Cherries make the perfect topping for ice cream and a delicious addition to any pie. But, it can be hard work to pit cherries by hand.
It’s time-consuming and can take the fun out of creating desserts. That’s why you should look into a cherry pitter. They make such quick work out of prepping cherries, you’ll wonder why you didn’t have one before.
How do you find the best cherry pitter? Easy. I’ll go over the top nine for you! Keep reading to learn more.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
OXO Good Grips Cherry and Olive Pitter
Best for Pitting Multiple Cherries:
Leifheit Cherry Pitter
Best for Catching Seeds:
Leifheit Cherry Pitter with Stone Catcher Container
Best Overall
OXO Good Grips Cherry and Olive Pitter
Look at any list, and you’ll see OXO Good Grips Cherry Pitter as the best cherry pitter. That’s not a coincidence. This cherry pitter is lightweight and made of diecast zinc. The non-slip handle helps to hold the pitter and make precise movements without ruining the cherry.
You place the cherry in the device and the pitter will shoot the cherry seed into a bowl. OXO’s pitter comes with a splatter shield to prevent a mess and is easy to wash afterward. It’s even dishwasher safe, and the handle locks to make easy storage.
Reviewers were very pleased with easy this pitter was to handle for those with weak hands and arthritis.
Pros:
- Easy to hold
- Dishwasher safe
- Doesn’t make a mess
Cons:
- Large seeds can jam the pitter
Best for Pitting Multiple Cherries
Leifheit Cherry Stoner
For the next best cherry pitter, let’s talk about multi-tasking. The Leifheit Cherry Stoner can pit up to 25 pounds of cherries in an hour! This pitter is made from silicone and zinc. You drop the cherries in the tray and press down the lever as they roll into place. The seeds will be pushed into the built-in base below, so you don’t have to worry about getting an additional bowl out of the cabinet.
Once you press down on the pitter, the pitter closes, so no splatters or messes will be made. All of the parts can be disassembled and put in the dishwasher. Reviewers are happy with how quickly you can pit several pounds of cherries with this device.
Pros:
- Great for pitting cherries in bulk
- Dishwasher safe
- Doesn’t make a mess
Cons:
- Sometimes cherries don’t roll into the chute and you’ll have to manually push it in
Best for Catching Seeds
Leifheit Cherry Pitter with Stone Catcher Container
The Leifheit Cherry Pitter is a great option for pitting several cherries in one sitting. This pitter can process 25 pounds of cherries in only one hour.
If you want the best cherry pitter for catching seeds, this is the one I recommend. The large base container can hold tons of cherry pits before you have to clean it out. That means you can spend more time pitting cherries and less time cleaning up after yourself.
The plunger is made from stainless steel, which helps remove the pits more accurately than those built with less durable materials. Reviewers like how easy the Leifheit pitter is to clean, and it’s recommended for those who enjoy canning cherries.
Pros:
- Great for bulk cherries
- Durable
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Plastic container tends to crack
Best for Easy Cleanup
Prepworks by Progressive Cherry Pitter
The best cherry pitter for easy cleanup is the cherry pitter from Prepworks by Progressive. This pitter can process four cherries at once, and the pits are discarded into the non-skid base below. If you only have a handful of cherries to pit and don’t want a mess, this pitter is perfect.
What else is great about this design? It has spots for either large or small cherries, so you can pit cherries according to their size. The all-in-one design lets you pit cherries without any splashes or messes. Once you’re done, the pitter can be tossed into the dishwasher and then locked closed for convenient storage. Reviewers are also pleased with how sturdy this pitter is for the price.
Pros:
- Easy cleanup
- Dishwasher safe
- Tailored for small or large cherries
- Sturdy
Cons:
- Tends to leave pits in a few cherries
Best Compact Pitter
Westmark Cherry Stoner “Kernex”
Drawer space is coveted, so some people hate buying single-purpose kitchen tools. You may need to look into the Westmark Cherry Stoner if that’s you. Westmark’s model is the best cherry pitter for compact storage. This pitter is made from cast aluminum, and the design is just right for getting the job done.
It includes a lip to place the cherry on, and you squeeze the handle to shoot the kernel out the other end of the cherry. You will need a separate bowl to catch seeds, but if that’s not a big deal to you, this pitter is great. Reviewers love the simplicity yet accuracy of this cherry pitter.
Pros:
- Compact
- Durable
- Easy to grip
Cons:
- Can make a mess
- Needs a separate bowl to catch pits
Best Ergonomic Design
Cuisipro Cherry Pitter
Cuisipro has the best cherry pitter for multitasking. Why? You can use this cherry pitter with one hand. From scooping up the cherry to inserting the plunger through the pit, it can all be done in one movement. That’s due to the ergonomic design of this device. The lip allows you to pick up the cherry with the pitter and roll it back into the hole for pitting.
It has a cup attached to the bottom to catch the pit and a splash guard to help minimize the mess made. This pitter is dishwasher safe on the top rack, and it locks into place for storage. Reviewers love that they can avoid getting stains on their hands by using this pitter.
Pros:
- Ergonomic design
- Dishwasher safe
- Can be used with one hand
Cons:
- Small cherries tend to get stuck
Best Budget-Friendly Option
ProTensils Premium Cherry Pitter Stoner
If you’re wanting to test out the idea of a cherry pitter, the ProTensils Premium Cherry Pitter is the best cherry pitter for beginners. There are no frills, but it gets the job done, and the price reflects that. This pitter looks similar to a pair of scissors or tongs. On one end you place your cherry, and once you squeeze the handles together, the other end will plunge the pit of the cherry into a bowl.
There’s nothing complicated about this pitter, but sometimes, simplicity is best. It’s dishwasher safe, and the zinc alloy makeup is made to last you several years in the kitchen. Reviewers are overall satisfied with the value you get for the price on this one.
Pros:
- Easy to clean
- Budget-friendly
- Simple
Cons:
- Can splash the user
- Doesn’t always make a clean break
Best for Canning
Norpro Deluxe Cherry Pitter Automatic Feed Tray
Are you looking for the best cherry pitter for canning? Look no further. Norpro’s cherry pitter can easily process 30 pounds of cherries in no time. It has an automatic feed tray that rolls the cherries into place, where you can plunge out the pit one at a time. The plastic base will catch all of the kernels that are ejected from the cherries, and the remaining cherry will roll out into a bowl.
This is one of the pricier cherry pitters out there, but if you’re using it quite often, the price will make up for itself. The base has a suction grip to keep it in place as you pit cherries. Reviewers of this product love how fast they can process cherries.
Pros:
- Great for canning
- Stays in place
- No mess
Cons:
- Pricey
- Cherries don’t always roll out after pitting
Best Cherry Pitter for Kids
Talisman Designs Chomper Pitter
Why not get the whole family in on the fun? That’s why I’ve included the best cherry pitter for kids. The Talisman Chomper Pitter makes it look like the “chomper” is biting down on the cherries. The pit is then discarded into his belly, which is a removable plastic base.
This pitter is adorable, and the fact that it works well is a plus! It’s dishwasher friendly, and it’s completely safe for your child to use. You may even find yourself wanting to use it.
Pros:
- Kid-friendly
- Dishwasher safe
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Cherries have to be inserted stem down to work
- Tends to splash out cherry juice
Why Get a Cherry Pitter
You may be wondering why you even need a cherry pitter. If you’ve ever accidentally bitten down on a cherry pit, you probably know why.
A cherry pit is the casing around the seed inside of a cherry. They are extremely hard, and biting down on one could damage your teeth. Having a cherry pitter close by will eliminate that possibility. Cherry pitters also save you loads of time compared to removing cherry pits by hand.
Now, let’s find the best cherry pitter for you.
The Best Cherry Pitter is a Kitchen Essential!
Whether you are processing several pounds of cherries or want to prepare a fresh snack, having a cherry pitter around could save you lots of time. It could also save your teeth!
Are you interested in cherry nutrition or how to grow your own cherries? Visit our Cherry Trees page where you’ll find our other posts about cherries.