Cherry Pits??

[BlackSailJ]

I have 100°proof in a jar with store bought black cherries, and in a rush I forgot to take out the pits and they are in there whole. Will the alcohol extract anything dangerous from the cherry pits? I need to know if I am throwing it out, our consuming it. Thanks.

[still_stirrin]

A quick search of the internet returns this: cherry pits contain cyanide. Peach and apricot stones do too. Roll the dice and see what you get.
ss

[BlackSailJ]

I had 2 yesterday and didn't die, however I don't think roll the dice any further. Lesson learned.

[Pikey]

Pretty much everything which tastes or smells of "Almonds" contains cyanide - Nobody ever dies of eating them because of the amounts you would need to ingest.

[NZChris]

Pretty much everything which tastes or smells of "Almonds" contains cyanide - Nobody ever dies of eating them because of the amounts you would need to ingest.

It isn't necessarily free cyanide, or enough to poison you. I wouldn't worry about it unless the pits had been crushed, and/or I was going to get my seriously pissed on it.

[Saltbush Bill]

My mother and her side of the family have been eating cherrys preserved in Grappa or Brandy for a fair few generations now. They all seem to be healthy and fit enough to out work a lot of younger folk, they do eventually die though.....but usually between 85 or 100 years of age. Pretty sure its not the cherrys pits doing it.

[still_stirrin]

This is the OP’s original question:

I have 100°proof in a jar...Will the alcohol extract anything dangerous from the cherry pits?

Whether or not someone you know has been poisoned by consuming cherry pits is a different question. How much cyanide injestion is necessary to become lethal can vary person to person, no doubt.

But when asked if there is anything dangerous in the stones, I must point out the research response.

The rest of you guys can argue about whether or not it’s safe. I’m outta’ here.
ss

[BlackSailJ]

It's no question about it, I'm tossing it. Lesson learned, never ever use pits.

[The Baker]

Re pits and plants, the interweb says, 'Fortunately, only chronic or massive ingestion of any of these plants or pits can cause serious cyanide poisoning.'

Geoff

[kwik44]

There are tons of information about amygdalin in the internet. Some say it is a cancer cure, some say it is poison. I don’t know but kirschwasser without a slight almond smell and taste or sour cherry extractions without them do not taste good for me. Last week I was distilling apricots with all the stones and I like it. As a child i use to ate the cores from the plum pits and I am alive So you decide...
If you leave them they will give you a little almond like smell. Whether you like it or not it is just a matter of your preference.