Using a Straw to Pit Cherries

We have a Stella cherry tree in our backyard. This type of cherry is bright red and sweet, but not as sweet as a Rainier or Bing. They are delicious fresh, but are also tart enough to be used in pies and preserves. In order to use them in recipes, the pits need to be removed.

There are specialized devices you can use, but I prefer to use what I have on hand. In the past, I have simply smashed the cherries and then removed the pit, but this can be messy. Now, I use a large plastic straw from a Starbucks cup. It is sturdier than a regular plastic straw so won't bend or break. I can pit a whole bunch of cherries and prep them for freezing pretty quickly. I place them on a cookie sheet and freeze them flat, then transfer them to a freezer bag.

Unfortunately, my youngest loves frozen fruit and there have been a few years that I didn't have any cherries left because they had all been eaten, right out of the freezer. I suppose it is a pretty healthy snack, but I was looking forward to pie!