There's a bumper crop of sweet cherries here in New York State right now. New York is expected to produce 13 million pounds this year, the Cherry Marketing Institute tells us. That's a 25% increase over the 2006 crop and 73% more than 2005.
We're never in favor of filling kitchen drawers with too many gadgets, but if you're getting serious about cooking with this huge cherry crop check out Oxo's new cherry pitter ($12 at Williams-Sonoma).
This cherry pitter works so well. The pits pop out in one satisfying swoosh and the splatter guard stops cherry juice from flying. Best of all, it doesn't destroy the fruit. "This year, I finally found a cherry pitter that not only works, but works beautifully and easily enough to make a smooth go of pitting a handful of cherries to nibble on or a bucketful for a pie," says Canvas Magazine.
Technically, this isn't quite a single-use gadget. It can be used to pit olives too.
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I just bought one of these last week, when cherries started showing up in volume at the farmer's market. It's a lot of fun to work use, and for some reason, my cats are fascinated by it.
view Kelly H's profile
There's nothing wrong with a single-use gadget if it's a use you actually use.
You can freeze pitted cherries for later use. Pit them. Lay them on baking sheets and put them in the freezer until they are little solid frozen balls. Then dump them into ziplock bags and put them back in the freezer. Congratulations! You now have the means to make a cherry pie for George Washington's Birthday in February, and not with that goopy canned glop.
view wende in phoenix's profile
I just use a metal pastry bag tip, but if I ever move someplace with a bigger kitchen drawer, I may have to get one of these!
view chiffonade's profile
i'm a clafoutis nut AND an oxo fan so this is a must purchase. thanks!
view abby's profile
We bought a cheaper version of this when we lived in France several years ago. Sure, we only use it a few months a year, but with a kid who stuffs cherries in his mouth as fast as we can pit them it is just awesome to have around.
view dot's profile
I have also had a non-Oxo version of one of these for years (I may have bought it in France) and its the business - for cherries and olives.
view Lesley - London's profile