Wormy cherries. How to spot them before eating

Cherry season is here. The early varieties are practically fully red already, while others are gradually starting to turn red. This delicious seasonal fruit is definitely worth it. Their taste can be slightly spoiled by worms, which are often found inside the cherries. Most of the time, we eat them unknowingly and nothing happens. But if you’re not exactly keen on extra protein from cherries, it’s definitely worth reading up on how to easily spot wormy cherries. All it takes is a few very simple tricks.

Why do cherries get worms?

The traditional reason is, of course, the cherry fruit fly. Rhagoletis cerasi is a tiny fly that lays its eggs directly into ripening fruit. It simply pierces them, and white larvae hatch, destroying the cherry’s internal tissue. The larvae do not harm the plant itself, but they severely degrade the taste of the cherry. Furthermore, the fruit spoils quickly and eventually becomes completely inedible.

Photo: Radek Stepan

Which cherries are least likely to be wormy?

Traditionally, early cherry varieties have the fewest worms. The reason is quite straightforward. The cherry fruit fly does not begin to appear in large numbers until the second half of June. As a result, early cherries can remain worm-free without much trouble. On the other hand, cherries that ripen later are almost always infested.

How to spot infested cherries at a glance

It’s quite simple. You need to examine the cherry very closely. This also applies when buying cherries at the store.If you see a small puncture mark directly on the cherry, it’s a sure sign. Small dots can also be an indicator. The area around these dots is also usually slightly indented. The indentation is usually noticeable. Soft spots or a wrinkled surface often appear on the fruit as well. The stem also reveals the freshness of the cherries. It is usually deep green and supple. Additionally, it is firmly attached to the fruit itself. The fruit is as glossy as possible.

Saltwater Test

Anyone can perform this very simple test for worm-infested cherries. All you need is:

– 1 liter of cold water,

– 20 grams of salt.

Pour the cherries into a bowl, then cover them with water and add the salt. The larvae should float to the surface after a while. The relative worm infestation of the cherries can be determined by their quantity.

Sources: Author, Meta

Photo and photogallery: Radek Stepan