How to Pit Cherries

No, you don’t need a cherry pitter to pit cherries quickly and easily! This post explains how to pit cherries by hand using all sorts of methods — a straw, a toothpick, a paring knife, the list goes on! I also address the danger of eating cherry pits and why they’re best left uneaten. 

When Do You Need to Pit Cherries? 

Unless you’re eating cherries as a snack and spitting out the pits as you nibble, chances are high that you’ll need to pit cherries before doing anything with them. 

Whether you’re making cherry pie, a batch of jam, blending up a smoothie, or following any number of other fresh cherry recipes, knowing how to pit cherries by hand is so useful! (Not to mention that cherry pits pose a choking hazard to kids, so definitely read this post if you have toddlers!) 

I also highly recommend pitting cherries if you plan on freezing them. Trust me, you do not want to attempt to pit frozen cherries! 

This post will explain how to pit cherries with and without a cherry pitter, explain your options for storing pitted cherries, plus my favorite recipes using cherries.

When Is Cherry Season? 

Cherries are one of the few supermarket fruits that aren’t available year round, so it’s crucial to stock up on them while they last! 

• Sweet cherries are available May to August, with June and July being the peak of the season. 
• Tart cherries have a much shorter growing season; they’re only available for a couple weeks near the end of June. 

What Are the Most Common Types of Cherries? 

There are more varieties of cherries than I can fit into a single blog post, but here are the most common varieties you’ll see in the US: 

• Bing cherries — Most common in the US. These are sweet, dark cherries that are great for snacking. 
• Rainier cherries — Easy to identify thanks to their bright yellow and red coloring. They’re another sweet cherry variety that are delicious as is. 
• Montmorency cherries — The most popular tart cherry variety in the US. They’re ideal for baking and are best in pies. 
• Morello cherries — Sometimes called “pie cherries.” They’re incredibly tart and dark red in color. You’re more likely to find these at the farmers market than at the grocery store. 

How to Select the Best Cherries for Pitting 

When selecting fresh cherries at the grocery store or farmers market, look for: 

• Plump cherries that are vibrant in color (note that not all cherry varieties are uniformly red in color, so that’s not necessarily an indication of ripeness) 
• Cherries without any visible bruises or cracks 
• Cherries with flexible stems 
• Cherries that are naturally shiny 

Do All Cherries Have Pits? 

Yep, afraid so! Cherries are a stone fruit, so the flesh always surrounds a small pit. Cherries can be sold in stores without their pits (such as with maraschino or dried cherries), but they’re only pit-free because the pit was manually removed. 

Can You Eat Cherry Pits? 

No! Cherry pits are incredibly hard and could damage your teeth. Moreover they should never be chewed or crushed as they contain small amounts of cyanide. 

Are Cherry Pits Poisonous? 

In large quantities, yes. The amygdalin in cherry pits is converted to cyanide in the body; cyanide, of course, is poisonous. You’d have to eat a lot of cherry pits to feel the negative side effects, but regardless it’s not recommended that you purposely ingest cherry pits. 

What Happens if You Eat a Cherry Pit? 

If you eat just one or two pits by mistake, you should be fine. Your body can digest the small amount and not suffer any side effects. 

If you eat a large quantity of cherry pits, the body converts the amygdalin contained in the cherry pit into cyanide. Large doses can cause loss of consciousness, seizures, and even death. So … please don’t eat cherry pits. 

How to Prepare Cherries Before Pitting Them 

To prep fresh cherries for pitting, you should do the following: 

1. Remove the stems (they can be composted or thrown out). 
2. Place cherries in a colander and run under cold tap water to clean.
3. Drain well, then pat dry with a clean kitchen towel. 
4. Proceed with pitting the cherries as instructed. 

How to Pit Cherries Without a Cherry Pitter

There are so many easy ways to pit cherries by hand! I’ve found that the best way to pit cherries is with a paring knife or a piping tip. 

However, there are so many everyday objects that can be used to pit cherries! 

How to Pit Cherries with a Paring Knife (Recommended) 

1. Carefully work a paring knife around the flesh of the cherry, like you would to cut a peach in half. 
2. Twist the two halves of the cherry apart. 
3. Pluck the cherry pit out with your fingers. 

Pitting Cherries with a Piping Tip (Recommended)

1. Place the piping tip tip-side up on your cutting board. 
2. Remove the stem from the cherry if you haven’t already. 
3. Push the stem side of the cherry over the piping tip until the pit pops out. 

Tip: A small round piping tip works best for this. 

How to Pit Cherries with a Chopstick

1. Remove the stem of the cherry. 
2. Push the smaller end of the chopstick through the stem side of the cherry. 
3. Keep pushing until the pit comes out. 

Pitting Cherries with a Paperclip 

1. Unbend the paperclip until it forms an S shape. 
2. Insert one end of the paper clip into the stem side of the cherry. 
3. Keep twisting until the pit comes out. 

How to Pit Cherries with a Hair Pin 

1. Make sure you’re using a clean, never-been-used metal bobby pin. 
2. Push one side of the bobby pin through the stem side of the cherry until the pit comes out. 

Pitting Cherries with a Straw

1. Remove the stem from the cherry. 
2. Press the straw through the stem side of the cherry until the pit comes out. 

Tip: This works best with a reusable metal straw. 

How to Pit Cherries with a Cherry Pitter

Pitting cherries with a cherry pitter is an almost foolproof process! You can purchase cherry pitters that pit cherries one at a time (which can take a while if making a pie) or cherry pitters that pit cherries in bulk. 

To pit cherries with a cherry pitter, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Generally you just have to place the cherry into the cherry pitter, then press down firmly to remove pit. So simple! 

The Best Cherry Pitters

Here are some highly rated cherry pitters that allow you to pit more than one cherry at a time. 

If you make a lot of pies, grow cherries in your yard to can or freeze, or just love eating cherries, a bulk cherry pitter may be a good investment for you! 

• Cherry pitter with attached stone catcher
• 6-Cherry cherry pitter
• 6-cherry cherry pitter with attached stone catcher

For casual snacking, you may be okay with just a single cherry pitter: 

• Cherry and olive pitter (this is the one I have and love)
• Heavy duty cherry pitter
• Space saving cherry pitter

FAQs About Pitting Cherries 

Is it Possible to Pit Cherries Without Removing the Stem? 

Yes, but you’ll need to do so one cherry at a time. Make a cut in the bottom with a paring knife and then fish the pit out. This method takes some patience! 

Can You Pit Cherries in Bulk? 

Yes, but to do so you’d need to buy a bulk cherry pitting tool (I’ve listed my favorite in the section above). As far as I know, you can’t pit cherries in bulk by hand. 

Can Cherries Be Pitted in Advance? 

Absolutely! Pit them in advance and then store them in the fridge or freezer. Note that once the pits have been removed, cherries cannot sit at room temp. 

How to Store Pitted Cherries 

Once pitted, cherries should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll last up to five days. 

How to Freeze Pitted Cherries 

I love freezing cherries for future baking projects, smoothies, and slushies. To freeze pitted fresh cherries, do the following: 

1. Pit the cherries using whichever method is easiest for you. 
2. Lay the cherries in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking tray. 
3. Freeze until hard, about 1 hour. 
4. Transfer the cherries to a freezer bag or freezer container. 
5. Label, date, and freeze for up to 1 year. 

How Long Do Pitted Cherries Last? 

Pitted cherries last up to 5 days in fridge and up to 1 year in freezer. Frozen cherries that have developed freezer burn will still be safe to eat, but the texture may be compromised. In that case, toss them into smoothies or cook them down to make a compote. 

Can You Plant a Cherry Pit? 

You should never eat cherry pits, but you can absolutely plant them! First, check which growing zone you’re in and whether the type of cherry you want to grow will work in your zone (for example, sour cherries grow best in colder climates). 

Once you’ve determined that you live in a growing zone that supports cherry trees, I recommend going to your local garden center and asking their expertise on planting your cherry pits. They’ll be able to guide you best when it comes to planting cherry pits! 

Have patience, as fruit trees take a long time to grow any fruit! 

Tip: Avoid planting the pits from supermarket cherries as they’ve been refrigerated, which can affect the viability of the pit. Instead opt for using pits from local cherries found at the farmers market. At least then you’ll know that specific variety of cherries will grow in your region! 

More Summer Kitchen Tutorials: 

Freezing raspberries is a wonderful way to enjoy summer’s harvest year-round! This guide explains how to freeze raspberries, plus it answers the most commonly asked questions about thawing frozen raspberries and using them in recipes. 

Learn how to freeze blueberries, plus get answers to FAQs about thawing frozen blueberries and using them in recipes.

Freezing sweet corn preserves its shelf life and means you’ll enjoy the taste of summer year-round! In this post, I’ll explain how to freeze corn both on and off the cob.

This guide explains how to freeze strawberries, plus it answers the most commonly asked questions about thawing frozen strawberries and using them in recipes.

Freezing tomatoes is the perfect way to preserve them for using in soups and sauces year-round. This post will explain the best way to freeze tomatoes, whether or not they should be blanched before being frozen, and more! 

Who doesn’t love a good kitchen tip? Looking for more kitchen tutorials? Check out the entire Kitchen Tips and Tricks archive for lots of great ideas!

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