How Long Maraschino Cherries Will Last In The Fridge (And When To Toss Them)

Maraschino cherries are the sidekick to a long list of impressive cocktails. They add a hint of flavor and give a drink just enough visually to look fulfilled without being too much. The grandfather of garnishes, these sweet fruits were introduced to the United States back in the 1800s — and they've confidently held their place in the libation industry ever since.

Traditional maraschino cherries are named as such because they're preserved in maraschino liqueur, a liqueur made from marasca cherries, with a sweetness but slight almond flavor. These days, not all maraschino cherries are preserved using that original method, so if you purchase them, double check that they're not imitations.

It's easy to make cocktails that feature the maraschino cherry, but once you buy a jar, it's not so easy to use them quickly. They can wind up spending too much time in the back of your refrigerator. So, how long do maraschino cherries actually last — and how do you know when they've gone bad?

When it comes to storage methods, you might know a few friends who prefer to keep their maraschino cherries in the pantry or on the bar cart. Others, however, might swear by the refrigerator. The short answer to the best storage method is to go with the option that will make the cherries last longer: the refrigerator. 

In this case, you can expect the cherries to remain fresh for up to a year (but it could be a little more or less, depending on how the cherries were made). "Once opened, they can keep for about 6 to 12 months, as long as they are continuously refrigerated during that time," Tracey Brigman, EdD, associate director of the National Center for Home Food Preservation, told Epicurious.

If the jar doesn't specifically say to store the cherries in the refrigerator, you might choose to keep them at room temperature. In this case, they'll only stay fresh for up to two months. While there is a chance the syrup will thicken in the fridge, if you don't plan to use them quickly, the colder temperature is the better storage option.

Unless you label every jar in your refrigerator with a date, there's a good chance you'll forget exactly what time of year you purchased those cherries. In this case, there are a few ways to tell when the cocktail cherries are past their prime. 

First, check the expiration date; that's the easiest way to know what you're dealing with. From there, though, you'll want to do a visual inspection. If the cherries appear discolored from how they looked upon purchasing, there's a good chance they shouldn't be used. Of course, if mold is present, the cherries should be immediately discarded.

The cherries' scent can be an indicator, too. Check for any kind of odor. Depending on the type of cherries, they should smell sweet, potentially with a subtle almond scent, but if you take a whiff and something doesn't smell right, it probably isn't.