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

I grew up in Massachusetts, which, as far as I am concerned, is cranberry country. So I proudly buy the fresh ruby orbs in bulk when they come around every fall and I fully embrace their mouth-puckering tartness. Their season is short, so if you’d like to stock up for the holiday season, it’s wise to know how to store them and how long they’ll actually last. Here are the details.

Cranberries like to be kept cold. If you bought them in a plastic bag, they can be kept right in the bag and stored in the crisper drawer of your fridge. If purchased from the farmers market and they’re in a brown paper bag, just transfer them to an airtight container or zip-top bag.

You can also freeze cranberries either in their original plastic bag or in an airtight container or zip-top freezer bag.

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. If the recipe you’re using requires them to be chopped, however, you can let them thaw on the counter for 10 minutes or so.

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