I made a purchase last night that will forever change my life and pretty much take any semblance of fun out of the lives of my kids. I’m a little thrilled by the prospect.
Let me start at the beginning. My kids love cherries. Every summer, we buy cherries by the boat load and every summer, I either spend my time cutting out the pits for the littlest ones, or I watch and listen in horror as my dainty girls turn into pit spitting pros, having contests to see who can spit the farthest pit. Of course, along with the pit spitting comes the stained faces and clothes. Sure, they are smiling and giggling and having fun with it, but c’mon. Pit spitting little girls just seems a little, well… wrong. And when kids are having too much fun and there is too much giggling and smiling, it is a mom’s job to come in with a neat little tool to squelch it all, right in the bud.
Enter the Cherry Pitter. I’ve heard the praises of the Cherry Pitter before, but I had never seen one anywhere. Last night, with a cart full of cherries and a quick trip down the kitchen utensil aisle of Target, I discovered that Oxo Softworks had a handy little cherry pitter ready for me to purchase. I picked it up and unveiled the fun spoiling plan to my kids this morning.
Let me tell you, they had just as much fun squeezing the pits out of the cherries as they used to being pit spitting crazies. This little tool packs a lot of punch and with the help of my kiddos (because it is that simple to use), I was able to get through a whole bag of cherries in less than 5 minutes. The best part about it, no behavior that would make Miss Manners ashamed took place, and my dainty little girls remained rather dainty… until they figured out how much fun it is to smear cherry juice on their face as makeup. That, my friends, is fun to squelch on a different day.
Oxo in no way sponsored me to write this post. I just am so excited to discover this handy cherry pitter that I had to share it with you all!
Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Jenn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
That cherry pitter is so cute! I can’t wait for cherries to be in season here in NY, I might have to buy one. 🙂
Jenn
.-= Jenn (Jenn’s Menu and Lifestyle Blog)´s last blog ..BBQ Pulled Plants =-.
Steph (Desserts for Breakfast) says
Oh yes! Cherry pitters are awesome, despite how much my friends make fun of me for having one. (They don’t know how incredibly useful they are–silly fools! :P) I’ve got the kind that can pit five cherries at once. Oooo yeahhhh. 🙂
Jessica @ How Sweet says
I eat cherries like mad, but don’t have a pitter. I just never thought it was worth it. I guess it is. Going to pick one up this weekend!
.-= Jessica @ How Sweet´s last blog ..How Meat It Is II. =-.
Elle says
Oh, heck yes!! No more red fingertips and stained shirts!
.-= Elle´s last blog ..The 55 Knives eBook is on sale-check it out! =-.
Terri says
Kristen, in Nebraska, the house we bought had 2 cherry trees and the first year we had a bumper crop and I pitted them all by hand. That winter I bought a cherry pitter and wouldn’t you know…both trees died! Wonder if I still have the pitter somewhere? May go buy a new one anyway, as this one looks a lot easier.
April in CT says
I got one last summer and I LOVE it! It sure makes a cherry cobbler come together much faster and it’s just plain fun to use. I still managed to make a mess and create a pseudo horror movie scene on the back splash of my sink though!
Sean says
I love OXO and all but I’ve got news for you: Leifheit is the the cherry pitter to beat all cherry pitters: http://spectacularlydelicious.com/2010/04/23/get-set-for-summer/
Amy from She Wears Many Hats says
I have a bag of cherries waiting for de-pitting right now. Looks like a trip to Target is called for.
.-= Amy from She Wears Many Hats´s last blog ..Grilled Pork Tenderloin =-.
Dana says
I need one of these!
Joanne says
I always find it so awkward to eat cherries in semi-social settings. You have to pull the pit from your mouth, find some where to put it…it’s a process. This looks so useful!
.-= Joanne´s last blog ..Bittman’s Roasted Garlic Soup with Cherry Black Pepper Focaccia =-.
dani says
finding new kitchen gadgets is almost as exciting as nailing a new recipe!
nice find 🙂
.-= dani´s last blog ..#76) Cinnamon Cupcakes =-.
Janna M says
Last year I tried a tip that said using a straw to pit cherries but that was a disaster. My cherry pitter is my new favorite kitchen gadget.
I even wrote about it on my blog: http://tryityoumightlikeit.wordpress.com/2010/05/16/sweet-cherry-pie/
.-= Janna M´s last blog ..The best Zucchini Muffins =-.
Baking is my Zen says
I’ve yet to get this gadget…(love gadgets)…Don’t use cherries much which probably accounts for why I don’t own one.
Great post…and story… made me smile!:)
Carmen
.-= Baking is my Zen´s last blog ..Share Our Strength ~ 4/17/10 Bake Sale Photos ~ Baking is my Zen (NJ) =-.
Laura says
Funny. I have wanted one for a couple years, ever since seeing one in Germany and not buying it. Seems like the best, least used kitchen gadget (only because cherries are seasonal) everyone must have!!
.-= Laura´s last blog ..Spaghetti with Chunky Tomato Sauce =-.
Jennifer says
What a neat gadget! I need one. And now that I officially have two things on my Target list (that, and my book club book – Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison), time to make the trek! Thanks for the inspiration.
Memoria says
Dainty? I hope you’re joking when you say you think girls spitting seeds is wrong b/c you think they should be dainty. If you’re okay with boys doing it, then it should be okay for girls to do it. I don’t see the difference. Why do girls have to be dainty? Ayyyy, are we back in the 1950s? hahaha Oh, my heart is hurting!!! I will breathe deeply and move on to the coveted cherry pitter. 😀
I want one so badly. Have you seen the pitters that allows you to pit a bunch of cherries without having to empty out the little receptacle as much? I would be happy with any type of cherry pitter, though. I replied to your pitter tweet. I hope you do a giveaway!
Kristen says
I was totally being sarcastic (as well when I said it is a mom’s job to squelch giggling and fun having) 😉 So no need to have a hurting heart…lol!
Julia says
oh, this will make preparing cherries for clafoutis soooo much easier! it’s one of my favorite summer time desserts, but it’s always such a pain (not to mention a mess – my fingers stay purple for hours!) to pit all the cherries by hand! i’ll have to look for one somewhere… too bad there’s no target in europe!
.-= Julia´s last blog ..Six Senses Saturday & Other Mish Mash =-.
Erin says
Thanks so much for sharing….I will be buying one of these tomorrow. I had no idea it even existed!!
Chris says
oooh! I want one. And, it is one thing I always forget to look for when gadget shopping. 😉
Melissa says
A few years ago, I had painstakingly pitted all cherries by hand, grew tired of it and tried to use a paper clip to “core” out the pit. I saw the method in a MSL issue years before. The MacGyver method was a failure.
Days later, my friend was talking about his weekend of cherry picking and jam making and I asked how he pitted all those dang cherries! A cherry pitter, of course. I felt like such a fool…
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..It’s been that kind of morning…(Chocolate Swirl Sour Cream Coffee Cake) =-.
Debbi Does Dinner Healthy says
I totally want one of these! It would come in SOOOO handy! Especially with the little one! Thanks!
.-= Debbi Does Dinner Healthy´s last blog ..Broccoli Apple Slaw =-.
Emmitt Perolta says
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