How to Peel Pomegranate the Easy Way

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This super easy way to remove pomegranate seeds is amazing! And it takes less than a minute for a whole pom - no fuss, no mess, no water!

If you've ever felt intimidated by pomegranates, this post is for you! This easy way to remove pomegranate seeds technique totally eliminated my fear of this beautiful, crimson fruit.

Sometimes people ask me, "Do you ever get tired of cooking?" Except for rare occasions, my answer is "no". But as much as I love cooking, I have to admit there are certain foods I steer clear of because they intimidate me. I either don't know what to do with them or they seem just too complicated to deal with.

Too fussy

Pomegranates fell into that category for a long time. As lovely as the ruby red arils (seeds) are in both savory and sweet recipes, the techniques used to extract them just seemed so fussy and messy. Those "in the know" swore by the underwater method; "cut the pom in half then submerge it in a bowl filled with water. Pick out the seeds allowing them to sink to the bottom of the bowl and discard the membrane and rind which floats to the top. Lastly, strain the seeds. "Voila, you're done!" they proudly proclaimed.

That was way too much work for me. So, when I really wanted pomegranate seeds, I would buy them at the market in little packages with the work already done for me. But that presented another problem. A tiny portion of these little gems is ridiculously expensive. Consequently, I didn't buy them very often and sadly, pomegranate seeds were not a part of my everyday ingredient arsenal.

A wonderful hack

Several years ago, however, my little culinary world was transformed (well, at least in regard to pomegranates)! I discovered a brilliant, super simple, non-messy, no-water way to extract the seeds. And it took less than a minute to remove the seeds from a whole pomegranate!

This might sound silly, but I was beyond thrilled with the results. Now, when pomegranates come into season (late fall and winter), I find myself using them everywhere; sprinkled on our morning yogurt, scattered on salads, brightening up soups and adding vibrant color to both sweet and savory dishes. You might even call me a  "pomegranate aficionado!"

This delicious and healthy Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad is one of our favorite seasonal salads and the pomegranate seeds make it look SO pretty!

I'm hoping you'll become one too, since pomegranates are known as a superfood with tons of wonderful health benefits, including fighting cancer and heart disease, as well as lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. They're also loaded with B vitamins, potassium, and folic acid. Next time you're at the market, be sure to pick up a pom or two and try out this amazing technique. Check out how truly easy it is in our video:

And for more details, we'll walk you through the process, step by step:

• Wash the pomegranate well before starting. Any time you're cutting into a fruit or vegetable with a skin or rind, you take the chance of introducing bacteria from the outer surface into the edible portion. After washing, slice the pomegranate in half horizontally.

• Place the pomegranate, cut side down, in your non-dominant hand with your fingers spread apart. Place a deep, medium-sized bowl under your hand with the pomegranate.
• Take a sturdy spatula or a wooden spoon (if I have a choice, I really like a sturdy wooden spoon best) and begin to whack firmly on the top surface of the pom.
• This is where some people go wrong. They try this technique and it doesn't seem to work - that's because they're lightly tapping. You actually want to give it a good WHACK. If you tap too gently, the seeds will NOT be released.
• Don't be afraid to give it some good, hard whacks - go ahead, get all your frustration and anxiety out. You'll feel much better and you'll have something beautiful to show for it!
• For demonstration purposes, I have the bowl set on the countertop. When I actually do this, I like to have the bowl down in the sink. It prevents a mess and it gives you a good angle to do the whacking.

• Continue to firmly tap (or WHACK) all over the top of the pomegranate until all seeds have fallen out. You can turn the pom over at any point to see if there are areas where the seeds seem to be "sticking". If so, focus your whacking on those areas until all seeds are in the bowl.
• Repeat with the other half. You'll have a bit of white membrane mixed in with the seeds. Just pick this out and discard.

• Store pomegranate arils (seeds) in the refrigerator in an airtight container or zippered bag.
• Arils will keep this way for 4-5 days. They can also be frozen and stored for several months.
• To freeze, line a sheet pan with parchment paper or waxed paper. Spread arils in a single layer, uncovered, until frozen, 1-2 hours. Once frozen, transfer to an airtight storage container or a zippered freezer bag.

Honey Maple Roasted Carrots

That's it - The Easy Way to Remove Pomegranate Seeds. Super easy. Try it, you won't believe how simple it is! Bye-bye expensive pomegranate seeds!

P.S. If this technique doesn't seem to work for you, you're probably not "whacking" hard enough. Start from fairly high up and give it a good whack. Don't be timid! A sturdy spatula or wooden spoon seems to work best.

The only other issue is an unripe pomegranate. But for the most part, the poms you buy at the grocery store are picked in their ripe state so this isn't an issue very often.

You'll find a zillion ways to use these little culinary gems. The Honey Maple Roasted Carrots shown in the image below are a Café reader favorite. You can explore some of our other pomegranate recipes here. The pomengranate season is short so enjoy them before they disappear for another year. Bon Appetit!

Thought for the day:

Praise the Lord,my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
Psalm 103:1&2

What we're listening to for inspiration:

I Love You Lord

This post was originally published back in 2013. Too important to be buried in the Café archives (well over 1,000 recipes) we've spiffed it up a bit and are republishing it for your fall and winter (pomegranate season) enjoyment! Cheers!

Servings: 8

Calories: 29 kcal

• 1 pomegranate
• a sharp knife
• a sturdy spatula or wooden spoon
• a medium size bowl
• storage container or zippered bag

1. Wash the pomegranate well. Any time you're cutting into a fruit or vegetable with a skin or rind, you take the chance of introducing bacteria from the outer surface into the edible portion.

2. Slice the pomegranate in half horizontally.

3. Take one of the halves and hold the cut side down in the palm of your non-dominant hand over a medium-size bowl. Spread your fingers a bit and position the pomegranate over them.

4. Take a sturdy spatula or a wooden spoon and begin to tap firmly on the top surface of the pom. Don't be afraid to give it some good whacks. If you tap too gently the seeds will not be released.

5. The seeds will begin to fall through your fingers into the bowl. Continue to firmly tap (whack) until all seeds have been removed. Repeat with the other half.

6. Store pomegranate arils (seeds) in the refrigerator in an airtight container or zippered bag. Arils will keep this way for 4-5 days. They can also be frozen and stored for several months. To freeze, line a sheet pan with parchment paper or waxed paper. Spread arils in a single layer, uncovered, until frozen, 1-2 hours. Once frozen, transfer to an airtight storage container or a zippered freezer bag.

Nutrition Facts are for 1 medium size pomegranate.

Calories 29kcal

Sodium 1mg

Potassium 83mg

Carbohydrates 6g

Fiber 1g

Sugar 4g

Vitamin C 3.6%

Calcium 4%

Iron 0.1%

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