How to Seed Pomegranates
on Nov 22, 2024
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The tips and tricks you need to get pomegranate arils out of the fresh fruit.
Juicy, sweet-tart fresh pomegranates are a seasonal delight. But the process of getting to the seeds from the pomegranate can be very intimidating. However, it is so very worth it, promise, promise! And it’s not hard at all.
Once you give it a go, you’ll get the hang of it quickly, and then you will be able to add the brightly colored refreshing pomegranate seeds to everything from salads to cocktails and use them to garnish entrees, graze boards, and more. Try them in Brussels Sprouts, Apple and Pomegranate Seed Slaw or Green Salad with Pomegranate Seeds, Parmesan, and Pears.
Tips for Preventing Pomegranate Stains
Before beginning, make sure you have on an apron to prevent staining of your clothes (or wear an old, unloved shirt) and, if possible, a plastic (not wood) cutting board to prevent the juice from staining your surface. Wear some cooking-compatible plastic or rubber gloves if you want to prevent any temporary staining of your hands.
How to Seed Pomegranates
- Open the pomegranate: Start by cutting off a thin slice of the bottom so that the fruit can stand securely. Then, cut around the crown (the end with the “blossom” sticking out) at a slight angle into the top of the fruit so that the top comes off and there is a slight dip into the pomegranate.
- Cut slits in the skin: Use your knife, and from top to bottom along one of the vertical ridges, cut just through the red skin but not into the seeds. Continue this 5 more times at equal segments so there are a total of 6 cuts/sections.
- Pry open the pomegranate: Using your fingers, place them into the top’s concavity and pry open the pomegranate, which should fall into 6 open sections.
- Remove the seeds: Fill a large bowl most of the way with cold water. Gently separate the seeds from their sections over a large bowl filled halfway with some cold water. You can also lower the pomegranate sections into the water as you work.
- Strain the seeds: As the seeds fall into the bowl, they will sink to the bottom while the white membranes will float to the top. Skim the membranes from the water. Drain the seeds in a colander or strainer.
- Remove any little extra pieces of the white membrane, and enjoy!
FAQs
Arils are the red, juicy flesh surrounding the pomegranate seed. The word is often used interchangeably with “pomegranate seeds,” though technically, the seed is inside the aril.
Some pomegranate seeds are bright red in color, and others are paler: white or pale pink. You have to taste them to see if they are good — some varieties of pomegranates have seeds that are quite pale, but still sweet and perfectly safe to eat. In other cases, pale seeds might mean that the pomegranate is not ripe.
The fruit isn’t fully ripe if the seeds taste bitter or not very flavorful. The seeds are safe to eat, though they won’t have the same level of sweetness or juiciness.
Storing Pomegranate Seeds
You can store pomegranate seeds (or arils) in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. If they start to get brownish or become mushy or slimy, they are past their prime. You can also freeze pomegranate seeds for up to 3 months. Fresh juice should be consumed within 1 week.
More Pomegranate Recipes
How to Seed Pomegranates
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cut off a thin slice of the bottom so that the fruit can stand securely. Then, cut around the crown (the end with the “blossom” sticking out) at a slight angle into the top of the fruit so that the top comes off and there is a slight dip into the pomegranate.
- Use your knife, and from top to bottom along one of the vertical ridges, cut just through the red skin but not into the seeds. Continue this 5 more times at equal segments so there are a total of 6 cuts/sections.
- Using your fingers, place them into the top’s concavity and pry open the pomegranate, which should fall into 6 open sections.
- Fill a large bowl most of the way with cold water. Gently separate the seeds from their sections over a large bowl filled halfway with some cold water. You can also lower the pomegranate sections into the water as you work.
- As the seeds fall into the bowl, they will sink to the bottom while the white membranes will float to the top. Skim the membranes from the water. Drain the seeds in a colander or strainer.
- Remove any little extra pieces of the white membrane, and enjoy!
Notes
- You can store pomegranate seeds (or arils) in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. If they start to get brownish or become mushy or slimy, they are past their prime.
- You can also freeze pomegranate seeds for up to 3 months.
- Fresh pomegranate juice should be consumed within 1 week.
