It's cherry season again. Looking at the red, juicy cherries, few girls can resist the urge to take a bite. But it's said that cherries can have worms in them. What should we do? How can we pick cherries without worms?
Why do cherries grow worms?
Regarding the issue of worms in cherries circulating online, experts say these are 'fruit fly larvae', which hatch from eggs laid by fruit flies inside the cherries. These insects are mostly found in temperate and tropical climates worldwide, feeding mainly on rotten fruit. When cherries are almost ripe, fruit flies lay their eggs in the flesh. In just a few days, these fruit fly larvae hatch, becoming the little white worms we see. According to experts, fruit flies are different from the common houseflies. From birth to adulthood, the larvae feed on the fruit flesh and are not parasitic or pathogenic. Besides making consumers uncomfortable psychologically, they are perfectly safe to eat.
In fact, besides cherries, high-sugar fruits like watermelon and grapes, as well as fruits like bayberry, blueberries, and strawberries, are all favorite places for fruit flies to lay eggs. This is a normal phenomenon.
How to force the worms out of cherries? Expert: Soak in salt water
When fruit is soaked in salt water, the water creates an anoxic environment for the fruit fly larvae, and the salt stimulates them, causing them to crawl out of the skin. Therefore, before eating fruit, it's best to soak it in salt water for about half an hour to better drive out the worms.
How to pick cherries?
Although cherries are delicious, they are expensive. If you buy ones that don't taste good, it not only affects your mood but is also a waste of money. Therefore, it is very necessary to master the skill of picking cherries.
Four things to look for when picking cherries
Look at the color: Dark
Generally, fruits follow a rule: the greater the temperature difference between day and night in the growing area, the sweeter the fruit. Darker cherries are usually sweeter, while lighter ones are often more sour. Moreover, darker cherries have a higher anthocyanin content and are naturally more nutritious.
Look at the stem: Fresh
When buying, remember that the stem is an important indicator of freshness. When cherries are just picked, the stems are green. Over time, they start to turn black, and the nutritional value is greatly reduced. It is not recommended to buy them.
Look at the calyx: Concave
When picking, pay more attention to the shape of the cherry's calyx. The more concave this area is, the sweeter the cherry will be.
Look at the luster: Moist
Ripe cherries will have a good luster. The skin of ripe, healthy cherries will show a natural, rounded sheen. Those that are dull and withered are often soft to the touch, not fresh, and do not taste good.