Seed a Pomegranate
Once you have managed to open a pomegranate, you can go right ahead and eat it. But if you take the time to separate the arils (those fleshy red pockets of flavor that contain seeds) from the white skin they're attached to, your pomegranate eating experience will be less messy and better enjoyed.
Contents
Steps
Seed Removal by Hand
- Follow the steps in How to Open a Pomegranate to minimize the arils lost. Alternatively, after cutting off the top and bottom, just slice or break the pomegranate into halves or fourths. It would be a good idea to wear latex or vinyl gloves to keep your hands from getting sticky and red. Pomegranate juice will stain.
- Remove each aril with your fingers and place into a bowl. You can use a gentle scraping motion with your fingertips (or a spoon) to remove more than one at a time.
Seed Removal in Water
- Open the fruit by following the detailed instructions at How to Open a Pomegranate.
- Fill a large bowl with water.
- Place quartered pomegranate into the water.
- Use your fingers to break the seeds out.
- Remove the white fiber that you won't want to eat. It will conveniently float at the top of the water.
- Rinse and eat.
Using a Spoon
- Cut the the pomegranate in half.
- Using a spoon, beat on the back of the cut half, to push out all the seeds.
- Catch the seeds in a bowl.
- Continue until most of the seeds have been removed. You can use the spoon to scoop out the remaining seeds.
Tips
- Use cold water when soaking the pomegranates in water.
- You can turn the cut half over and tap the skin hard all over with the back of a teaspoon. The arils will fall out onto the plate, and you won't get your fingers messy.
- The tough outside skin is nature's way of protecting the jewel-like arils inside. The harder the pomegranate is, the more structured and callous the arils will be. Vice versa, the arils will be untextured and dry if the outside skin is soft.
Warnings
- Be careful of staining when cutting into a pomegranate or cleaning out the fleshy inside. Pomegranate juice stains much like red wine and can be disastrous to a white shirt or other kitchen surfaces. Try wearing darker clothes when straining or cutting a pomegranate.
Things You'll Need
- Pomegranate
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Cold water
- Two bowls
- Vinyl or Latex gloves
