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Home How To

How to Cut a Pomegranate – Mess Free Method!

5
/5
15 minutes mins
62 Comments
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By: Rachel GurkPosted: 11/16/2011Updated: 02/08/2023

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

A whole pomegranate on a wooden surface.

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.

Pomegranate arils in a white plastic strainer.
Table of Contents
open
  • 1 About Pomegranates
  • 2 How to Cut a Pomegranate and not make a mess
  • 3 Recipes Using Pomegranate
  • 4 Get the Recipe: How to Cut a Pomegranate – Mess Free Method!

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
White strainer, blue towel, and slotted spoon on a wooden tray.

Step 2: Wash the pomegranate

Isn’t it beautiful? Maybe I’ll buy a few extra and use them for a centerpiece!

Fresh pomegranate on a wooden surface.

Step 3: Slice off the top

I call it the “crown” but it’s technically called the calyx.

Pomegranate with top cut off.

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.

Pomegranate with top cut off and scored in 4-5 places.

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.

Pomegranate face down in a bowl of water.

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.

Fresh pomegranate cut open to show inside.

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. 

Pomegranate seeds in a bowl of water.

Step 8. Remove seeds

Take the seeds out from the water. This is where your strainer comes in handy! 

The final result of learning how to cut a pomegranate - a bowl of fresh pomegranate seeds.

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!

Pomegranate arils on a wooden surface.

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

Close up of pomegranate seeds still in the pomegranate.

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Pomegranate arils in a white strainer.
Recipe

Get the Recipe: How to Cut a Pomegranate – Mess Free Method!

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Additional Time: 10 minutes mins
Total Time: 15 minutes mins
1 cup
Print Rate Recipe
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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.

Notes

  • One pomegranate will yield approximately 1 cup of arils.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/2 pomegranate, Calories: 117kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 2g, Sodium: 4mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 19g

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.

© Author: Rachel Gurk
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  1. perudelights says

    November 20, 2011 at 3:23 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Rachel says

      November 20, 2011 at 3:42 pm

      Thank you! My love for poms is new but I am sure it will be long-lived! :)

      Reply
  2. Maria says

    November 19, 2011 at 3:51 am

    Great post! Love the photos! I love pomegranate season!

    Reply
  3. Marybeth says

    November 18, 2011 at 1:55 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Rachel says

      November 18, 2011 at 8:04 am

      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!

      Reply
  4. foodfashionandflow says

    November 17, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    wow, these shots are amazing!

    Reply
    • Rachel says

      November 18, 2011 at 8:02 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  5. Leslie Means @ Her View From Home says

    November 17, 2011 at 4:12 pm

    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!!

    Reply
  6. Geni says

    November 17, 2011 at 12:31 pm

    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! :)

    Reply
  7. marla says

    November 17, 2011 at 8:26 am

    I love pomegranates and this post! Just pinned & thanks for including me :)

    Reply
  8. Claire @ Claire K Creations says

    November 17, 2011 at 1:32 am

    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.

    Reply
  9. Jennifer @ Mother Thyme says

    November 17, 2011 at 12:45 am

    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! :)

    Reply
  10. mjskit says

    November 16, 2011 at 9:46 pm

    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.:)

    Reply
  11. Jessica @ How Sweet says

    November 16, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    Thanks for including me love! I adorrrrre poms. Your pictures are fabulous!

    Reply
  12. Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says

    November 16, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    Nice roundup Rachel! I love pomegranates and I never knew how to get the seeds out so thanks.

    Reply
  13. Mom says

    November 16, 2011 at 7:34 pm

    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!)

    Reply
  14. Amanda @ Diary of a Semi-Health Nut says

    November 16, 2011 at 7:10 pm

    Pretty pretty pictures! The way my sister and I do the pomegranates is a little different haha!

    Reply
  15. Cassie says

    November 16, 2011 at 4:06 pm

    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!

    Reply
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