How to Eat a Pomegranate {+Recipe Round-Up}
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!
The task of breaking a pomegranate open and getting to the seeds (arils) can be a little daunting, so hopefully this step-by-step tutorial will help you get to the little jewels inside of the fruit.
Step 1. Gather your supplies (not all pictured).
- sharp knife
- cutting board
- towel (it’s messy–or maybe that’s just me)
- large bowl filled with cold water
- slotted spoon
- strainer
Step 2. Wash the pomegranate.
Step 3. Slice off the top (“the crown”–the part that looks like…well, a crown).
Step 4. Score the pomegranate in four or five places. Don’t cut quite as deep as I did.
Step 5. Place upside down (cut side down) in a bowl of cold water and leave there for about 10 minutes.
Step 6. Remove from bowl, open the pomegranate and begin to separate the arils (seeds). Let them fall into the bowl. They will sink and any white stuff (which probably has a technical name–flesh?) will float to the top. I think I’ll stick with “white stuff” because “the flesh will float to the top” sounds pretty gross. The color of the juice is already reminding me of a few things I’ve seen working at the hospital…
Step 7. When you’re done, you can skim this off with your slotted spoon.
Step 8. Remove seeds from water. This is where your strainer comes in handy!
Step 9. Enjoy in any of the fun recipes listed below. Or just marvel over how seriously pretty these little seeds are.
GREAT RECIPES USING POMEGRANATE:
Main Dishes:
Roasted Almond Crusted Salmon with Pomegranate Glaze from How Sweet It is
Turkish-Spiced Chicken Kebabs with Pomegranate Relish from Perry’s Palate
POM Butter Chicken from Fake Ginger
Pomegranate Chipotle Black Bean Sliders from The Wicked Noodle
Pomegranate Chipotle Baby Back Ribs from The Wicked Noodle
Salads:
Roasted Autumn Panzanella Salad from How Sweet It Is
Festive Pomegranate, Orange and Pear Salad from Budget Gourmet Mom
Layered Autumn Quinoa Salad from How Sweet It Is
Sweet Potato, Bacon, and Pomegranate Salad from Family Fresh Cooking
POM Chicken Salad from Bran Appetit
Spinach, Strawberry and Goat Cheese with Pomegranate Vinaigrette from Nutmeg Nanny
Drinks:
POMosas from Aggie’s Kitchen
Pomegranate Coconut Shake with Cocao Nibs from Family Fresh Cooking
Pomegranate Mojitos from Recipe Girl
Pomegranate Lime Margaritas from Lauren’s Latest
Pomegranate Margarita Martini from Dine & Dish
Virgin Cranberry and Pomegranate Bellini from Taste and Tell
Pomegranate Cosmopolitan from The Merry Gourmet
Desserts:
Pomegranate and Citrus Marshmallow Meringue Pie from Doughmesstic
Pomegranate Sorbet from Mango & Tomato
Peanut Butter Pomegranate Jelly Bars from Lauren’s Latest
Pomegranate Gelato from The Merry Gourmet
Pomegranate White Chocolate Chunk Cookies from Two Peas & Their Pod
Other:
Roasted Cauliflower with Blue Cheese, Garlic and Pomegranate from Sarah’s Cucina Bella
Chickpea Dip with Toasted Cumin and Pomegranate from Recipe Girl
Pomegranate Salsa from Lauren’s Latest
Pomegranate Apple Cranberry Relish from A Spicy Perspective
Cranberry Pomegranate Relish from Flavia’s Flavors
67 Comments on “How to Eat a Pomegranate {+Recipe Round-Up}”
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.