Did you know that there are over 1,000 different types of cherry trees in America? It’s true! Here are a few more fun facts about this delicious fruit:

In addition, the fins on this destoner act as a safety mechanism. Fruits cannot move around when you are trying to pit them. Therefore, it is one of the best cherry pitters for young children or adults who are clumsy in the kitchen. In the same vein, the amount of cherries you need to pit is also an important factor to consider. If you are going to be pitting multiple pounds of cherries each year, you will probably want a pitting machine. These machines can destone up to six cherries at once and substantially cut down on prep time. If you’re a casual cherry eater, or just don’t want to shell out for a cherry pitter, there are a few household staples you can turn to. Here are some of the most common methods: Unfortunately, yes, you have to remove the pits before cooking (and eating) cherries. Cherry pits are tooth-breakingly hard and actually poisonous! Cherry pits—and the pits of other stone fruits like plums and peaches—contain cyanide, which in certain doses can be lethal. More than anything else, your hands and their comfort should dictate the cherry pitter you choose. If you have any conditions that involve pain in your fingers, thumbs, or palms, opt for a pitter that accommodates that area and doesn't force you to put pressure on it.

A. Cut the cherry lengthwise all the way around, keeping the blade of the knife against the pit. Twist the cherry apart to form two halves. ( A similar method to cutting an avocado.) Carefully remove the pit with the tip of the paring knife or your fingertips. There's minimal effort needed to operate this cherry pitter, and it works nicely for cherries of all sizes. To use it, you can hold it in the air or place it on a surface; a feature other single pitters don't offer. OXO is known for its intuitively designed kitchen gadgets, and this cherry pitter is no exception. Anyone who's planning on doing some serious cherry pitting will be well-served by this model. The Leifheit boasts an ability to pit up to 25 pounds of fruit per hour, and it has a large catch tray underneath to hold the pits as you go. This cherry pitter will have you making a wide variety of dishes in no time at all. For instance, it can pit cherries and olives of any size. The pits come out cleanly while the fruit is still left intact. Prepworks by Progressive by Progressive Cherry-It Cherry Pitter: Similar to the OXO multi-pitter, the tray-like pitter can handle up to four large or small cherries at a time—the tray is reversible for the different sizes—which is a great aspect. As I was testing it though, the pitted cherries didn't always release and sometimes bounced everywhere, leading to a mess. I feel you're better off with the OXO model if you want to pit more than one cherry at a time.

Though it sounds similar to other individual cherry pitters, unlike the squeeze kind of pitter, this push button style is easier on the hand and wrist and won’t cause cramping when pitting small batches. It’s also one of the smaller mechanical pitters on this list, measuring around 4 inches without a jar attached. More importantly, the all-metal lid and spring mean the pitter will last a long time. The only piece you’ll have to replace is the rubber gasket that the cherry sits on. Users and reviewers say it eventually gets stretched out, though I didn't experience that during my tests. Otherwise, the unit will last you through many cherry seasons. Brian Krause from the United States is the official Guinness World Records holder for the longest spit of a cherry pit. In 2004 he competed in the International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship and spit a cherry pit over 93 feet! Finally, let’s take a look at the Squeeze2Pit Cherry Pitter. This is a beautiful handheld chromium-zinc alloy cherry destoner. Most importantly, it comes with a lifetime warranty to ensure pitless cherries for many years to come.

Best of all, this cherry pitter is designed for maximum efficiency. You will be able to pit huge quantities of cherries faster than ever before. In addition, the cherries are pitted so fast there is hardly any mess left behind. However, the small mess that remains is easy to clean up. This machine is designed to be rinsed by hand and dried with either cloth or paper towels. But, it is not dishwasher safe. This is a hand-held pitter that is made of die-cast zinc. As a result, it is sturdy yet also comfortable to use. The soft, non-slip handles have been designed to absorb excess pressure. For instance, you will be able to pit many cherries in a row without cramping. The pitter is fairly accurate for taking care of more than one cherry at a time. It will remove the seeds the majority of the time. However, it is still a good idea to count the pits to avoid any accidents. If your cherry pitter doesn’t have a splash guard, you’ll need to hold it over a bowl or kitchen sink. It’s also advisable that you not wear white, as any juice that gets on your clothes can leave a stain. Commercial pitters will have the highest level of accuracy. Handheld pitters are more likely to leave hanging pits behind. Finally, non-commercial multi-cherry pitters are known to completely miss some pits.

I have the Instecho Cherry Pitter and really love it! It's simple but effective!" — Emma Christensen, Associate General Manager This cherry destoner can handle much more than just the sweet red fruits. It features a large silicone cup with flexible fins to hold food in place. As a result, you can pit anything that will fit into the cup. You can even remove the hull from small strawberries with this kitchen tool. Pitting cherries is not a fun job. It is an annoying task that is a necessary part of making pies and jams. Most importantly, it takes forever to complete by hand. Let’s start with the most obvious of the bunch: a dedicated cherry pitter tool. If you pit a lot of cherries for recipes, it’s a handy gadget to have. While it’s largely a single-use tool ( I say “largely” because you can also use some models for olives), it gets the job done well.

Don’t want to fashion a pitting tool? You can pit cherries with a paring knife, though I find it to be a bit messier and more time consuming than other methods. Straw: Your standard plastic straw might not be up to the job due to the cherry’s firm flesh, but if you have reusable straws—metal or hard plastic—make use of them! Like you would with hulling a strawberry, push the straw up through the bottom of the cherry through the top. You’ll get rid of the pit and stem. Though they recommend you insert the pitter into the top end of the cherry, where the stem is, I found you can easily insert the pitter into the bottom end, removing the pit and leaving the stem intact. This makes the pitter great for garnishing desserts and drinks where the stem can remain as a decorative element. The Triangle German Cherry Pitter does take some practice, with the first few cherries getting mangled as you learn to swivel and dig the cherry pit out. And even after you get the hang of it, pitting cherries with this tool is slower and messier. Still for a reasonable price, this is a great pitter for those who only want to pit a few cherries for decoration and garnishing.

The way the arms and blade work together ensure that cherries are pitted with as little meat removed as possible. As a result, you are left with unharmed, juicy fruit. I prefer using plain (round) tips to stars. Not only can you pinch your fingers on the star’s sharp edges as you push the pit through, but it also leaves the cherries looking a bit jagged. The oldest blossoming cherry tree is in Jindai Sakura, Japan. It is estimated to be between 1,800 and 2,000 years old. What about bulk cherry pitter machines? Honestly, I haven’t found a model that I love. If you use one that you recommend, let me know in the comments! What We Love: Pits 6 cherries at a time, large nonslip grip top reduces hand and arm fatigue, removable pit tray for easy disposalThe easiest way to pit cherries is with a cherry pitter. The classic cherry pitter grips an individual cherry while a small rod pierces the fruit and pushes the pit right out. It leaves your cherries intact and ready for baking. However, because this technique only allows you to pit one cherry at a time, it can be a bit tedious.