Mountain Lane Homesteaders

Cherry Pitting Tip

I posted this morning about all the cherries we picked last night.  I still haven't decided exactly what I plan to make with them but I did find this wonderful idea on google for pitting cherries with a paperclip.  This may not be news for many of you but I have never even made a cherry pie, let alone pitted cherries so it was very exciting for me.  If you find yourself with a bunch of cherries to process.......give this method a try.  I had enough for a pie in 20 minutes. 

First, you will need a clean standard sized ''gem'' paperclip (not a tiny one, and not a jumbo one, just a normal everyday paperclip). Wash it off and make sure it isn't rusty, scaley, or otherwise going to leave a nasty metallic residue in your fruit. Next, separate the two loops of the paperclip, bending it open into a flat S shape. If the paperclip breaks, get another paperclip. You need the whole clip for leverage.

Which end you use as the business end depends upon the size of your cherry stone. I generally use the larger loop, although smaller cherries (such as sour cherries), may work better with the smaller loop. Try both ends to see which works better for your fruit.

Wash your fruit prior to pitting. Washing the cherries afterwards will fill them with water and wash off the juice.

To pit a cherry, remove the stem and push the round end of the paperclip loop into the stem end of the cherry (it may take a bit of effort to breach the skin), on a slight angle so that the wire scrapes against the side of the cherry stone. Keep pushing and angling the paperclip so it follows the curve of the cherry stone instead of poking out the side of the cherry. When the end of the paperclip reaches the bottom of the cherry stone and starts to hook under it, twist the paperclip (or the cherry, whichever is easier) so the wire loop scrapes all the way around the pit. You may need to do this more than once, or dig around a bit to find a spot you've missed. You'll be able to feel when the pit is loose, at which point, angle the loop to pop out the pit.

After the first few, I find myself developing a knack and it goes much faster. Each cherry tends to give up at most one large drop of juice. There will be very little flesh stuck to the cherry stone, as well. You will stain your fingers, though, and your hand may eventually get a little sore where the ends of the paperclip digs into it. Also, once in a while, a cherry will squirt. So don't wear anything that minds a few drops of cherry juice! This technique works equally well on firm and soft fruit, although it tends to be easier to push the paperclip into a soft cherry.

Keep the pitted fruit refrigerated if you don't use it right away. It's best to use it within a day. If you are really frugal, wash off the paperclip, dry it, and store it away for next time!

Hi

5:19 PM, Tuesday, July 25, 2006 .. Posted by teapots66

Hi, Darcy! I will be digging up as many plants as I can, but it will take away time from regular packing, which I am beginning in earnst now. I was reading your profile, sounds really neat how you're building your dream a little at a time. We are going to be building, but not from scratch: we'll be adding a second floor to my mom's ranch home to make a colonial of sorts (the colonial - a new england staple!) so we can both live there (my family, plus her). Anyway, can I add you to my friends list so I can keep reading your neat tips like pitting cherries with a paperclip? I've never heard of it! Have a great night - Chris

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8:38 PM, Tuesday, July 25, 2006 .. Posted by GrandmaRosie

This is something I really needed. Thanks for the tip!

cherries

8:43 PM, Thursday, July 27, 2006 .. Posted by mccrjill

I sure remember pitting a lot of cherries from our cherry trees when I was growing up. We used a paring knife. I read every bit of how to do it with a paper clip. Another blogger from Montana mentioned you, so I found your blog. I love MT and lived there at Lakeside YWAM base in fall of 1986. Haven't been back since, but I still remember how beautiful it is. jill