How to Cut a Pomegranate – Mess Free Method!
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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.
About Pomegranates
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 supplies
- 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 in a bowl of water
You’ll want to place the cut 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: Separate Arils
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: Remove Membrane
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
Take the seeds out from the water. This is where your strainer comes in handy!
Step 9: Use them!
You can snack on pomegranate seeds right from the bowl or enjoy them in the fun recipes listed below. We also love them in nature’s cereal! Each pomegranate will yield approximately one cup of arils.
Or just marvel over how seriously pretty these little jewels are!
Recipes Using Pomegranate
Salad with Pomegranate and Pecans
Kale Salad with Pomegranate, Orange, and Pine Nuts
Butternut Squash Crostini with Ricotta
Sparkling Pomegranate Punch
Pomegranate Mojitos
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
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.
Notes
- One pomegranate will yield approximately 1 cup of arils.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Krista {Budget Gourmet Mom} says
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!
Rachel says
Lucky you! Happy to include you :)
Kitchen Belleicious says
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:)
Rachel says
Oh my gosh, I bet that was adorable! I should try it with my one year old :)
Olga @ mangotomato says
thanks for sharing my link!
your blog is becoming more and more gorgeous: seriously!
Btw, I have the same bowls ;)
Rachel says
Aww thanks :)
The Elegant Eggplant says
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 :)
Rachel says
You betcha! I don’t think I’ve ever even seen the arils sold by themselves.
Nutmeg Nanny says
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 :)
Rachel says
Ooooh can’t wait :)
the wicked noodle says
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!
Rachel says
For sure, I can’t wait to try them!
Lauren says
Thanks for including one of my recipes!
Rachel says
You bet!
Bev Weidner says
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……
Rachel says
Wanna borrow mine?
Wait, what?
Disclosure: I do not condone violence against delicious fruit. ;)
brandi says
beautiful pictures!
thanks for the link :)
Rachel says
Thanks! Wouldn’t dream of leaving you out! :)
Bree says
Thank you for this! I always want to buy a pomegrante, but never know how to cut it open either ;)
Rachel says
It is a tricky fruit ;)
Lindsay @ Schnoodle Soup says
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:
Rachel says
Aww, thank you! It is definitely a learning process and my photography skills still
occasionallyfrequently suck ;)Curt says
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!
Rachel says
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.
Chris @ TheKeenanCookBook says
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 :)
Rachel says
I hadn’t had one until this year either Chris!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
Awww, I’m honored to be listed. Your shots here are just gorgeous!
Rachel says
Thanks Sommer!
amanda @ fake ginger says
Thanks for including me! I looooove how cheap poms are right now! :)
Rachel says
I know! It is awesome.