The Best Way to Cut, Deseed & Eat Pomegranates

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Plus, how to choose a ripe pomegranate and store the seeds or juice
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Pomegranates are a tasty and nutritious treat, but they can be a pain to open (and potentially splatter bright red juice all over your kitchen!). Luckily, there are a few easy hacks to cut and deseed a pomegranate without making a mess. For this article, we interviewed professional chef Ollie George Cigliano to teach you the best way to cut a pomegranate, remove the seeds, and how to use and eat the seeds once you’ve removed them. Plus, learn how to store pomegranates and choose the best, most ripe one at the store.

Best Way to Cut a Pomegranate

  1. Cut off the top of the pomegranate ( ¼ in or 0.6 cm down) with a sharp knife.
  2. Slice the ridges of the pomegranate’s skin to score it into sections.
  3. Peel back each section to expose the seeds.
  4. Submerge the fruit in a bowl of water and remove the seeds with your fingers.
  5. Remove the pith with a spoon and drain the seeds in a colander.
Section 1 of 6:

Cutting a Pomegranate to Remove the Seeds

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Pomegranate
    Drag a small knife around the top of the pomegranate (about ¼ in or 0.6 cm down), just deep enough to pierce the skin. Then, peel the top off with your hand and discard. If you can’t easily peel it off, cut a bit deeper with the knife. [1]
    • If you’re worried about making a mess, go ahead and submerge the pomegranate in a bowl of water now. This way, the juice won’t splatter all over you and your kitchen. It’s also okay to do this on a cutting board, however.
    • Cigliano recommends “using a paring knife to remove the little stem, known as the flower, at the top of the fruit.”
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Pomegranate
    Scoring refers to cutting slits in the surface of food. When looking at the top of the pomegranate, you’ll notice the seeds are separated into 5-8 sections with white pith between them. Run your knife down each white area, being careful to pierce just the skin of the pomegranate and no deeper. [2]
    • Some pomegranates may have gentle ridges on the outside of the fruit where the sections separate. Try aligning your knife with these ridges to cut in the right place. If you can’t find them, Cigliano says “just make about six evenly spaced cuts around the fruit.”
    • Cigliano says it’s okay if you accidentally cut too deep, as “it’s just going to be a little messier.”
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Pomegranate
    Gently peel back each section of the fruit so you have access to all the seeds (or arils). [3] Fill a large bowl with water and add the pomegranate. Submerging the fruit in water will make it easier (and less messy) to remove the seeds.
    • If you have trouble peeling back the sections, hold the pomegranate upside down over the water and press your thumb into the bottom of the fruit to pop out each section. It’s important to do this over the water in case some seeds come loose in the process.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Pomegranate
    Gently run your thumb over the seeds to loosen them. Because the pomegranate is submerged in water, most of the seeds should come off fairly easily, though there may be a few that are stubborn. Just keep working the seeds with your hands until they all come loose. [4]
    • It’s also possible to remove the seeds this way without submerging them in water. However, the water helps prevent the seeds from staining your skin and juice from squirting all over your kitchen.
    • If you’re having trouble removing the seeds, Cigliano suggests you “pull the edges of each section back towards you to push the seeds out and into the bowl.”
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Pomegranate
    As you remove the seeds, they’ll sink to the bottom of the bowl while the pith will float to the top. Scoop the pith out with a spoon and discard it. Then, drain the seeds into a colander and pick out any remaining pith with your hands. The pomegranate seeds are now ready to eat! [5]
    • It’s okay if you miss a bit of the pith. Cigliano says it’s safe to eat, but “it’s bitter and most people choose to discard it.”
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Section 2 of 6:

Knocking Pomegranate Seeds Out with a Spoon

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Pomegranate
    Either cut the pomegranate with the scoring method listed above or slice it in half horizontally. Hold the open pomegranate over a bowl and whack the outside skin with a wooden spoon repeatedly. This should loosen most of the seeds and cause them to fall into the bowl. There may be a few stubborn ones you’ll need to remove with your fingers. [6]
    • While cutting the pomegranate in half will work, you’ll have better access to all the arils if you separate it into sections.
    • It may be helpful to do this method over a bowl of water so it’s less messy, but this is also a good option if you don’t have access to water when cutting your pomegranate.
Section 3 of 6:

Ways to Use Pomegranate Seeds

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  1. Pomegranate seeds are completely edible! In fact, whole pomegranate seeds contain 4 grams of fiber, compared to the 0.1 grams found in strained pomegranate juice. [7] These arils are a healthy, crunchy, and flavorful snack. Just be careful not to stain your fingers!
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Pomegranate
    Pomegranate seeds are an excellent way to give your salads an extra burst of flavor. While you can add pomegranate to any salad, the seeds often pair well with ingredients like chicken, arugula, spinach, and mango. [8]
  3. If you’re looking for a quick and healthy breakfast, pomegranate seeds are a great source of fiber. [9] Add some to your overnight oats or hot oatmeal, or mix them into some Greek yogurt with granola and honey. [10]
  4. These tangy, sweet arils also pair well with savory meals. They make a great garnish for roasted vegetables like eggplant and cauliflower, and they can also be added to meats like chicken, salmon, and beef. Try it out the next time you’re trying to spice things up in the kitchen. [11]
    • Pomegranate seeds also pair well with savory snacks like baked brie and hummus.
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Section 4 of 6:

How to Juice Pomegranate Seeds

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  1. Cut your pomegranate into small enough pieces to fit in your juicer. It’s okay to include the rind and the pith for this method. One at a time, add each piece to the juicer with the cut side (the side with the seeds) facing down. Steadily squeeze the juice into a large bowl. The juice will likely splatter, so it may help to work over a sink. [12]
    • Be sure to press, not twist, the fruit as you juice it.
    • Pomegranate rind contains tannins, so the juice will be bitter. Feel free to mix in your preferred sweetener.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Pomegranate
    Remove the seeds from the pomegranate and place them inside a sealable plastic bag. Make sure the bag is properly sealed, and push out as much air as possible. Then, run a rolling pin over the seeds to cause them to burst and release their juice. When all the seeds have burst, pour the juice through a strainer into a bowl and discard the crunchy parts. [13]
    • It’s also possible to crush the seeds with a sieve, food mill, or in a blender.
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Section 5 of 6:

How to Store Pomegranates

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  1. Store whole pomegranates in a cool, dry place until they’re fully ripe. Typically, you’ll know a pomegranate is ripe when it feels heavy and the skin is firm and deep red. Once the fruit is ripe, use it or move it to the refrigerator. [14]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Pomegranate
    Put the pomegranate seeds in a sealable container and refrigerate them for up to 5 days. If you’d like to store them longer than that, freeze them for up to 6 months. [15]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Pomegranate
    Transfer fresh pomegranate juice to a sealable container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you’d like to store it for a longer period of time, freeze the juice for 6 months to a year. [16]
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Section 6 of 6:

How to Choose a Good Pomegranate

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Pomegranate
    Ripe pomegranates aren’t perfectly round. Instead, they often have gentle ridges that create flattened, angular sides. The skin should be firm and tight, as well. If the pomegranate is mushy or has large cracks, it may be spoiled. [17]
    • In the northern hemisphere, pomegranate season typically runs from September to February, so that’s when you’re most likely to find a good one.
  2. Pomegranates vary in color, from light to dark red, but in general, a deep, vibrant red is a good sign that the fruit is ripe. However, some brownish pomegranates can also be ripe, so make sure the skin is firm rather than relying solely on color. [18]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Pomegranate
    The juicier a pomegranate is, the more it will weigh. When picking a pomegranate, hold it in your hand. A ripe one should feel heavy for its size, indicating that the seeds are full of juice and ready for consumption. [19]
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      • It’s often easier to remove seeds from a cold pomegranate rather than a room temperature one.
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      • If you want to eat pomegranate seeds by themselves, it’s possible to eat them from the wedges rather than removing the seeds completely. It might get a little messy, though.
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      • If you’re of legal drinking age, try making pomegranate wine or adding pomegranate juice or seeds to a cocktail.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/pomegranates/
      2. ↑ https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/pomegranates/
      3. ↑ https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/pomegranates/
      4. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-cut-a-pomegranate-7852642
      5. ↑ https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1211&context=extension_curall
      6. ↑ https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1211&context=extension_curall
      7. ↑ https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/488928/nutrients
      8. ↑ https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1211&context=extension_curall
      9. ↑ https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/488928/nutrients
      1. ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-eat-pomegranates
      2. ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-eat-pomegranates
      3. ↑ https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1211&context=extension_curall
      4. ↑ https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1211&context=extension_curall
      5. ↑ https://extension.usu.edu/preserve-the-harvest/research/pomegranates
      6. ↑ https://www.feastingathome.com/how-to-cut-a-pomegranate/
      7. ↑ https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1211&context=extension_curall
      8. ↑ https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/pomegranates/
      9. ↑ https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/pomegranate-fruit-of-the-desert
      10. ↑ https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/pomegranates/

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