The Absolute Best Way to Pit Cherries, According to a 5th Generation Cherry Grower
I can't think of a better treat than a bowl of ripe summertime cherries. They're geat in sweet and savory dishes, they're delicious and they're also pretty (that crimson color!). They big sticking point? Pitting them can be, well, the pits. Pitting cherries can be tedious and time-consuming and a very messy.
But what if you had a better way to pit cherries? To find out how to pit cherries like a pro, we talked to a fifth-generation cherry grower. He shared his favorite ways to pit cherries (with and without a pitter), plus other tips to help us enjoy this sweet summer fruit.
Related: 10 Creative and Delicious Ways To Use Cherries This Season
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What Are the Different Ways to Pit Cherries?
A quick Google search brought me to about six different ways to pit cherries (and I tried them all): with a piping tip, with a paper clip, with a chopstick, with a reusable straw, with a cherry pitter and with a knife.
According to West Mathison, the president of Stemilt and a fifth-generation cherry grower, the wonderful thing about cherry pitting is you don’t really need the fanciest tool to be able to pop out that pit. His favorite methods for pitting cherries include using a paper clip, using a chopstick and a bottle (more on that later) or using a cherry pitter.
Six Ways to Pit Cherries (and the Winning Method!)
How to pit cherries using a metal or plastic reusable straw. With this method, you have to hit the pit at just the right angle with the straw in order for it to pop out. Also, because the straw is hollow, some of the fruit ends up inside the straw (cherries are not cheap!) and there is a considerable amount of splatter.
How to pit cherries with a cherry pitter. Mathison says if you're going to pit a lot of cherries, it may be worth investing in one of these tools (which run from about $6 on Amazon to just under $20 for a six-at-a-time pitter). There are many different models available, but all you have to do is place the cherry in the pitter and then push a plunger or squeeze a handle. Bonus: these also work as olive pitters. The downsides? Extremely large cherries didn't fit in the opening of the pitter and you have another kitchen gadget to store.
How to pit cherries with a paper clip. Another tried-and-true method for Mathison (however, I couldn't get behind this one as I tore the cherry up fishing around for the pit and cherry juice was everywhere). Mathison says to don gloves for this one. Open up a large metal paperclip. Remove the stem from the cherry and push the curved end of the paper clip into the stem bowl of the cherry. Once you can feel where the pit is, turn the paperclip around in a circular motion and push the cherry pit out.
How to pit cherries with a piping tip. Yup, the same one you would use to decorate that birthday cake. Talk about a double-duty kitchen tool. This method was one of my personal favorites because it was quick, easy and didn't result in a lot of cherry waste. Simply remove the stem and place it stem-side down on top of the piping tip and press. Voilà!
How to pit cherries with a knife. Smashing an entire cherry (as you would a garlic clove to remove the skin) indeed results in removing the pit, but you're also losing a lot of valuable and tasty cherry juice (along with a huge mess on your hands) and a smushed cherry. You can also use a paring knife to cut the cherry in half around the pit, then twist the fruit, as you would a peach. This works, but it's messy and it's also not a great method if you want whole cherries for your recipes.
How to pit cherries with a chopstick and a bottle. Mathison says this is one of his favorite ways to quickly pit a lot of cherries. "You’re going to remove the cherry stem, then place the cherry sideways on the opening of the water bottle. Take the pointy end of the chopstick and push it into the middle of the cherry where the pit will be pushed out the other side and into the bottle. Don’t be shy, you might need some oomph to get the pit through! If you don’t have a chopstick handy, a sturdy straw will also do the trick." This method is also slightly better than using a straw because the chopstick is not hollow and therefore there is less cherry waste. Win!
What's the Best Way to Use Fresh Cherries?
Mathison, who was lucky enough to enjoy cherries straight off the tree as a kid, says his number one way to prepare them is in a classic cherry pie.
"My family has been growing sweet cherries since before I was born, and I remember picking them off branches in the summer when they were at their sweetest," he says. "If I had to choose a recipe, it would without a doubt be a classic cherry pie," noting that his family recipe uses dark sweet cherries in the recipe, which means you don’t need to add in as much sugar.
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How Can You Avoid Stained Hands or a Stained Cutting Board When Pitting Cherries?
Mathison says you should be careful when pitting cherries because the juice will stain your clothes, hands and cutting boards. He recommends wearing latex gloves or other kitchen gloves when pitting cherries and changing into clothes you don't mind getting stains on (i.e. no white!). On the cutting boards front, there are a few ways you can protect them. One way is by using salt and lemon to scrub away the juice after you’re done pitting. Mathison says baking soda will work as well, and you can even combine it with vinegar. "An acid like vinegar is great for removing plant-based stains like cherry juice," he says.
Related: The Part of Your Microwave You’re Probably Not Cleaning
Stemilt
When Can You Get the Very Best Tasting Cherries?
California cherries often hit peak supply around Memorial Day, while Washington cherries peak on the 4th of July and about a month afterward, according to Mathison. "Stemilt has the longest cherry season in the world, starting in late April and running through August, so cherries are [front] of mind for us that whole time," he says. "Cherries don’t gain sugars once off the tree so picking them for the correct firmness, size and flavor is the best way to achieve peak ripeness."
Related: Tart Cherry Thumbprint Cookies
What Can Yo Do With Cherry Pits?
Don't toss those pits! Mathison shared several fun ways to use them. "You can turn them into syrup by steeping the pits in sugar water or make cherry extract by roasting them and using them as a substitute for almond extract," he says. "One of the coolest ways I’ve seen cherry pits reused is in heating pads. Microwaving cherry pits in a fabric bag creates moist heat that can be used for any need." And finally: "I like to enjoy a friendly game of cherry pit spitting where you see who can spit a cherry pit the farthest!"
