I’m a Pastry Chef and This $20 Gadget Is My Summer Must-Have
As a pastry chef, I am neither for nor against single-use kitchen gadgets; I just typically don’t see things as single-use. The chef in me makes sure that kitchen tools and equipment are utilized in their intended and unintended capacity. I don’t see a fine-mesh sieve for only straining — I also see it as a handy tool for mincing garlic when a Microplane grater or garlic press are unavailable. With that said, there is one true unitasker I do swear by: a cherry pitter.
If you’ve ever pitted cherries, then you know how time-consuming, messy, and frustrating it is. Without a pitter, your options fall to poking the pits out with a metal straw, pastry tip, or chopstick. If you find yourself without a utensil to poke with, your best option is an unfolded paperclip, MacGyver-style. There is nothing wrong with these methods, but if you’re like me, the idea of standing in the kitchen for 45 minutes pitting a few pounds of cherries does not sound fun. Not to mention the mess — cherry-stained hands and pits ricocheting across the kitchen like a pinball machine. If you want intact pitted cherries, then any pitter-less method will disappoint.
A cherry pitter minimizes the mess, eliminates disappointment, and curbs frustration. A classic pitter grips a single cherry and inserts a rod through the center, discarding the pit from the other end with the squeeze of a hand. This keeps the cherries intact, prevents your hands from becoming stained, and keeps the pits from shooting out from unexpected angles. The only downside to a classic cherry pitter is they only pit one cherry at a time. If you’re a cherry enthusiast and a baker, then a pitter that can tackle multiple cherries at once is better suited for you. And honestly, who pits just one cherry?
The OXO Good Grips Multi-Cherry Pitter pits six cherries at once with adjustable sides to fit small to medium bowls. The catch tray collects the pits while the pull top drops the pitted and intact cherries into the bowl. Plus, it’s dishwasher-safe and inexpensive, making it perfect for all of the cherry-lovers out there. Grab yourself this pitter and a few pounds of cherries and start cooking and baking — and rest easy knowing pits won’t be flying across your kitchen.
Try a recipe: How To Make the Best-Ever Cherry Pie