Avoid wormy cherries: Simple tips for a safe and tasty purchase

The first appearance of cherries in stores always comes with a bit of 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 it's still not the cheapest culinary indulgence. This is just one reason for the immense disappointment when discovering that the cherries we purchased are worm-infested. The second is simply that we had a massive craving for them! And who wouldn't get upset?

Before throwing a fit at home, look at the cherries while still in the store. Worm-infested cherries are very easy to identify. You don’t need a knife to cut and sift through the fruits. It's simpler than you think, and after reading this article, everything will appear.

The pests that particularly favor residing in cherries are cherry fruit fly larvae. Although accidentally consuming one shouldn't negatively impact your health, it will undoubtedly offend your sense of aesthetics. 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 discoloration — white or black spots that stand out against the cherries' color.

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