We live in northeast Wisconsin, just minutes away from the Door County peninsula, where you'll find one of the biggest tart cherry producing areas in the U. S. We usually go picking and fill the freezer every two years. Our favorite cherry picking spot – Cherry Lane Orchard – has a deal where you get the seventh bucket free if you pick six, which is a LOT of cherries. We stocked up last year, but we had family visiting this year who wanted to go picking, so we headed up yesterday. I was talking to my niece about how to pit the cherries, and she had never heard of the method we use. This was passed down to us with much ceremony the first year we went cherry picking, back in the 1990's. We had my mom and nephew with us, and had picked a whole mess of cherries – two five gallon buckets of them. As we were paying the bill, the orchard owner asked how we were going to pit them. Never having picked before, we had no idea. (Worry about it later, right?) She leaned in close, and told us she would share the secret of the world's cheapest cherry pitter.
Then she grabbed a paperclip off the desk, unfolded it, and proceeded to demonstrate how to quickly and easily pit a big pile of cherries. We've used the method ever since for the bulk of the cherries we process. We did get a couple of other pitters for the boys to use, as much as to keep them interested in the pitting process as anything else – boys like gadgets, and paper clips are not terribly exciting. I'll show those a little later in the post. So – without further ado, a quick video on how to use a paper clip to pit a cherry.
The World's Cheapest Cherry Pitter
Ta-da! Many people use a hair pin in the same way, but today's hair pins are often made quite cheaply and the coating comes off.
Here are the other options to keep the boys entertained while pitting.
The scissor type cherry pitter:
Cooks Illustrated liked the Prepworks From Progressive International Cherry-It Multiple Cherry Pitter/Slicer, which looks like a stapler and pits four cherries at once. My friend, Laura, who lives in the heart of Michigan cherry country, recommends the Leifheit 37200 Cherrymat Cherrystone Remover, which is a plunger type with a bin below to catch the pits.
Once our own cherry trees start producing, I may invest in a higher volume pitter, but for now, the simple paper clip solution works just fine.
P.S. Yes, this is the real color of the tart cherries as they come off the tree. A couple friends asked when I posted pictures. 🙂
Linda says
We just picked cherries from our cherry tree last week and I was thinking how it’s a pain to get rid of the pits. Thanks for the tips.
Ryann says
Do you put the paperclip through the top or bottom, or does it not matter?
Laurie Neverman says
I usually go right in the stem hole, which is naturally open on tart cherries.
Lisa Kingery says
My longtime handyman and dad for hire, Walt Stumpf, suggested I visit your site. I love the post and video and it couldn’t be more timely, We just returned with 10 pounds of tart cherries from Door county. I bought a pitter but would like to put the kids to work too–paper clip. My most recent post has a recipes that does not require pitting the cherries–Vanilla Lime Spirited Cherries for canning. Check it out. http://localglobalkitchen.com/vanilla-lime-spirited-cherries/
I look forward to reading and watching more of your posts.
Best,
Lisa at the Local Global Kitchen in Milwaukee
Tracy Spangler says
Thank you so much for this post! I was in much the same situation you were in the 90’s, but now I have 7 lbs. of cherries in my freezer, and no idea how to pit them all. I knew I couldn’t afford a real pitter. Thank you so very much for this practical, money saving tip! Now I just have to buy some paperclips, as it seems even my junk drawer doesn’t contain one!
Laurie Neverman says
Glad to be of help. I’ve never tried thawed cherries, but it should work.
Salem says
My mom’s from the Thumb of Michigan, and she has always used the paper clip method for pitting. In fact, because we always had a lot to do and your fingers could get tired of holding the clip, she just rubber-banded the end you weren’t using to pit the cherries to the bottom of half of a wooden clothespin. Sped things up nicely!
Holly Sayer says
Not sure where this information came about a paper clip, but it was not from Cherry Lane Orchards. Our preferred method is on our website.
Laurie Neverman says
I don’t remember the name of the orchard, but it was on the Bay side of Door County, up past Sturgeon Bay. It was over ten years ago, so I don’t recall, and we haven’t been back since we found your place. 🙂
Holly Sayer says
(cont.) a good video presentation though! Each person finds their preferred method for those delicious Door County Cherries.
Lisa says
Just got an awesome cherry pitter at Walmart in the produce department. It was only $6, and pits 6 cherries at once!!
grandpa bob says
where are you and which walmart
Joann L says
What a great tutorial. This is one of the best life hacks ever! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Laurie Neverman says
Thanks, Joann. Is it cherry season in your area?
Terry Cady says
Arrg! Where were you last week when I needed you?! I pitted about 10 half pints worth using the stapler type. The biggest problem with this is that it doesn’t always (as in MOST of the time) pop the pit out. My mom used to have one that had a sort of a plunger motion, with a chute for the cherries and a container for the pits. Oh well, I still have several pounds that I will use a paper clip on. Thanks for the demo!
Laurie Neverman says
Yes, we’ve found paper clips to be more reliable at getting the pit out, too, compared to the staple type pitters.
Alice Clark says
Thank you so much for posting the recipe of Old Fashion Rhubarb Pudding. As a kid my mom used rhubarb so many ways even eating it raw. To sour for me but one of my daughters loves it raw. Wish I had some of those old recipes as they have now been lost.
Laurie Neverman says
I love old cookbooks and recipes. It’s like stepping back in time.
Melanie Ware says
Have you tried this with sweet cherries? Thanks for the great demonstration!
Laurie Neverman says
It doesn’t work quite as well with sweet cherries, unless they are very ripe so that the stone releases without a lot of effort.