How to Cut a Pomegranate – Mess Free Method!
Ruby red pomegranates, with jewel like seeds, are beautiful and delicious, with amazing health benefits. Try one today! This step-by-step tutorial will teach you how to cut a pomegranate and remove the arils.
Pomegranates have been calling my name lately every time I go to the grocery store.
This time, they called my name and said, “Hey lookie, I’m on sale!!!”
And then two jumped into my cart. I had no idea what I would do with them, but I knew I was going to eat them. And take photos of them. They are so pretty!
Did you know that a pomegranate is classified as a berry? It’s been cultivated for millennia and is treasured for the juicy tart seeds inside, since the skin is inedible. The seeds are enclosed in a juicy covering and are called arils. There can be 200 to 1,400 seeds in one pomegranate! The white membrane surrounding the arils is also inedible.
A pomegranate is one powerful berry nutritionally! It’s loaded with nutrients, antioxidants, fatty acids, and fiber. It has anti-inflammatory benefits along with cancer-fighting and brain-strengthening properties. You can read more about this miraculous fruit at Healthline.
The task of breaking a pomegranate open and getting to the seeds (arils) can be a little daunting, like excavating a hidden treasure. The arils are embedded in the membrane and take a little coaxing to emerge. This step-by-step tutorial will help you get to the little jewels inside the fruit.
How to Cut a Pomegranate and not make a mess
Step 1: Gather your supplies (not all pictured)
- sharp knife
- cutting board
- towel (use an old towel because the juice stains)
- large bowl filled with cold water
- slotted spoon
- strainer
Step 2: Wash the pomegranate
Isn’t it beautiful? Maybe I’ll buy a few extra and use them for a centerpiece!
Step 3: Slice off the top
I call it the “crown” but it’s technically called the calyx.
Step 4: Score the pomegranate in four or five places
For photo purposes, the cuts are a little deeper than they need to be. Shallow scoring is what you’re looking for, just cutting through the tough red skin. Try not to cut into the juicy arils.
Step 5: Place the pomegranate upside down (cut side down) in a bowl of cold water and leave it there for about 10 minutes
Soaking helps to loosen the arils.
Step 6: Remove the pomegranate from the bowl of water, leaving the water in the bowl. Pry open the cut edges of the pomegranate, exposing the arils. and begin to separate the arils (seeds) with your fingers. Do this under the water in the bowl to avoid making a mess.
Step 7: Let the arils fall into the bowl of water. They will sink and the white membrane will float to the top so you can easily remove it. When you’re done, simply skim the membrane off with your slotted spoon and discard it.
Step 8. Remove seeds from water. This is where your strainer comes in handy!
Step 9. You can snack on pomegranate seeds right from the bowl or enjoy them in the fun recipes listed below. Each pomegranate will yield approximately one cup of arils.
Or just marvel over how seriously pretty these little jewels are!
GREAT RECIPES USING POMEGRANATE:
Main Dishes:
Roasted Almond Crusted Salmon with Pomegranate Glaze from How Sweet It is
Pomegranate Chipotle Black Bean Sliders from The Wicked Noodle
Salads:
Salad with Pomegranate and Pecans from Rachel Cooks
Kale Salad with Pomegranate, Orange, and Pine Nuts from Rachel Cooks
Spinach, Strawberry and Goat Cheese with Pomegranate Vinaigrette from Nutmeg Nanny
Drinks:
Sparkling Pomegranate Punch from Rachel Cooks
POMosas from Aggie’s Kitchen
Pomegranate Mojitos from Rachel Cooks
Pomegranate Lime Margaritas from Lauren’s Latest
Pomegranate Margarita Martini from Dine & Dish
Virgin Cranberry and Pomegranate Bellini from Taste and Tell
Desserts:
Pomegranate Sorbet from Mango & Tomato
Pomegranate White Chocolate Chunk Cookies from Two Peas & Their Pod
Other:
Butternut Squash Crostini with Ricotta from Rachel Cooks
Roasted Cauliflower with Blue Cheese, Garlic and Pomegranate from Sarah’s Cucina Bella
Chickpea Dip with Toasted Cumin and Pomegranate from Recipe Girl
How to Cut a Pomegranate - Mess Free Method!
Ruby red pomegranates, with its jewel like seeds, are beautiful and delicious, with amazing health benefits. Try one today! This step-by-step tutorial will teach you how to remove the arils from the pomegranate.
Ingredients
- 1 fresh pomegranate
Instructions
- Slice off the top of the pomegranate (the end that looks like a crown).
- Score the pomegranate in 4 or 5 places, just slicing through the peel.
- Place pomegranate cut side down in a bowl of cold water and let soak for 10 minutes.
- Keeping under water, pry open and use your fingers to work the arils away from the flesh, letting them fall into the water.
- Skim any white membrane off the top of the water before straining the pomegranate seeds out of the water.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- One pomegranate will yield approximately 1 cup of arils.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1/2 pomegranateAmount Per Serving: Calories: 117Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 4mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 6gSugar: 19gProtein: 2g
RachelCooks.com sometimes provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as they are not calculated by a registered dietitian. Please consult a medical professional for any specific nutrition, diet, or allergy advice.
62 Comments on “How to Cut a Pomegranate – Mess Free Method!”
I’m curious because I’ve never had a pomegranate. Might have to try one. Will it stain your fingers? or the towel or any other surfaces?
It would likely stain a towel but it will wash off your fingers. :)
Thank you very much for replying :) , I found your method very helpful and I will conduct a study on it.
Hi I am an Industrial Engineer, working with a small organic pomegranate processing facility in South Africa. I want to compose a work procedure for the pomegranate de-seeding/ arils extracting task. What is the significance of ” tep 5. Place upside down (cut side down) in a bowl of cold water and leave there for about 10 minutes. ” ?
It loosens up the arils a bit and the water contains the mess of the juice spraying everywhere. The soaking probably isn’t 100% necessary but will make it slightly easier.
I just ate one 4 the first time. I dunno how they grow all the pomegranate trees in Cali, I’m in Florida and most trees I find on properties that have any fruit are lemon. Well I cut it across with a plastic knife and it came apart into sections easy. The red seeds taste like cranberry but are sweet not bitter, if that helps. The flesh is bitter, took a bite and threw it away but spent a good hour on the seeds, plenty and makes it filling. I like it pretty much.
Martha Stewart once demonstrated how to cut them in half and just smack them with a wooden spoon and all the seeds fall out. It works really well. I love the way pomegranate tastes, but really, really hates all those little seeds inside.
Does that really work? Seems like something *Martha* could do but no one else ;)
Yes, I’ve done it. You just keep whacking away at it
I love pomegranates. A heaping handful, with a few blueberries thrown in for good measure, on top of a bowl of Greek non-fat yogurt, is the best afternoon snack I can think of. The recipes using pomegranate juice all refer to bottled juice. Why not make your own with a good quality citrus press? The resulting juice is so much more nutritious.
That snack sounds great! And really good advice about making your own pomegranate juice! Thanks!
Hey, this is really helpful. I never knew about the bowl of water and found pomegranate way too much work to bother with.
Hi Rachel! Thanks for posting this. I just bought some pomegranates the other day and was trying to think of something fun to make with them and you just gave me a boatload of choices :) I think I may also throw them in with some roasted brussels sprouts for Thanksgiving.
Love your blog name, hilarious :)
They would be great with roasted Brussels! Thanks for your comment!
I love this post and the gorgeous pictures. I had been eating pomegranates since I was a kid, in Central America. They are sooo good, and now we know they are healthy too. Be careful with your clothes because poms juice stains everything. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! My love for poms is new but I am sure it will be long-lived! :)
Great post! Love the photos! I love pomegranate season!
I use warm water, and take out the seeds while the pomegranate is in the water. That way, my hands stay warm, and the juice doesn’t splash everywhere. With your technique, what’s the difference in using cold water and opening outside the bowl–does it not squirt everywhere when you accidentally burst one aril open? Just curious.
You could definitely do it under the water. I think I did a little of both–but my bowl was on the smaller side. As to warm vs. cold, the only reason I could think of is to keep the arils extra fresh in the cold water. But sounds like it has worked fine for you. Thanks for the good advice!
wow, these shots are amazing!
Thank you!
Love all these ideas! And yes – poms are gorgeous aren’t they?!! By the way – can’t wait for you to get the Ella B. Bella books!!
Love pomegranates! I never knew a good way to crack those babies open and get to the goods. Now I know. Thanks! Happy Thursday Rachel! :)
I love pomegranates and this post! Just pinned & thanks for including me :)
Thanks Rachel. I’ve always been intrigued by pomegranate but am still yet to try them.
I saw an episode of Nigella once (actually could have been Jamie Oliver or both) and she cut them in half then tapped their bottoms and all the seeds popped out.
Thank you for sharing this fabulous posts and links for some delicious recipes! You have inspired me to get some pomegranates and get cooking with them! :)
I sure could have used this method 40 something years ago! Our neighbor had a row of pomegranate “bushes” – more like trees along his driveway. We got to pick as many as we could eat or use. I loved eating them and then spitting out the seeds at my big brother. :) My hands and lips were purple afterwards but the process was fun. Today I think I’ll use your method.:)
Thanks for including me love! I adorrrrre poms. Your pictures are fabulous!
Nice roundup Rachel! I love pomegranates and I never knew how to get the seeds out so thanks.
Just tried pomegranate seeds this weekend at a friend’s house. Delicious! Thanks, Rachel, for the tutorial. Now I can fix my own. I hear they’re really, really good for you (antioxidants!)
Pretty pretty pictures! The way my sister and I do the pomegranates is a little different haha!
I love it when things just jump into my cart like that! :)
I love pomegranates, especially this time of year! They are totally worth all of the work to get the little seeds. My mouth is watering!
Great pictures, Rachel! We had a pomegranate tree growing up. I don’t know how I got so lucky but I’ve loved them all my life. Thanks for including my salad!
Lucky you! Happy to include you :)
I remember last summer my picky son who loves nothing but fruits decided at the grocery store he wanted a pomegranate. I was like okay- are you sure. We got home and it was the messiest but cutest thing to watch him eat it! Great tutorial so to speak:)
Oh my gosh, I bet that was adorable! I should try it with my one year old :)
thanks for sharing my link!
your blog is becoming more and more gorgeous: seriously!
Btw, I have the same bowls ;)
Aww thanks :)
I really appreciate this post because I have a BAD habit of buying the ready to eat arils.. which is so expensive!! Thanks for this :)
You betcha! I don’t think I’ve ever even seen the arils sold by themselves.
Such a great roundup and tutorial! I hate cutting into pomegranates but it’s totally worth it :)
I need to pick up a few today or tomorrow. They are going to be a star in one of my holiday cocktails :)
Ooooh can’t wait :)
YAY!! Thanks for including my sliders & ribs. Pomegranate and chipotle were made for each other! You’re right though, there’s just nothing like fresh ones!
For sure, I can’t wait to try them!
Thanks for including one of my recipes!
You bet!
I’m so glad you posted this because JUST THE OTHER DAY I was about to shoot my pom with a gun.
I don’t own a gun.
But if…I….did……
Wanna borrow mine?
Wait, what?
Disclosure: I do not condone violence against delicious fruit. ;)
beautiful pictures!
thanks for the link :)
Thanks! Wouldn’t dream of leaving you out! :)
Thank you for this! I always want to buy a pomegrante, but never know how to cut it open either ;)
It is a tricky fruit ;)
I am always too lazy to cut my own pomegranate. How bad is that? I think the white stuff is called pith…or am I lying? Your photog skills are fantastic…I should take lessons from you. I suck at food photography, I’m quickly finding :wink:
Aww, thank you! It is definitely a learning process and my photography skills still
occasionallyfrequently suck ;)I grew up in south Texas where pomegranate trees and bushes were abundant.
I always just ripped them apart and sucked the juices out of the seeds, then spit the seed out. Some people do chew up the seeds though. At least that’s what I did as a kid! :)
I’ll have to try out some of these awesome recipes!
Lucky you! Must have been awesome to eat them so fresh. I eat the seeds when I put them on salads, etc (when there are only a couple), but if I’m eating lots, I tend to spit out the seeds too.
You know I have never had a pomegranate – I think it was all that talk of it being hard to eat. Now I have a handy guide :)
I hadn’t had one until this year either Chris!
Awww, I’m honored to be listed. Your shots here are just gorgeous!
Thanks Sommer!
Thanks for including me! I looooove how cheap poms are right now! :)
I know! It is awesome.