skip to main content

alternative to cherry pitter?

15 years ago

I do not own a cherry pitter and I really have no need for one except once or maybe twice a year. However, I bought a bag of cherries at the grocery and I found a recipe for cherry clafoutis that I would like to try. Is there an easy way to pit cherries or am I just going to have to cut each one in half and pick out the stone?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

ruthanna_gw
15 years ago
A large sized metal paper clip
0
annie1992
15 years ago
I've also used a clean hair pin or a plastic straw. The hair pin Grandma was good at, me not so much. The straw is easier, just push through the stem end and out through the bottom and the pit pops out.

It's gotta be a sturdy straw, though, and a small enough diameter that the pit "catches".

Annie
0
Related Discussions
Recommended cherry pitters
Q
Comments (19)
Elery bought me a Leifheit last year, we did 20 pounds of sweet cherries in under and hour. If you go too fast, you'll occasionally miss a pit, but you can put a big cup of cherries in the top and they'll drop down one at a time for pitting with the plunger. The pits drop into the bottom chamber, the cherries get spit out into a bowl. Works like a charm, and well worth the $25 or so he spent for it. It got really good reviews on Amazon, so I'm not the only one who likes it. Annie Here is a link that might be useful: Leifheit cherry pitter
...See More
Cherry pitter
Q
Comments (2)
Yep, I own a percolator. Nice to have when my power goes out and I can make coffee on my woodstove. Haven't tried it for cherries..........yet. Haven't tried my little hand held cherry pitter either for that matter. Maybe I'll try the pen too....... It's beginning to look real scientific now...........NOT!! *(grin)* I'll let ya know! Deanna
...See More
Annie, which cherry pitter?
Q
Comments (4)
I'm not annie, but have pitted a few cherries. This kind: http://www.amazon.com/Chop-Rite-16T-Crank-Cherry-Pitter/dp/B0013DZZSA/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1308518766&sr=8-20 Works pretty fast....but does mangle the fruit a bit and leaves an occasional pit behind... This is what I currently use: http://cgi.ebay.com/Goodell-Co-Vintage-Metal-Cherry-Pitter-Double-Prongs-/270768927309?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0amp;hash=item3f0b15f24d It goes pretty fast...you fill the tray with cherries and..theoretically...they roll into place and you punch the pits out, the cherries roll down that wooden ramp into a bowl and 2 more cherries roll into place. You cang et a rhythm going!. But surely someone has invented a better way after all these years... Linda C
...See More
Soapstone alternatives for natural cherry cabinets...
Q
Comments (11)
I can address a few of your points: -Last year there was a bit of discussion about a "green soapstone" which was not typical looking- and many said that it was really a serpentine. This might be what you've seen. -On busy soapstone: We were finding soapstones that were too busy or too dull. What worked for us was to find out when NEW shipments were expected, then make calls to track the progress. Our perfect stone arrived on my birthday last year. If you know when it's arriving, you can be the first to choose the best slabs. -On splatter marks: Our soapstone is a fairly dark one, and has really not required a lot of oil/wax treatments. It went dark pretty much right away. There are no issues with splatter marks next to my range. I never see spots of any kind. -On substitutes: We were all set to go with antiqued Virginia Mist granite as a backup plan. This is a very pretty dark grey granite. It has many soapstone-like characteristics. There is a gorgeous kitchen in the finished kitchens blog that shows it off- check out those photos. In our area it is so popular that we could have had it for the cost of how many sq feet were used, as opposed to the price of full slabs. It would have been much much less $$ than our soapstone. It is a gorgeous stone. Don't know why there is not more buzz about it. The Antique finish is a tiny bit rougher than "honed" and adds to the "soapstone look" and makes for better maintenance. Dark honed granite can be a nightmare for showing marks, crumbs etc. I have friends with polished black granite and they are very unhappy. Another pretty stone is Pietra Cardoza, which has variable reports on maintenance. I understand that the counters at Restoration Hardware are made of this stone (although often they report it to be soapstone). To me, the Pietra is very similar to the Virginia Mist. For sink: we used Silgranit in biscuit. The matte finish works very well with the understated look of the soapstone. It's a rectangular super-single sink, and is fully under-mounted. It works out perfectly. best wishes- hope you find what you want!
...See More
bbstx
Original Author
15 years ago
Wow! thanks for such prompt responses! I have paper clips. I'm going to have to check on straws.
0
Marilyn Sue
15 years ago
A clean straw works very well and keeps them pretty whole, however, if I am doing a lot, I don't want to mess with a straw, I just sit and pit them by hand. Much faster.

Sue
0
brenda55
15 years ago
Annie, you rock, well, actually Grandma. I used a straw and it worked perfectly. I had about 10 lbs and it went very fast. I had plastic straws left over from a fundraising event, that I cut in half and the pits fit exactly in them. I have about 16 more, if anyone needs one, I'd love to get rid of them as they are whistles on one end, and Aleksi keeps finding them. Just email me and I'll drop one in the mail. So simple a gadget. Wonder if Kathy has one in her gadget collection...lol.

Brenda
0
annie1992
15 years ago
Brenda, I'm glad it worked so well. Grandma was pretty darned good at finding ways to do things cheaply with what she had on hand. 16 straws with whistles on the end. Sounds like a Grandma gift to me, parents would never give their children something that made that much noise...(grin).

Annie
0
sally_grower
15 years ago
I use an old time metal potato peeler. The little pointy end slips right in and the curve goes right in beside the pit. It works great!
Sally
0
hawk307
15 years ago
bbstx:
I use my Turkey Baster. It has an end the size of a straw.

It is a lot fatter to hold in your hand.

Find a plastic bottle with the right size neck to hold the Cherry and Cut the bottom off off.

Place the Cherry on the neck and push the Baster through,
to push the seed out.

You can place the bottle in a small dish to start.
When you are done the seeds will all be in the dish!!!
LOU
0
coconut_nj
15 years ago
Since I don't usually care if the cherries get smashed a bit I usually just give em a good whack with the side of a heavy cleaver or heavy chefs knife like you do to pit olives or dates. It splits the cherry and loosens the pit. It goes pretty fast when you get the hang of it. I whack a bunch then go back and separate the pits from the cherries.
0
rachelellen
15 years ago
Woo hoo!!!

I'm with coconut-nj. Well, at least I was until I bought a Bo-Na-Fide cherry pitter. I don't hold with gadgets much...they generally take more drawer space than they're worth...but my cherry pitter is a pal, as I can aim the cherry juice splats into a bowl instead of all over the counter.

Still, if you aren't going to pit enough cherries to make it worth owning the gadget, a big towel spread over the work surface will catch the juice (most of it anyway), and a good whack with a cleaver loosens the pits for you to simply pick out.
0

Related Stories

KITCHEN DESIGN Alternatives to Granite Countertops, Part III

9 more reasons to rethink the granite kitchen counter

MATERIALS Materials Workshop: Polycarbonate — a Low-Cost Alternative to Glass

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

Looking for something lighter, stronger and less expensive than glass? Multiwall polycarbonate may be a good option

KITCHEN DESIGN Alternatives to Granite Countertops, Part II

Still looking for a new kind of countertop? Try sodalite, zinc, limestone, onyx and more

KITCHEN DESIGN 10 Gorgeous Backsplash Alternatives to Subway Tile

By Vanessa Brunner

Artistic installations, back-painted glass and pivoting windows prove there are backsplash possibilities beyond the platform

TREES Native Plant Alternatives to Invasive Common Buckthorn

By Pollination Press LLC

Learn how to identify and control this aggressive plant, and what to grow in its place

REMODELING GUIDES Your Floors: Zebra, Tiger, and Teak Wood, Oh, My!

Get the Pros and Cons of Exotic Woods: Hickory, Cherry, Rosewood and More

BEFORE AND AFTERS See 6 Yards Transformed by Losing Their Lawns

By Annie Thornton

Wondering whether a turf lawn is the best use of your outdoor space? These homeowners did, and they found creative alternatives

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 15 Great Ideas for a Lawn-Free Yard

By Laura Gaskill

End the turf war for good with hardscaping, native grasses and ground covers that save water and are easier to maintain

FRONT YARD IDEAS Before and After: Front Lawn to Prairie Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

How they did it: Homeowners create a plan, stick to it and keep the neighbors (and wildlife) in mind

EARTH DAY The Case for Losing the Traditional Lawn

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Work less, help the environment and foster connections by just saying no to typical turf

Sponsored

More Discussions

A Second-Hand Xmas In Carpentras,

56

Baking for Valentines's Day

8

Sister is getting a new shoulder!

9

Los Angeles/ Pacific Palisade Fire - near Plllog?

38

Recs for induction-compatible cookware and where to buy

11