I've got 25 lbs of cherries...

[PinkCloudDweller]

From my tree! I had to pick them all at the same time as the birds were going crazy on them.

Much though I love plain cherries as they are, fresh from the tree, we can simply not eat them all in one sitting. So. If I make jam, how do I go about stoning them? Is there an easy way?

What if i freeze them? But again, do I stone them?

[PinkCloudDweller]

I should rephrase the thread title: how do I stone 26 lbs of cherries?

[karmakameleon]

You can buy cherry pitters to stone them.

www.lakeland.co.uk/15379/OXO-Good-Grips-Cherry-and-Olive-Pitter?gclid=CjwKCAjwgYPZBRBoEiwA2XeupUi9Y0hBz1W77NGO0325fUY_MRCtOhiak8VB2KwKg5hcDtHWtb87pBoCAjoQAvD_BwE&src=gfeed&s_kwcid=AL!49!3!246750930407!!!g!298310263337!&ef_id=VjKGUQAABHNjWynw:20180613150557:s

[BalloonFlowers]

Can you heat them with a little water, then push through a sieve, before adding the sugar and boiling to jam?

[TheSpottedZebra]

Ooh - where are cherries ripe now- uk?
The ones near me (middle of the country) are still green.

You can freeze with stones in.
And if f they're really ripe you can mash the cherries raw, then put them in the jam pot, and fish them out with a slotted spoon when it's boiling. You mostly get them all...

[CoatsProtectionLeague]

The pitters are great

It’s such a messy job though!

[wakemeupbefore]

Please tell me which cherry fruits early June in England ... or are in a nice warm country [envious].

[NigellaWannabe1]

I'm in Yorkshire!!!! My tree always fruits at this time of the year.

[viques]

I rent a cherry tree for friends in Sussex, the guy who runs the farm is very worried about some sort of fly that is attacking cherries. He advises making sure you really clear the tree of all fruit, and pick up any that have fallen and destroying them so the fly has nothing to feed/ breed on. Apparently they are a serious threat to future cherry crops.

I was in Spain last week, eating fresh cherries for breakfast....

[PinkCloudDweller]

Oh no... I dont think my tree has any pest. Apart from the birds, that is...

[viques]

It's called spotted wing drosophila, nasty little beast!

[IceCreamIceCream]

I had a very prolific cherry tree and used to do jam every year- pitter works well but I found a small pairing knife also had good results

[AHedgehogCanNeverBeBuggered]

You could make Cherry Bounce if you don't fancy stoning them all (assuming you like whisky)?

[happyasasandboy]

I recommend wearing gloves if you're going to stone/pit them.

I pitted lots for jam last year and they stained all the skin around my nails. My fingers looked filthy for a week as it wouldn't wash off!

[4merlyknownasSHD]

Pit them and make jam, but boil up the stones as well in a muslin so you don't have to pick them all out. It makes a lovely jam. For smaller quantities, clafoutis for pudding.

[RedTulip86]

Cherry wine? Pit the cherries, put in a big jar, pour vodka, cover and leave till Christmas. Boozy berries are fab for deserts and vodka goes very well...( drink it yourself or pour into small bottles and give away as Christmas gifts)

[quince2figs]

Or cherry brandy?
Jam, definitely.
Stone and freeze a few portions per bag for crumble/pie/ compote for cheesecakes, blintzes, pancakes
Lovely recipe for almond and polenta cherry drizzle cake in Obsrver today, Nigel Slater
The birds usually get ours the instant I think “hmm. Cherries look ripe enough, I’ll pick them tomorrow”

[quince2figs]

Oh, and Bakewell tart with fresh fruit and a jam layer