Yes, maraschino cherries go bad, but slowly. An unopened jar keeps a long time, and an opened standard jar belongs in the fridge. Below: how long each kind lasts, how to spot a jar that’s turned, and which source each figure comes from.
Do maraschino cherries go bad?
Yes, but slowly. Unopened maraschino cherries are shelf-stable and belong in a cool, dry place, and Luxardo’s own product sheet lists a 3-year shelf life. After opening, refrigerate standard supermarket jars, as the store-brand labels direct. We did not locate an authoritative timeframe specifically for opened maraschino cherries, so follow your label, take a conservative approach, and discard a jar that is moldy, leaking, bulging, damaged or smells off.
For a complete pantry storage reference, see our Food Storage Guide. Wondering where to keep a jar? See our guide on whether maraschino cherries need to be refrigerated.
📋 Do Maraschino Cherries Go Bad: At a Glance
| Unopened, standard red jar | Cool, dry pantry. Store-brand labels say 40 to 80°F and give no time span |
| Unopened, Luxardo | 3 years on Luxardo’s own product sheet. The sheet gives no storage instruction |
| Unopened, closest official figure | 12 to 18 months for canned fruit (NDSU, Wyoming chart based on USDA’s FoodKeeper). Not maraschino-specific |
| Opened, standard supermarket jar | Refrigerate. Store-brand labels say so |
| Opened, how long | No authoritative maraschino-specific time located. Closest comparison: 5 to 7 days for opened canned fruit |
| Opened, Luxardo | Follow your jar’s label. One retailer’s listing advises a closed jar in a cool, dry place |
| Discard | A jar that is leaking, bulging, moldy or foul-smelling. Our other cautions are listed below |
| Crystals in the syrup | A texture change, not a spoilage sign. A Luxardo sheet says cold can crystallize its syrup |
Key Takeaways
- Yes, maraschino cherries go bad, but slowly. Unopened jars keep a long time in a cool, dry pantry, and Luxardo’s own product sheet lists a 3-year shelf life.
- Standard supermarket jars say to refrigerate after opening. Giant’s and Best Choice’s store-brand labels both say so, and so does Tillen Farms for its own cherries.
- We did not locate an authoritative manufacturer or government timeframe specifically for opened maraschino cherries. The closest comparison is opened canned fruit, which NDSU Extension lists at 5 to 7 days in one table and 2 to 4 days in another. Neither names maraschino cherries.
- A date on the jar is about quality, per USDA. It isn’t a guarantee that a jar is safe, so check the jar’s condition too.
- Discard a jar that is leaking, bulging, moldy or foul-smelling. Our other cautions, such as bubbling or cloudy syrup, are our own, and we don’t suggest tasting to test.
Bright red supermarket jars, naturally colored cherries and Luxardo-style cocktail cherries have different labels. If you’re asking where to keep them, see our guide on whether maraschino cherries need to be refrigerated. For other jarred sweets, see whether jelly goes bad and whether corn syrup goes bad.
How Long Do Maraschino Cherries Last?
Start with the kind you have, because supermarket jars, naturally colored cherries and Luxardo run on different labels. These are maker, extension and state-agency figures, not guarantees.
| Type | Unopened | Opened | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard supermarket jar | Cool, dry place, 40 to 80°F. No time span on the label | Refrigerate. No maraschino-specific time found | Store-brand labels |
| Tillen Farms (naturally colored) | No unopened instruction on the page | Refrigerate after opening and serve cold | Tillen Farms |
| Luxardo | 3 years on Luxardo’s own sheet | Follow your jar’s label | Luxardo |
| Opened canned fruit (closest comparison) | 12 to 18 months unopened | 5 to 7 days in one NDSU table, 2 to 4 in another | NDSU, Wyoming |
How Long Do Unopened Maraschino Cherries Last?
An unopened jar keeps a long time in the pantry. Giant’s Our Brand Maraschino Cherries page and Best Choice’s Jumbo Maraschino Cherries page both print the same storage line, which is to store the jar in a cool, dry place at 40 to 80°F. Neither page gives a time span.
Luxardo’s own data sheet lists a shelf life of 3 years for its Original Maraschino Cherries in 400 g, 3 kg and 5.6 kg sizes. The sheet doesn’t say what the 3 years count from, and it gives no storage instruction. Luxardo’s distributor sheets for the 6.6 lb jar and the 14 oz jar call for a dry, cool spot at 68 to 72°F.
No agency lists maraschino cherries. The closest official rows are for canned fruit. NDSU Extension’s Food Storage Guide lists unopened canned foods at 12 to 18 months. Wyoming Department of Health’s food storage times chart draws on USDA’s FoodKeeper and lists high-acid canned goods, including fruits, at 12 to 18 months. Those are general canned-fruit figures, not maraschino cherry figures.
USDA’s food product dating page says product dates are about quality rather than safety, except on infant formula. That doesn’t make an old jar automatically safe, so check the lid, the syrup and the cherries too.
How Long Do Opened Maraschino Cherries Last?
Refrigerate an opened jar of standard supermarket cherries. Both store-brand labels say to refrigerate after opening. Tillen Farms’ Merry Maraschino Cherries page and its Bada Bing Cherries page say the same for their cherries, and add to serve them cold for best results.
We did not locate an authoritative manufacturer or government timeframe specifically for opened maraschino cherries. The closest comparison is opened canned fruit. NDSU’s guide lists it at 5 to 7 days in one table and 2 to 4 days in another, and the Wyoming chart lists 5 to 7 days. Those figures come from general canned-fruit guidance, not maraschino cherries. They’re a useful comparison, but they aren’t an official time limit for these cherries.
Without a published time, follow any timeframe printed on your label and take a conservative approach. Keep the cherries under the syrup, use a clean utensil and check the jar each time. A jar that looks and smells normal isn’t proof that it’s safe, so replace one you’re unsure about.
For Luxardo, A UK retailer’s listing for the 400 g jar advises keeping an opened jar closed in a cool, dry place and not freezing it. That is one retailer’s wording, and Luxardo’s own sheet gives no storage instruction, so follow the label on your jar. Our guide on whether maraschino cherries need to be refrigerated covers the storage question.
What Are Maraschino Cherries Made Of?
FDA’s Compliance Policy Guide on maraschino cherries describes maraschino cherries as red-dyed cherries that are soaked in sugar and packed in sugar syrup, with a flavor like bitter almond oil. It requires labels to declare artificial coloring, artificial flavoring and any chemical preservative. The guide was issued in 1973 and last revised in 1980.
The two store-brand labels list corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, Red 40 and the preservatives potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate and sulfur dioxide. Tillen Farms colors its cherries with vegetable and fruit concentrate and says they’re free from dyes and corn syrup. Luxardo’s product page says it uses no preservatives and no thickening agents, and that its color is natural.
Sulfur dioxide is a sulfite. FARRP’s sulfite labeling page says sulfites must be declared at 10 parts per million or more in the finished food, so anyone who avoids sulfites should read the label.
How Can You Tell If Maraschino Cherries Are Bad?
We found no agency list of spoilage signs for maraschino cherries. For jars, NDSU’s packaged food Q&A says to avoid containers that are leaking or bulging, and it names a foul odor and liquid that spurts when you open the container. Those signs are the best supported.
We’d also discard a jar with mold on the cherries, the syrup or the underside of the lid. Bubbling or fizzing, a sour or boozy smell, slimy cherries, and cloudy or stringy syrup are our own cautions, not maraschino-specific findings. A normal look doesn’t guarantee safety, and we don’t suggest tasting a questionable cherry to test it.
How Should You Store Maraschino Cherries?
Keep unopened jars in a cool, dry cupboard away from the stove, which matches the store-brand labels. Once a standard supermarket jar is open, put it in the fridge with the lid tight and the cherries under the syrup.
Use a clean fork or spoon each time, and don’t drop cherries back into the jar after they’ve sat in a drink. Those are our habits, not agency rules. Our guide on whether maraschino cherries need to be refrigerated has the full storage rundown.
What Goes With Maraschino Cherries?
Maraschino cherries are mostly a garnish. Stocking a home bar? See our guides on whether whiskey goes bad, whether vermouth goes bad, whether brandy goes bad and whether amaretto goes bad. For desserts, see red, white and blue 4th of July desserts and apple dessert recipes.
If red syrup lands on your shirt, see our guide on how to get berry stains out of clothes. For other sweet pantry items, see whether jelly goes bad and whether corn syrup goes bad.
Signs Something Is Wrong
- A leaking or bulging lid, liquid that spurts when you open it, or a foul odor. NDSU flags these signs for packaged foods in general.
- Mold on the cherries, the syrup or the underside of the lid.
- Our added cautions: bubbling or fizzing, a sour or boozy smell, slimy cherries, or cloudy or stringy syrup.
The first item follows NDSU’s general packaged-food guidance. The rest are our own cautions, not a maraschino-specific agency list. A normal look doesn’t guarantee safety, and we don’t suggest tasting to test.
Normal Things That Aren’t a Problem
- Sugar crystals in the syrup. A Luxardo distributor sheet says cold can crystallize its syrup.
- Cherries that have faded a little in color.
- A jar that sat unopened in the pantry for months.
The first is from Luxardo, and the others are our observations. They are texture and color changes, and none overrides the signs above.
Quick Storage Reference
- Unopened: Cool, dry place. Store labels say 40 to 80°F.
- Opened, standard supermarket jar: Fridge.
- Opened, how long: No authoritative maraschino-specific time found. Follow your label.
- Closest comparison: Opened canned fruit, 5 to 7 days (NDSU also lists 2 to 4). Not maraschino-specific.
- Luxardo: 3 years on its own sheet. Follow your jar’s label.
- Discard: Leaking, bulging, moldy or foul-smelling jars.
| Situation | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Unopened standard jar, 2 years past the date | Check the lid, the syrup and the cherries. A date is about quality, and the closest official comparison we found is 12 to 18 months for canned fruit. Discard a jar with a bulging lid, leakage or any sign above. |
| Unopened Luxardo jar, 15 months old | Within Luxardo’s 3-year shelf life if it was stored as the label directs. Check the jar before opening. |
| Opened standard jar, in the fridge for 2 weeks | We did not locate a maraschino-specific time limit. The closest comparison, opened canned fruit, is 5 to 7 days. A normal look doesn’t guarantee safety, so follow your label and replace the jar if you’re unsure. |
| Opened standard jar, in the fridge for 3 months | We did not locate a maraschino-specific time limit, and this is far past the closest comparison of 5 to 7 days. We’d replace the jar. |
| Opened jar left on the counter overnight | We found no source establishing how long an opened jar can safely sit at room temperature, and chilling it now doesn’t resolve that. If you’re unsure, replace the jar. |
| Syrup that looks cloudy or stringy | Discard it. That is our caution rather than an agency finding. |
| Sugar crystals in the syrup | Normal for syrup. A Luxardo sheet says cold can crystallize its syrup. Let the jar warm up and check the other signs. |
| Cherries faded to pale pink | Fine if nothing else looks off. Fading is a quality change, and that is our observation. |
| Jar with a bulging lid | Discard it. |
| Jar with a fuzzy spot | Discard it. We wouldn’t scoop out the mold. |
In October 2026 we read FDA’s Compliance Policy Guide on maraschino cherries, NDSU Extension’s Food Storage Guide and packaged food Q&A, and a Wyoming Department of Health chart based on USDA’s FoodKeeper. We read USDA’s food product dating page, FARRP’s sulfite page and Oregon State University Extension’s maraschino cherry recipe, which we found on a Utah State University Extension site. We read Giant’s and Best Choice’s store-brand pages, Tillen Farms’ product pages, Luxardo’s own data sheet and product page, two Luxardo distributor sheets and a retailer’s listing for Luxardo’s 400 g jar. None of the official charts lists maraschino cherries, and we did not locate an authoritative timeframe for an opened jar. Our own cautions say we’d or are labeled as our own. This article is general information, not medical advice.
Do Maraschino Cherries Go Bad FAQ
Do maraschino cherries go bad?
Yes, but slowly. Unopened jars keep a long time in a cool, dry place, and standard opened jars belong in the fridge. Discard a jar that is leaking, bulging, moldy or foul-smelling.
How long do unopened maraschino cherries last?
Luxardo’s own product sheet lists 3 years. Store-brand labels give no span, so go by the date. The closest official figure is 12 to 18 months for unopened canned fruit, which isn’t maraschino-specific.
How long do opened maraschino cherries last?
We did not locate an authoritative timeframe. The closest comparison is 5 to 7 days for opened canned fruit, which isn’t maraschino-specific. Refrigerate the jar and follow your label.
Do maraschino cherries expire?
They carry a date, and USDA says product dates are about quality rather than safety, except on infant formula. A date isn’t a guarantee either, so check the jar’s condition.
How can you tell if maraschino cherries are bad?
NDSU flags leaking or bulging containers, a foul odor and spurting liquid. We’d also discard a jar with mold. Bubbling, a sour smell or cloudy syrup are our own cautions. We don’t suggest tasting to test.
Do Luxardo cherries go bad?
Eventually. Luxardo’s own sheet lists a 3-year shelf life. For an opened jar, one retailer’s listing advises keeping it closed in a cool, dry place, and we didn’t find Luxardo’s own opened-jar guidance.
Can you freeze maraschino cherries?
One retailer’s listing of what looks like Luxardo’s label says not to freeze. We found no guidance for standard jars, and we wouldn’t freeze them.
Why are there crystals in my cherry syrup?
A Luxardo distributor sheet says cold can make its syrup crystallize. It is a texture change, not a spoilage sign, but check the jar for the other signs.
Do maraschino cherries need to be refrigerated?
Standard supermarket jars and Tillen Farms say to refrigerate after opening. Luxardo’s wording can differ, so follow your jar’s label. See whether maraschino cherries need to be refrigerated.
Can you make your own maraschino cherries?
Oregon State University Extension has a 3-day method that ends with processing jars for 5 minutes in a boiling water canner. The guide gives no storage statement, so follow its processing steps.
Are maraschino cherries real cherries?
Yes. FDA describes them as red-dyed cherries soaked in sugar, packed in sugar syrup and flavored like bitter almond oil.
What goes well with maraschino cherries?
Whiskey, vermouth and brandy drinks are the classics. See whether whiskey goes bad, whether vermouth goes bad and whether brandy goes bad, and red, white and blue 4th of July desserts for desserts.
Further Reading
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