Popular Ways to Pit Cherries: Which Method Works Best?

Removing pits from cherries can be a tedious task, but Lithuanians have developed a variety of ingenious methods to make the process easier. Many rely on traditional techniques passed down through generations, while others have adopted more modern solutions.

One popular traditional method involves using a "ziogelis," a tool with a coiled end, to scoop out the pit. "I rarely pit cherries. But if I need to, I do it like grandma – with a ziogelis," shares Zina Bružienė, author of the blog "Zinos virtuvė." She notes that this method causes minimal damage to the fruit and little juice loss once one gets the hang of it.

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I rarely pit cherries. But if I need to, I do it like grandma – with a ziogelis. That end, where the ring is twisted, you poke it into the berry and lift out the pit like with a small spoon. The cherry hardly tears, little juice runs out. Once you get used to it, it goes like clockwork.

Beyond the ziogelis, hairpins and straight pins are also frequently used. Another favored tool is a plastic or metal straw. Rasa describes a method where cherries are placed in one hand while a straw is held in the other, pushing the pits out and threading the cherries onto the straw like beads. She finds this faster than the ziogelis and results in less juice spillage.

Vaiva Čaplikienė, from "Virtuvės šėlionės," tested two methods: placing a cherry on a bottle neck and pushing the pit with a wooden skewer, and using a paperclip. She found the paperclip method, inserting its head into the cherry's stem end, to be the most convenient.

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In one hand – berries, in the other – a straw. The pits are pushed out, and the cherries are threaded onto the straw like a necklace.

For those who prefer specialized gadgets, various cherry pitting devices are available. Kristina Naturjevienė, author of "Maisto mėgėja," uses a device with a built-in pit collector, which she finds inexpensive and very convenient. These devices are commonly found online and in supermarkets during berry season.

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And you know, it pulls out easily. This method was the most convenient for me.

However, some still find manual pitting the most effective. Jurga Medžionienė of "Skanios istorijos" prefers using her fingers, despite the resulting stained hands, which she easily remedies with lemon. Ingrida, who grows her own cherries, follows her grandmother's method: cutting the cherries in half with a knife and removing the pit. She acknowledges the red-stained hands but finds it the most straightforward approach.

Renata Šniolienė, from "Kūmutės virtuvė," offers a different perspective, suggesting that pitting isn't always necessary. She briefly boils the cherries and then mashes them through a colander with a silicone spatula. The pulp collects in a bowl below, while the pits remain behind.

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I have a special little device for removing cherry or sour cherry pits – one with a container for the pits. You can buy it in many places – it's inexpensive and very convenient for me.