404296 Wed May 23 06:41:01 -0700 2007 22 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 2594411 I've got more cherries left after the three jars of alcohol infusion. I want to make a clafouti, but don't know the best way to pit Bing cherries without a pitter, and keep the full shape intact. Any ideas? Wed May 23 06:41:01 -0700 2007 17481 QueenB 1 2594532 There are two ways that I know to pit a cherry (without a cherry pitter)-- 1) hammer a (clean) nail through a (clean) board so that the point sticks out. Push the cherry on to the point of the nail so that the pit pops through the other side. 2) open a paperclip into a skinny "S" shape. Push the top of the S into the cherry and hook the pit with the look and yank it out. This is slow but you'll get the hang of it, and has the advantage of only puncturing the cherry on one side. Both methods are ridiculously messy so don't wear your favorite white shirt. I do it in the sink so the juice doesn't stain my countertop/table. Wed May 23 07:25:12 -0700 2007 2594411 29478 chococat 2 2595602 And wear gloves, too, or you'll be scrubbing cherry stains out from under your nails for days. Wed May 23 12:08:40 -0700 2007 2594532 10550 zorra 1 2594560 I always use the paper clip method described by the other responder. I hate having gadgets that do one thing. A paper clip is small and as easy. I do find gthat the juice can stain my nails, so if going out soon after or having company, I actually wear rubber gloves. Wed May 23 07:34:52 -0700 2007 2594411 100451 splaycar 1 2594933 What about a straw? Wed May 23 09:35:33 -0700 2007 2594411 76226 Oh Robin 1 2594937 I thought a clafoutis was supposed to be made with pit-in cherries? They add flavor, and it's simple to warn people to watch for them. Wed May 23 09:37:07 -0700 2007 2594411 13445 Louise 2 2595353 I just read a book where a woman would do things like that... leave in pits, or add grit, or even add things like pushpins, so that people would slow down and really savor the food. Of course, the outcome was that they all remembered her as adding really vile things to her food. Wed May 23 11:17:59 -0700 2007 2594937 13574 pamalamb 3 2595527 Deliberately adding nasty stuff, I would not advocate. But fresh cherries come with pits, and they are not difficult, complicated, or vile to spit out. Demanding of some slight diplomacy of manners, but I hope to not generate controversy by saying that this is something we are probably all capable of accomplishing. Wed May 23 11:53:01 -0700 2007 2595353 13445 Louise 4 2596075 Just a personal preference for me to have pitted cherries. Wed May 23 13:50:33 -0700 2007 2595527 17481 QueenB 1 2595370 I have done it before by pushing through wthe cherries with a chopstick (the blunt, rather than pointy, shape), but it always breaks my heart to leave so much cherry flesh on the pit. Had to do it when I had a toddler who loved cherries but could not figure out how to spit out the pit. Wed May 23 11:20:13 -0700 2007 2594411 55069 2m8ohed 1 2596054 I saw Martha Stewart pitting them with the business end of a metal pastry bag tip. $1 for a small one or $2 for a large one, certainly much cheaper than a cherry pitter! Wed May 23 13:46:27 -0700 2007 2594411 11577 Pei 2 2596787 I tried the paperclip method, which was ok. Then, I tried a pastry tip and that worked perfectly! Easy and quick. Thanks Pei (and Martha)! Wed May 23 17:22:57 -0700 2007 2596054 17481 QueenB 3 2620853 I second this. I did not try the paper clip method but went straight to the pastry tip and it worked like a charm. The easiness of the clafouti recipe I was using certainly balanced out pitting the cherries (yeah, I know it's traditional to leave the pits in, but I just didn't want to). Now I've got to go to the farmer's market again tomorrow to get more cherries! Thanks for the info! Fri Jun 01 11:10:35 -0700 2007 2596787 86679 auburnselkie 2 2619890 I got a cherry pitter for like $4 that works fine. I figured if I made 4 pies wtih it, that was worth the cost. Thank you. Fri Jun 01 06:07:52 -0700 2007 2596054 12203 Bride of the Juggler 3 3896092 I read your post and registered so I could reply. I had my son-in-law save me a beer bottle and tried your method..and have been using it and will keep using it. It works great! Another unexpected benefit is the holes are large so my parrot can easily pick the cherries up! Thanks!! Wed Jul 23 19:37:44 -0700 2008 2619890 212625 dunuthin 3 4852170 I'm with you Bride. I ordered a cute litte gadget from the Solutions catalog called the Cherry Chomper. It looks like a cartoon character and works like a charm. Sun Jul 12 18:27:26 -0700 2009 2619890 253542 cycloneillini 1 2617911 This method works well and causes little mess. However, you will have holes on both sides of the cherry. You need an empty beer bottle and an ordinary pencil. 1) remove the eraser completely from the end of the pencil, leaving the metal part empty. 2)place the cherry on top of the beer bottle. 3) use the pencil, metal end first to push into the spot where the stem was and all the way through the cherry, and into the bottle. You will end up with a bottle full of pits, and cherries with none. Thu May 31 12:53:44 -0700 2007 2594411 42450 desantmj 1 2618146 I usually leave the pits in, but one time I dug them all out with the skinny end of a teaspoon. It took a long time but didn't make too much mess. Thu May 31 13:51:59 -0700 2007 2594411 67657 Kajikit 1 2619709 A bobby pin makes a good pitter. The rounded end is much like a paper clip but smaller and stiffer. Fri Jun 01 03:19:18 -0700 2007 2594411 102423 AnnieJ 2 3826338 Bobby pin worked just amazing - in a second! thanks Mon Jun 30 09:13:34 -0700 2008 2619709 205213 katherine elisabeth 1 3836483 Yes! A large bobby pin works like a charm. Pitted 2# of cherries yesterday in no time. Didn't know what-in-the-heck at first, but you just pretty much insert the loop of the pin into the stem end of the cherry..."feel" around and pull. I found that for riper cherries, it's easier if you loosen the flesh all around the stem opening first 'cause more flesh is stuck to the pit. Thu Jul 03 10:36:58 -0700 2008 2594411 206416 PieGuyInTheSky 1 3839834 I grew up with 4 cherry trees in the backyard, so mom always had me help jar, make pies, whatever. We always used a hairpin. As I grew, I found a bobby pin was a little sturdier, although I do like the hook you can make out of a hairpin. Either is fine, though and never needed to buy anything. Plus, use once and throw away! Fri Jul 04 16:43:33 -0700 2008 2594411 12929 shopgirl 1 4846477 I am making a Clafouti today and decided to break down and get a cherry pitter. OMG, I just pitted 3 cups of cherries in about 10 minutes. I already feel it was a worthwhile purchase. A great one or two use gadget( it will also pit olives). Helen Fri Jul 10 09:59:26 -0700 2009 2594411 241988 lovetocookPEI