Cherry Pitter
How to Choose the Best Cherry Pitter
A cherry pitter and an olive pitter tend to be one in the same, and either way you intend to use this utensil, the point is that’s it‘s usable. Aside from having to check the punch area for stuck fruit so the press will not become clogged, the cherry pitter is a real time saver. It also saves the user being forced to serve little chunks of olive and cherry remnants which have been mangled beyond recognition with a paring knife. One needn’t be a prime chef to make good use of this ingenious little tool, and here are a few tips about finding the right one.
The cherry pitter is a relatively straight forward utensil, no matter which brand you decide on or how much money it costs. The apparatus is the same for each, and is as follows. There is a bowl with a hole in the bottom of it, and the fruit is meant to be placed inside of it. Whether yours is a standing press or handheld press, the action is the same. The cherry pitter is just like a glorified hole punch, and when pressure is applied to the handle, the punch comes down on the fruit and pushes the pit out of the hole in the bottom of the bowl. Really quite simple, and there is no need to spend a fortune on a fancy name brand cherry pitter if you know what to look for.
When shopping for a cherry pitter, you will want to look for one which is solid stainless steel, save for the handle, which should have a more comfortable and porous surface. Stainless steel works well for those who wish to use the cherry pitter for olives also, because many of the less resistant finishes will not long withstand the brine used for curing olives.
You also want to be able to toss your handy utensil in the dishwasher for hassle free sterilization, and stainless steel is the perfect candidate for this as well. The price ranges are so tremendous for these little tools, but if you can find a steal on stainless steel, you’ll be miles ahead of the game.
We mentioned earlier the tendency of fruit becoming lodged inside the punch area of the cherry pitter. This can be a bit frustrating, but is far easier to deal with than pitting these small fruits with your bare hands. A great tip is to have a few standard wooden toothpicks at hand while you are using the pitter. You can check the tool often to ensure that it stays clear, and if it does become packed, a simple swipe with a toothpick will make quick work of the jammed fruit. You will want to follow this tip just before sterilizing your cherry pitter as well. Happy Eating!