Tabletop style multiple cherry pitters have you placing the cherry in the machine and pressing down on the top of the unit, punching down on the cherry to pit it. They are more ergonomic and don’t fatigue your hand as much as the handheld kind. And they often will pit more than one cherry at a time. But they take up more storage space, require some extra counter space to use, and are slightly more expensive than handheld squeezing pitters, though they cost less than a hopper-style pitter. While many cherry pitters are made of materials that are considered better than plastic, we appreciate that this is BPA-free, dishwasher safe, and so easy to use and clean. And even though it isn't our favorite option for a kid-friendly pitter, it has a safe and straightfoward design suitable for little helpers. Best of all, this cherry stone remover disassembles for effortless cleaning. All the pieces can be put in the dishwasher. Most cherry pitters are manual. Some require more pressure than others to operate. Individuals with arthritis or other types of joint pain will want to look for a cherry pitter like the Progressive Prepworks Cherry-It Cherry Pitter. This unit has a non-skin bottom to hold it in place. It also requires little effort to remove the pits from the cherries. A. Cut the cherry lengthwise all the way around, keeping the blade of the knife against the pit. Twist the cherry apart to form two halves. ( A similar method to cutting an avocado.) Carefully remove the pit with the tip of the paring knife or your fingertips.

It is important to note that cherry pitters made using white plastic can become stained by the red cherry juice. The pitter is fairly accurate for taking care of more than one cherry at a time. It will remove the seeds the majority of the time. However, it is still a good idea to count the pits to avoid any accidents.

Our Picks For The Top Cherry Pitters

No cherry pitter? No worries! You’ve got options to make the job easier—all using items you probably already have in your kitchen. You can: Though it sounds similar to other individual cherry pitters, unlike the squeeze kind of pitter, this push button style is easier on the hand and wrist and won’t cause cramping when pitting small batches. It’s also one of the smaller mechanical pitters on this list, measuring around 4 inches without a jar attached. More importantly, the all-metal lid and spring mean the pitter will last a long time. The only piece you’ll have to replace is the rubber gasket that the cherry sits on. Users and reviewers say it eventually gets stretched out, though I didn't experience that during my tests. Otherwise, the unit will last you through many cherry seasons. Unless you prefer hand-washing, a cherry pitter that's dishwasher safe will save you time. These tools are available in plastic or metal. We recommend choosing BPA-free plastic if it's an available option and treating stainless steel models more delicately to prevent scratches or discoloration. Brian Krause from the United States is the official Guinness World Records holder for the longest spit of a cherry pit. In 2004 he competed in the International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship and spit a cherry pit over 93 feet!

Tip: Cherry juices can stain porous surfaces (such as wood and unsealed marble), as well as your fingertips. Be mindful of this when working with any of these techniques. I often wear kitchen gloves for easy cleanup.If you have a metal pastry tip in your kitchen for cake decorating, it can pull double duty as a DIY cherry pitter. Simply remove the cherry stem and place the fruit, stem side down, over the top of the piping tip. Then, gently press down on the fruit until the tip pushes the pit through. I'm Amanda, and I love to create seasonal recipes for every day and entertaining. I'm inspired by the beauty of fresh ingredients and believe that there are few bad days that can’t be improved with a warm baguette and a wedge of Brie. B. Use the flat side of a chef’s knife to gently crush the cherry and loosen the pit. Then, make a slit in the side of the cherry with a paring knife and remove the pit with your fingertips. Of course, cherry pits can pose a choking hazard, so avoiding swallowing them is probably a good idea. Young children have smaller bodies, so they are more susceptible to cyanide poisoning. So definitely teach your kids to spit out the cherry pits as well as other stone fruit seeds. Or just use a cherry pitter to serve them pit-free cherries. It can even be used to pit more than just cherries. As long as the fruit will fit in the arms, it is fair game.

Cherry smoothies. Whip yourself up a delicious cherry smoothie using one of our simple smoothie base recipes.If you've never seen a cherry pitter quite like this one, you're not alone. It's a unique design, and one that prevents you from having to grip and squeeze endlessly, which can prove challenging for many hands. Unfortunately, yes, you have to remove the pits before cooking (and eating) cherries. Cherry pits are tooth-breakingly hard and actually poisonous! Cherry pits—and the pits of other stone fruits like plums and peaches—contain cyanide, which in certain doses can be lethal. Next, let’s take a look at the OXO Good Grips Cherry and Olive Pitter. This is a multi-functional kitchen tool that can handle both small and large fruit. Therefore, it is a good option for cooks looking for versatility.

This budget pitter might be a good fit for those who only need to pit cherries once or twice a season and don’t want to invest more money. The Locisne Cherry Pitter is very reasonably priced, and similar to the OXO Good Grips pitter, though not as comfortable or sturdy. The pitter is made of hard plastic, so long-term durability might be an issue. The juice guard also does not come apart, making cleaning the gadget a little more cumbersome. Similarly, some pitters are only meant to handle a certain type of cherry. However, some can destone both small and large cherries with high accuracy. These can often be used on other small fruits, such as strawberries as well. Cleanliness If you’re a casual cherry eater, or just don’t want to shell out for a cherry pitter, there are a few household staples you can turn to. Here are some of the most common methods:

It takes a little work but learning how to pit cherries (with or without a pitter) is worth every bit of effort.

What We Don't Love: Requires a mason jar to use, metal push button is small and isn’t comfortable for large batches What We Love: Small and easy to store, allows you to remove pit while leaving stem on, nothing to break or wearout If your cherry pitter doesn’t have a splash guard, you’ll need to hold it over a bowl or kitchen sink. It’s also advisable that you not wear white, as any juice that gets on your clothes can leave a stain.