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BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Chef’n Quickpit Cherry Pitter, held like a pistol, shoots out the pit and stem.
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BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
The fruit is kept intact.
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With cherry season just beginning, I was excited to receive Chef’n’s Quickpit cherry pitter. I rushed out to buy a bag each of Bing and Rainier cherries.
How it works: The gunlike contraption pushes a rod through the center of the cherry, ejecting the pit and stem while still keeping the fruit’s shape. Center a cherry in the barrel with the stem threaded through the hole in the muzzle. Point the pitter into a rubbish can, bowl or something to catch the pit and stem. Do not point the Quickpit at anyone. There’s no warning about this in the instructions, probably because it’s common sense, but it bears stating outright: Do not point the pitter at anyone. I’m pretty sure it could take someone’s eye out.
That’s all there is to it. It’s so fast that I wanted to see how many cherries I could pit in a minute. I pitted six in about 34 seconds and then stopped because in my race against the clock, I had pits coming out of the sides of the fruit, stems that didn’t detach and juice spraying all over the place. Lesson: Take your time; the gadget is fast enough.
The instructions say the device is “great for olives too.” Since the pitter pitted pits (say that five times fast) so well, I’ll believe what the company says about olives.
Does it work?: Yes!
Pros: Great for people who have an aversion to spitting out seeds. Faster and somewhat safer than using a knife. Compact. Easy to use and wash (make sure to squeeze the trigger to extend the rod for easy cleaning). Dishwasher safe (top rack). Older children can use it with supervision. Making a fresh cherry pie (my dad’s favorite) seems doable.
Cons: Juice collects in the barrel, so make sure to have a towel handy. Can hurt someone if careless while pitting.
Cost and availability: $9.95 at Williams-Sonoma in Ala Moana Center, and starting around $10 on various websites with various shipping charges.
Got a gadget that you love? Curious about one you’d like us to test? Email crave@staradvertiser.com or write Crave, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, Honolulu 96813.