Don’t have a chopstick? No problem. Straighten a paperclip so it’s a long wire with a tiny hook at one end. Slide the hook into the cherry’s stem hole, wriggle it around, and yank that pit out.
This method is fiddly, but it works in a pinch—like if you’re at a desk job and need to pretend you’re doing “important research” while pitting cherries for a snack. Just don’t do this on a Zoom call. I learned that the hard way.
The paperclip trick feels like neurosurgery for fruit. But it’s also oddly satisfying, like popping bubble wrap, but with a tangible reward at the end—a pit-free cherry, and a slightly bent paperclip.
The Straw Method (For The Impatient)
Grab a thick plastic straw (the ones from boba tea work best). Push one end of the straw through the bottom of the cherry, aiming straight up through the center. The pit will pop out the top like a cork from a champagne bottle.
This one’s messy—juice will fly. I recommend doing it over a bowl, or wearing a bib, or just accepting that you’ll look like a vampire after a feeding frenzy. Worth it.
Cherries And Cherry Pits at Leon Donovan blog
Pro tip: If you have leftover cherry juice on your hands, don’t touch your white shirt. I now own a “cherry-stained” T-shirt that I wear exclusively for pitting sessions. Fashion is suffering, but clear of pits.
