Thread: Wire cherry-pitters -- Obsolete?

I added two more relevant groups and edited the subject for clarity.

On Jun 18, 11:56*am, spamtrap1888 <spamtrap1...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Having picked a quart and a half of sour cherries, I was panicking
> when I could not find my little made-in-Hong-Kong cherry pitter, the
> kind that slips over two fingers and is operated with the thumb.
>
> I thought, well this must be easy to find, only to discover that no
> grocery or hardware or kitchen supply store (e.g. Surly Table) within
> miles carries this any more.
>
> And this is the canonical cherry pitter according to wikipedia:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_pitter
>
> All I can find are great hulking things made out of pot metal,
> suitable for pitting olives, egg carton things that can pit four at a
> time, etc. None are suitable for relatively tiny sour cherries.
>
> What to do?

On Jun 18, 1:56*pm, spamtrap1888 <spamtrap1...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Having picked a quart and a half of sour cherries, I was panicking
> when I could not find my little made-in-Hong-Kong cherry pitter, the
> kind that slips over two fingers and is operated with the thumb.
>
> I thought, well this must be easy to find, only to discover that no
> grocery or hardware or kitchen supply store (e.g. Surly Table) within
> miles carries this any more.
>
> And this is the canonical cherry pitter according to wikipedia:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_pitter
>
> All I can find are great hulking things made out of pot metal,
> suitable for pitting olives, egg carton things that can pit four at a
> time, etc. None are suitable for relatively tiny sour cherries.
>
> What to do?

My granny used one that fit onto a table edge - like a hand grinder,
only it pitted cherries. I've never seen the two-finger-one-thumb
gizmo.

N.

On Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:56:15 -0700 (PDT), spamtrap1888 wrote:

> Having picked a quart and a half of sour cherries, I was panicking
> when I could not find my little made-in-Hong-Kong cherry pitter, the
> kind that slips over two fingers and is operated with the thumb.
>
> I thought, well this must be easy to find, only to discover that no
> grocery or hardware or kitchen supply store (e.g. Surly Table) within
> miles carries this any more.

I've always used a large paper clip. Just insert into the cherry, hook the
pit and pull. Never used a "real" cherry pitter so have no idea how fast
or slow my method is compared to something more automated or specifically
designed for that single task - but I've never had a problem with losing or
finding my cherry pitters.

--
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dramatically reduces the chance of your post being read.
Use the real usenet!
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On Jun 18, 11:56*am, spamtrap1888 <spamtrap1...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Having picked a quart and a half of sour cherries, I was panicking
> when I could not find my little made-in-Hong-Kong cherry pitter, the
> kind that slips over two fingers and is operated with the thumb.
>
> I thought, well this must be easy to find, only to discover that no
> grocery or hardware or kitchen supply store (e.g. Surly Table) within
> miles carries this any more.
>
> And this is the canonical cherry pitter according to wikipedia:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_pitter
>
> All I can find are great hulking things made out of pot metal,
> suitable for pitting olives, egg carton things that can pit four at a
> time, etc. None are suitable for relatively tiny sour cherries.
>
> What to do?

How about a chopstick?

spamtrap1888 wrote:
> Having picked a quart and a half of sour cherries, I was panicking
> when I could not find my little made-in-Hong-Kong cherry pitter, the
> kind that slips over two fingers and is operated with the thumb.
>
> I thought, well this must be easy to find, only to discover that no
> grocery or hardware or kitchen supply store (e.g. Surly Table) within
> miles carries this any more.
>
> And this is the canonical cherry pitter according to wikipedia:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_pitter

I see a couple on ebay, but they are not new. FWIW.

nancy

On Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:56:15 -0700 (PDT), spamtrap1888
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Having picked a quart and a half of sour cherries, I was panicking
>when I could not find my little made-in-Hong-Kong cherry pitter, the
>kind that slips over two fingers and is operated with the thumb.
>
>I thought, well this must be easy to find, only to discover that no
>grocery or hardware or kitchen supply store (e.g. Surly Table) within
>miles carries this any more.
>
>And this is the canonical cherry pitter according to wikipedia:
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_pitter
>
>All I can find are great hulking things made out of pot metal,
>suitable for pitting olives, egg carton things that can pit four at a
>time, etc. None are suitable for relatively tiny sour cherries.
>
>What to do?

Check out:
http://about.pricegrabber.com/search..._entertaining&

or http://tinyurl.com/2ce3ypr

Ross.

spamtrap1888 wrote:
> Having picked a quart and a half of sour cherries, I was panicking
> when I could not find my little made-in-Hong-Kong cherry pitter, the
> kind that slips over two fingers and is operated with the thumb.
>
> I thought, well this must be easy to find, only to discover that no
> grocery or hardware or kitchen supply store (e.g. Surly Table) within
> miles carries this any more.
>
> And this is the canonical cherry pitter according to wikipedia:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_pitter
>
> All I can find are great hulking things made out of pot metal,
> suitable for pitting olives, egg carton things that can pit four at a
> time, etc. None are suitable for relatively tiny sour cherries.
>
> What to do?



I used to have one of those pitters that you stick tow fingers in and
press a plunger with your thumb to push out the pits. It was a PITA.,too
small for my digits. I resorted to popping them out with a paring
knife. I consider myself to be extremely lucky to live in an area
where I can get fresh sour cherries. There are several cherry farms
within a few miles of my house. Better yet, automation has taken over.
They shake the trees to harvest the fruit and then take them directly to
their own little processing plants where they are washed, pitted and put
into pails that are flash frozen. If I get there on the right day, I can
get pails of freshly frozen cherries. They are cheaper than buying them
by the quart, and they are ready to go. It's perfect.

Have you tried Lehman's?

http://www.lehmans.com/

Dave


On Jun 18, 3:34*pm, spamtrap1888 <spamtrap1...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I added two more relevant groups and edited the subject for clarity.
>
> On Jun 18, 11:56*am, spamtrap1888 <spamtrap1...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Having picked a quart and a half of sour cherries, I was panicking
> > when I could not find my little made-in-Hong-Kong cherry pitter, the
> > kind that slips over two fingers and is operated with the thumb.
>
> > I thought, well this must be easy to find, only to discover that no
> > grocery or hardware or kitchen supply store (e.g. Surly Table) within
> > miles carries this any more.
>
> > And this is the canonical cherry pitter according to wikipedia:
>
> >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_pitter
>
> > All I can find are great hulking things made out of pot metal,
> > suitable for pitting olives, egg carton things that can pit four at a
> > time, etc. None are suitable for relatively tiny sour cherries.
>
> > What to do?

On Jun 18, 1:56*pm, spamtrap1888 <spamtrap1...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Having picked a quart and a half of sour cherries, I was panicking
> when I could not find my little made-in-Hong-Kong cherry pitter, the
> kind that slips over two fingers and is operated with the thumb.
>
> I thought, well this must be easy to find, only to discover that no
> grocery or hardware or kitchen supply store (e.g. Surly Table) within
> miles carries this any more.
>
> And this is the canonical cherry pitter according to wikipedia:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_pitter
>
> All I can find are great hulking things made out of pot metal,
> suitable for pitting olives, egg carton things that can pit four at a
> time, etc. None are suitable for relatively tiny sour cherries.
>
> What to do?

I use a one-at-a-time cherry pitter as you describe to pit each and
every one of my Chocolate Covered Cherries that I make at Christmas.
Pitting the cherries is the first step.

John Kuthe...

On Jun 18, 5:31*pm, djb <smyrnaqui...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Have you tried Lehman's?
>
> http://www.lehmans.com/
>

The repair kit for their pitter costs more than what the simple pitter
should cost.

I probably should buy another strawberry huller just in case they quit
making those, too. I'll put it in my document safe.

On Jun 18, 5:36*pm, John Kuthe <johnku...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jun 18, 1:56*pm, spamtrap1888 <spamtrap1...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Having picked a quart and a half of sour cherries, I was panicking
> > when I could not find my little made-in-Hong-Kong cherry pitter, the
> > kind that slips over two fingers and is operated with the thumb.
>
> > I thought, well this must be easy to find, only to discover that no
> > grocery or hardware or kitchen supply store (e.g. Surly Table) within
> > miles carries this any more.
>
> > And this is the canonical cherry pitter according to wikipedia:
>
> >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_pitter
>
> > All I can find are great hulking things made out of pot metal,
> > suitable for pitting olives, egg carton things that can pit four at a
> > time, etc. None are suitable for relatively tiny sour cherries.
>
> > What to do?
>
> I use a one-at-a-time cherry pitter as you describe to pit each and
> every one of my Chocolate Covered Cherries that I make at Christmas.
> Pitting the cherries is the first step.
>

Thanks to google I have learned that the "Thumb-operated cherry
pitter" was a featured invention for the home, in the September, 1942
issue of Popular Mechanics. They were available at Goldblatts at State
and Van Buren back then.

On Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:57:41 -0700 (PDT), spamtrap1888
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Thanks to google I have learned that the "Thumb-operated cherry
>pitter" was a featured invention for the home, in the September, 1942
>issue of Popular Mechanics. They were available at Goldblatts at State
>and Van Buren back then.

Now that's an old Chicago name. They had everything.

Someone mentioned a skewer and I was thinking about the cherry
smashing as you held it.

I think a melon baller modified with just a hole would work and be
pretty fast. Scoop the cherry, push the pit out and dump the fruit in
a bowl. A plastic tupperware one would work I think. All you need is
a drill and a bit a little bigger than the pit. I don't think your
hands would even get wet.

http://www.atomicmall.com/view.php?id=684341

Lou

> On Jun 18, 11:56 am, spamtrap1888 <spamtrap1...@gmail.com> wrote:

>> Having picked a quart and a half of sour cherries, I was panicking
>> when I could not find my little made-in-Hong-Kong cherry pitter, the
>> kind that slips over two fingers and is operated with the thumb.

<SNIP>

>> What to do?

Remove the eraser from a wooden pencil. Poke the (now empty) metal end
of the pencil through a cherry to remove the pit.

Quick, easy and almost free.

Susan

"spamtrap1888" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
I added two more relevant groups and edited the subject for clarity.

On Jun 18, 11:56 am, spamtrap1888 <spamtrap1...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Having picked a quart and a half of sour cherries, I was panicking
> when I could not find my little made-in-Hong-Kong cherry pitter, the
> kind that slips over two fingers and is operated with the thumb.
>
> I thought, well this must be easy to find, only to discover that no
> grocery or hardware or kitchen supply store (e.g. Surly Table) within
> miles carries this any more.
>
> And this is the canonical cherry pitter according to wikipedia:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_pitter
>
> All I can find are great hulking things made out of pot metal,
> suitable for pitting olives, egg carton things that can pit four at a
> time, etc. None are suitable for relatively tiny sour cherries.
>
> What to do?

Years ago my wife and I went to a pick-your-own farm and when we were done,
I asked the person who was weighing our pick how to pit the cherries. She
took a large wire paper clip, unfolded it, tucked it into her hand, and used
the smaller end to scoop out the pit. It took us less time to pit the
cherries than it did to pick them.

Susan Bugher wrote:
>> On Jun 18, 11:56 am, spamtrap1888 <spamtrap1...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>> Having picked a quart and a half of sour cherries, I was panicking
>>> when I could not find my little made-in-Hong-Kong cherry pitter, the
>>> kind that slips over two fingers and is operated with the thumb.
>
> <SNIP>
>
>>> What to do?
>
> Remove the eraser from a wooden pencil. Poke the (now empty) metal end
> of the pencil through a cherry to remove the pit.
>
> Quick, easy and almost free.
>
> Susan
>


There's usually paint (lead?) on the ferrule (metal end.)
A sturdy plastic soda straw should do the same thing.

gloria p

In article
<[email protected]>,
spamtrap1888 <[email protected]> wrote:

> >
> > And this is the canonical cherry pitter according to wikipedia:
> >
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_pitter
> >


Fox Run has one (Ace Hardware stores) that seems to work like the one
you describe although it is built a little different.
http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...ductId=1386346
$4.50





--
Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
On June 25, celebrating 65 years of annoying people.
Shop early and shop often. Good gin and cheap chocolate preferred.
Or cash. :-)

In article <[email protected]>,
Lou Decruss <[email protected]> wrote:

> I think a melon baller modified with just a hole would work and be
> pretty fast. Scoop the cherry, push the pit out and dump the fruit in
> a bowl. A plastic tupperware one would work I think. All you need is
> a drill and a bit a little bigger than the pit. I don't think your
> hands would even get wet.
>
> http://www.atomicmall.com/view.php?id=684341
>
> Lou

IIR, pie cherries are only about 1/2" diameter and half stone. I think
a melon baller is too big. JMO.



--
Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
On June 25, celebrating 65 years of annoying people.
Shop early and shop often. Good gin and cheap chocolate preferred.
Or cash. :-)

"Susan Bugher" <[email protected]> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:[email protected]..
>> On Jun 18, 11:56 am, spamtrap1888 <spamtrap1...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>> Having picked a quart and a half of sour cherries, I was panicking
>>> when I could not find my little made-in-Hong-Kong cherry pitter, the
>>> kind that slips over two fingers and is operated with the thumb.
>
> <SNIP>
>
>>> What to do?
>
> Remove the eraser from a wooden pencil. Poke the (now empty) metal end of
> the pencil through a cherry to remove the pit.
>
> Quick, easy and almost free.

Sounds crazy enough to be true... thanks!

On Sun, 20 Jun 2010 09:14:25 +0200, "Giusi" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
>"Susan Bugher" <[email protected]> ha scritto nel messaggio
>news:[email protected]..
>>> On Jun 18, 11:56 am, spamtrap1888 <spamtrap1...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>> Having picked a quart and a half of sour cherries, I was panicking
>>>> when I could not find my little made-in-Hong-Kong cherry pitter, the
>>>> kind that slips over two fingers and is operated with the thumb.
>>
>> <SNIP>
>>
>>>> What to do?
>>
>> Remove the eraser from a wooden pencil. Poke the (now empty) metal end of
>> the pencil through a cherry to remove the pit.
>>
>> Quick, easy and almost free.
>
>true... thanks!

That's how you lost your cherry!