly offend our sense of aesthetics. And no one wants to discourage themselves or their children from eating these healthy fruits, right?

So, before buying cherries in the store, look at them. What should raise your concern? First, the obvious: holes in the skin or "tunnels" underneath it. These are signs of unwanted tenants, so don’t buy those cherries. But that's not all. Another negative trait of these fruits is discolouration, white or black spots that stand out against the colour of the cherries.

If you already have cherries at home but still aren't one hundred per cent sure they are edible, you can still use a little-known trick. Place the fruits in a bowl, cover them with cold water, and add salt. Don't worry — in 15 to 20 minutes, the taste of the salt won't transfer to the fruits, but it will draw out any potential inhabitants. If none appear, you can be sure your cherries are free from them and can start eating them!