How to Cut a Pomegranate – Mess Free Method!
Posted: 11/16/2011
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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.
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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!
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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.
perudelights says
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.
Rachel says
Thank you! My love for poms is new but I am sure it will be long-lived! :)
Maria says
Great post! Love the photos! I love pomegranate season!
Marybeth says
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.
Rachel says
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!
foodfashionandflow says
wow, these shots are amazing!
Rachel says
Thank you!
Leslie Means @ Her View From Home says
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!!
Geni says
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! :)
marla says
I love pomegranates and this post! Just pinned & thanks for including me :)
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
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.
Jennifer @ Mother Thyme says
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! :)
mjskit says
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.:)
Jessica @ How Sweet says
Thanks for including me love! I adorrrrre poms. Your pictures are fabulous!
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says
Nice roundup Rachel! I love pomegranates and I never knew how to get the seeds out so thanks.
Mom says
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!)
Amanda @ Diary of a Semi-Health Nut says
Pretty pretty pictures! The way my sister and I do the pomegranates is a little different haha!
Cassie says
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!