I was given about 14 lbs. of small pie cherries, and I'm going nuts trying to pit them by hand - have an old cherry-pitter, but the cherries are too small for it to work on, or else it's incomplete - don't want to buy another just for this. Anyone have any ideas or shortcuts??? Thanks in advance!

-- Bonnie (chilton@stateline-isp.com), July 05, 2001

Answers

I know what you mean. I just bought a new pitter and like my old one it does the big cherries great, but the little ones its hit and miss. I can't afford another pitter, so I found if I grab a fist full and drop them one at a time into the hopper slot I can get a pretty good rythem going. Don't know if you have shopped for new pitters, but I found the one I am using now on internet, using a search engine, Key words "Cherry stoner" found one at fantes.com Good Luck

-- Runners 3 (cmschram31357@mindspring.com), July 05, 2001.

be sure your cherries are very cold...put them in the refrigerator first.

-- westbrook (westbrook_farms@yahoo.com), July 05, 2001.

Bobby pin.

-- Sojourner (notime4@summer.spam), July 05, 2001.

Well, once again Sojouner and I agree. The round end of a bobby pin is the way we always pitted cherries. Once you get the hands going right, it is a quick, effective way to do cherries. I have planted 4 pie cherry trees this year, and got enough cherries to munch on. I can't wait until I get enough to actually do something with - although once all four are producing, I will probably be begging people to take cherries from me. Joanie

-- Joanie (ber-gust@prodigy.net), July 06, 2001.

I used a bobby pin, and it did make it go faster. Thanks to all who replied.

-- Bonnie (chilton@stateline-isp.com), July 08, 2001.