delicious
Two cups of pitted cherries now grace my freezer. Last week, there were many more, but I ate a few every day. Last week, I tried pitting a few with a straw from fast food. It crumpled. This week, I tried something new to pit them. At $1.95/lb., I splurged on cherries.
plastic straw
After crumpling the end of a soda straw, I decided to use something a little more sturdy. The heavy plastic straw above was the tool that worked. First, I used the end to the right. But, it was wobbly in my hand. See the ripples that make it bendy? Then I changed and used the end without the ridges.
I had to figure out how to hold the cherry so I would not just demolish the whole cherry while trying to get the pit out. I finally figured it out after trial and error. By holding the cherry where the straw would exit between my index finger and middle finger, I managed not to crush cherries. When the pit sticks in the straw, just squeeze the straw a bit.
I put the rinsed cherries in a colander. Then, I realized I wanted to put it in my lap, so I put a cloth underneath the cherries and inside the colander. I pitted them over the bowl I needed them to be in eventually. Quickly, I figured out that I had to pick each pit from the bowl. So, I pitted the cherries over the colander of cherries. That worked.
This was tricky because the cherries were often punctured on the side because of my aim with the straw or just inattention. One pit with a bit of red juicy flesh popped out into my lap and landed in my crotch. Yes, the red juice stained my pants! Right in the crotch is not good even if I am alone. Later, I figured I had sprinkle my pant leg, the ottoman, and my laptop...sigh. Thankfully, these pants have huge holes in them. How huge are the holes? Well, the pants are not longer decent. Okay, nothing shows, the condition is just shocking. Do cherries stain?
in the beginning
If cherries are still $1.95 anywhere, I will get more to dehydrate. Maybe I will cut those in quarters. What do you think? Plus, I am going to search the kitchen drawer where I keep stuff like this and find a stiff plastic straw, one that is not bendy, that is.
I cannot stand maraschino cherries. I can barely stand cherry pie. I love fresh cherries--different variety, I understand.
Your turn
First--does that initial picture make your mouth water? Do you like fresh cherries? Have you ever pitted cherries? What means did you use? Is cherry jam good?
I love fresh cherries. And, very occasionally marachino cherries. I paid $1 for a cherry pipper - and use it every year in season. Money well spent.
ReplyDeleteNow $1 is a price I can chance. But, you say it works so there is little chance of it not working. Does it have a brand, name, picture on the internet? Anytime I ever have gotten anything that comes with a cherry on top, I ask for it to be left off unless I am with someone who will eat my cherry. Then, I let it be, but still hate the sweet taste left behind.
DeleteNo brand, sadly. We think we picked it up from a $2 shop.
DeleteEC,
DeleteI looked on the internet and found some that were small and looked like huge tweezers with a little cup on one side and a thing that poked the pit out of the other side. They were $10, but if I had more money, I might go for that. What is a $2 shop? Second hand shop? or like our Dollar Stores--new stuff, just cheap?
That sounds like ours. And your Dollar Stores sound like our $2 dollar shops.
DeleteI just love cherries. I've tried several pitters--with no luck. Now I just stand outside eating them and practise my aim with the pits-haha.
ReplyDeleteBut I'd sure like to try dehydrating some. For a good laugh--check out the prices of dried cherries on line. WOW--shocking!
Sue,
DeleteI sit here with a small bowl of cherries or some on a paper plate. I eat the cherry after I pull off the stem and let the pit drop into the bowl that I move under my chin. We are both very classy women. My chickens would want cherries if they caught me eating.
Because we have eaten outdoors and shared, they know what humans are doing and want some of it.
The prices here are usually $4.95/lb.
i do the same thing!!! eat them outside!!!!!
Deletei can't keep cherries around when i find them on sale - i eat them too fast!!!! Linda, i commend you on being able to save some to freeze or dehydrate!!!!
Thanks. Well, I managed to eat at least half. They were still on sale but a bit higher. These will go in the dehydrator.
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ReplyDeleteI'm having probs today with comments.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tip. I would like to say that I have some to freeze but they never make it that long. I may be the problem!
Sonya Ann,
DeleteI KNOW I am the problem. I ate more than half of the ones I got. But, that's okay since I have never had all the cherries I wanted. This time I ate with delight.
I got 20 lbs. Of sweet cherries for $20. (Friend swings by a produce house east of the mountains every year in July. She took orders. 30 lb. minimum. Her van was PACKED on the return.u. Anyway, kids ate them, spitting out the pits...bleah! I banished the box to the patio. I froze a good 8 pounds without pitting. I was told that is best. As I will use the frozen cherries for jam or syrup, I will simply cut around the pits...easier on my hands. Personally, I dislike cherries, except as homemade jam or syrup...I think it is the texture I dislike.
ReplyDeleteMeg B.,
DeleteAnd where is this produce located? Oh, if I had kids, there would most likely be no cherry-eating in the house. These stain. I just hope it washer out. I wonder why it is best not to pit. Do you know? It was rough on my hands. I can feel it today! The texture is like a plum texture to me, but maybe you don't like plum texture, either.
I'm not sure I can pull this off as easily as my friend does, but she puts the cherry on top of a glass or plastic soda bottle and pokes it once with a small skewer. Pit goes in the bottle, cherry falls to the side. She is ridiculously fast at it.
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