Learn how to remove the seeds from a pomegranate with this step-by-step tutorial!
Have you ever looked at all the lovely pomegranates displayed at the store, but felt intimidated to purchase since you don’t know how to get at the jewel-like seeds?
No worries: I’ve got you covered!
In this post I’ll go over three different ways to deseed a ripe pomegranate, share tips for storing properly, and give you some ideas for how to use them!
Okay, let’s get started!
Here’s a video tutorial in case you learn best that way! The written tutorial is below…
Method 1: How to cut pomegranate in water:
An easy way to remove the juicy seeds from a fresh pomegranate is to use the water method.
This is actually a combination of the water method and the whacking method.
Begin by cutting your pomegranate in half. A serrated knife works well here.
Fill a large bowl with cold water.
Hold one of the pomegranate halves upside down over the large bowl of water and tap the back of it sharply with the back of a spoon.
A sturdy wooden spoon works well, but you can also use a metal spoon.
Look how well that worked!
Almost every seed is popped out!
The arils will sink to the bottom of the bowl, and the cream/white colored membranes will float to the top of the water.
You can simply scoop the white bits off the top (using your fingers or a slotted spoon), strain off the water, and enjoy your pomegranate seeds!
If you find that some of the arils are still stuck to the pieces of membrane, you can simply remove them by hand.
You can also place a colander inside the water bowl first, then tap out the seeds.
Then simply scoop out the white stuff…
…and lift the colander and pomegranate seeds out of the water!
If you don’t like the idea of losing some of that lovely red juice in the water, you can also whack the seeds out over an empty bowl. It will be a little more tedious to pick out the white stuff, but it’s still a great option!
This first method is the easiest way to de-seed pomegranates in my opinion, but you may prefer one of the next two methods!
Method 2: Breaking a Pomegranate into Sections
The second method involves breaking the whole pomegranate into sections. You can think of is as the segmenting method.
1) Start by running a sharp knife all around the stem end or top of the pomegranate to loosen the top. A serrated knife or paring knife will work here.
You want to cut down far enough so you can clearly see the red fruit when the crown of the fruit is removed.
Repeat with the bottom of the pomegranate.
2) Note that the pomegranate is divided into different sections with membranes between the sections.
3) Run your knife down the outside of the pomegranate along one of the sections.
4) Repeat all the way around the sides of the pomegranate.
Make sure to make shallow cuts – you don’t want to cut into the seeds.
Now you should be able to break the pomegranate into sections.
There’s a white part in the center of the fruit that you may need to pull out before the pomegranate will break into sections.
You can insert the tip of the knife and run it around the middle section if you’re having a hard time removing it.
Now your pomegranate is divided into sections!
You can either bite into the juicy arils directly on the sections, or pop them off into a bowl.
Keep in mind that pomegranate juice stains, so make sure to wash or wipe anything you don’t want stained!
And make sure to wear an apron.
Method 3: How to peel a pomegranate:
Finally, I’m going to show you how to peel a pomegranate for a really dramatic presentation!
1) Begin by removing the top and bottom of the pomegranate.
Score the outside of the pomegranate in 1/2-inch increments, making sure to also score where the sections meet.
Again, be careful to not cut into the seeds!
2) Now carefully pull the peel off of the pomegranate.
3) You may need to pull off the white pith that’s under the peels as well.
4) Then, break the pomegranate into sections.
Finally, remove the white membrane from the outside of the sections of pomegranate seeds.
And now you have these gorgeous sections of crimson pomegranate arils.
Look how lovely and dramatic they are!
These would be the perfect way to incorporate pomegranate seeds into a cheese board.
You can simply bite off the sweet tart arils – no need for a spoon!
How to store a pomegranate:
If your pomegranate looks like it’s in good condition when you purchase it from the grocery store, you can store it at room temperature for about a week.
But fresh pomegranates will keep a bit longer than that if you store them in the refrigerator.
By the way, pomegranates are ripe when you purchase them, so they won’t ripen further if you let them sit out at room temperature.
How to store pomegranate seeds in the fridge:
After you remove the seeds from the pomegranate, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
The seeds are pretty sturdy, so you don’t need to keep them in a single layer.
Keep in mind that if you store the sections instead of individual seeds, the membranes will turn brown.
How long do pomegranate seeds last in the fridge?
If your pomegranate is nice and fresh, the seeds will last in the fridge for about 5-7 days.
But if your pomegranate was already nearing the end of its life, the seeds may only be good for about 3 days in the fridge.
How to freeze pomegranate seeds:
For longer storage, you can actually freeze pomegranate seeds!
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the arils out in a single layer.
Place in the freezer until the arils are completely frozen.
Transfer to a freezer safe zip top bag. Make sure to remove all of the air from the freezer bag.
They will last for about 1 to 3 months in the freezer.
Ways to use Pomegranate Seeds:
If you’re not into eating pomegranate seeds straight with a spoon, here are some other ideas:
- Sprinkle on top of yogurt along with granola and honey.
- Make a pomegranate salad by mixing them with arugula, toasted pecans, and feta cheese.
- Sprinkle on top of chocolate cake for a beautiful, natural decoration.
- Make Pomegranate Dark Chocolate Bites.
- Sprinkle pomegranate seeds, pecans, and rosemary on a block of cream cheese to make a Pomegranate Party Appetizer.
- Add to vanilla or chocolate ice cream.
- They could also pair well with savory dishes such as pork chops or roast chicken.
So that’s how to open a pomegranate and get at the beautiful fruit! Make sure to purchase one this pomegranate season and give one of these methods a try!