Owning a cherry pitter might be the best decision if you are a cherry lovers, but if you don’t have one, you still can use cherry pitter alternatives!
When you’re eating exquisite cherry pie cherry cobbler, the rock-hard pit or seed in the middle of a cherry is the last thing you want to bite into. And it’ll be the last thing you bite into before dialing your dentist’s emergency number.
Using a cherry pitter (like this top-rated OXO cherry pitter) to pit cherries is as simple as it gets: place cherry in pitter, squeeze handle, and pit pops out. There are tools that can handle many cherries at once if you’re working with large quantities of cherries (with this handy tool , you can pit 25 pounds of cherries in just one hour).
If you don’t have a cherry pitter, cut the cherry all the way around from top to bottom with a sharp paring knife, then twist the two halves apart in opposite directions. We have compiled best cherry pitters review, you can use as reference before buying one.
If you’re lucky, the cherry pit will pull away smoothly from one half of the cherry, but you’ll still have to dig it out with the point of your knife from the other half. You’re left with two halves. For most recipes, that’s OK, but what if you want entire pitted cherries? You’ll need to employ one of the following simple techniques:
Cherry Pitter Alternatives – Pastry tip
Use a metal pastry tip with a point that is 14 inches in diameter. Hold the cherry at a 90-degree angle with the stem facing up. Push the tip of the fruit through the top until the pit emerges from the bottom.
Cherry Pitter Alternatives – Chopstick
Use a chopstick, dowel, or skewer that is about ¼-inch wide in diameter. A metal straw can be used as well. Hold the cherry with the stem side facing up at a 90-degree angle. Carefully push the stick through the top of the fruit, until the pit emerges from the bottom.
Cherry Pitter Alternatives – Bottle + chopstick
Use a chopstick, dowel, or skewer that is about ¼-inch wide in diameter. A metal straw can be used as well. Hold the cherry with the stem side facing up at a 90-degree angle. Carefully push the stick through the top of the fruit, until the pit emerges from the bottom.
Cherry Pitter Alternatives – 4Paring knife
On a chopping board, place the cherry. Starting on the stem side, cut longitudinally across the entire fruit with a paring knife, making sure to strike the pit. Twist the halves apart, then remove the pit with your fingers.
Cherry Pitter Alternatives – Other Ways to Pit Cherries
Place a cherry on a chopping board and flatten it with the flat of a knife. With the flat section of your knife’s blade, smack it. This completely destroys the cherry, but it does the job.
Take a huge paper clip and pull it open into an elongated S shape with your fingers. With one hand, hold the cherry. Dig one loop end of the paper clip into the cherry, twist it, and use the clip to pull out the loosened pit.
Take a bamboo chopstick and use it to eat (the kind that comes with takeout sushi works best). With one hand holding the cherry, push the chopstick straight through the cherry to remove the pit. If you don’t have a chopstick, a sturdy, reusable straw will suffice.) Take a large metal pastry tip (one that isn’t fluted) and use it. Place it on a cutting board upright. Cherry stems should be pushed through the tube.
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