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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!
So exciting!
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!
A superfood
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 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 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 (actually, "WHACK" is the right word) 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, flip the pom back over and focus your whacking on those areas until all the 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 it.
- 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.
Looking for a delicious side? These Honey Maple Roasted Carrots are like candy and always bring a ton of rave reviews and requests for the recipe!
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!
You'll find a zillion ways to use these little culinary gems. The Honey Maple Roasted Carrots shown in the image above are a Café reader favorite. We also love the fabulous salad pictured below.
This bright, fresh Arugula Orange Salad with Lemon Ginger Dressing is loaded with delicious seasonal produce - perfect to brighten up the season!You can explore some of our other pomegranate recipes here. The pomegranate season is short so enjoy them before they disappear for another year. Bon Appetit!
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.
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:
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!
This Easy Way to Remove Pomegranate Seeds is utterly amazing! And it takes less than a minute with no fuss, no mess, no water!
- 1 pomegranate
- a sharp knife
- a sturdy spatula or wooden spoon
- a medium size bowl
- storage container or zippered bag
-
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.
-
Slice the pomegranate in half horizontally.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
Sandra Garth says
Thanks for sharing this again and I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Nancy says
Awesome! Whacked the heck out of the first one and ended up with pith, no big deal, but with the second one, gave it a couple of good whacks, turned it inside out, and all the little seeds popped right out and no pith! Thank you....thank you!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks for sharing your results, Nancy. Who knew that whacking could be so therapeutic and have such wonderful results? 🙂
Theresa says
Worked like a charm! Thank you!
Linda says
Ok well your method worked fine on the Pomegranate but little drops of juice splattered on my shirt and won’t come out. So now my new shirt that I only wore twice is ruined.
Chris Scheuer says
Oh no! That's why I do it in the sink! Try this: http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-pomegranate-juice-stains/
Susan Crum says
Thank you, thank you! I bought my first pomegranate ever and used your method. So easy!
June says
Wow! I feel like a magician. This works like a charm! Thank you!
Susan says
Can't wait to try this! You always have such helpful ideas, Chris.
Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert says
I LOVE this method - it works perfectly! PINNED 🙂
Shari Giarraputo says
Love that. I use a wooden spoon. Make the task so much easier. Going to try your way!!!
Thanks for sharing. Have a great holiday season
Liz says
Thanks for reminding me of your tip! It's that time of year and I love buying pomegranates for my cheese boards!
Kathleen says
Oh goodie! Now I can make the carrots for T-giving! Thank you Haven't made carrots yet but by the look of the pic I know they will great. Love your recipes - especially those cheddar chive biscuits.
Chris Scheuer says
Haha! I love it! Thanks so much, Kathleen!
Aimee says
I've always thought it would be complicated to remove the seeds as well, but this seems easy. I'll have to try it!
Chris Scheuer says
I know, I was the say way, Aimee!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
I always struggle with pomegranates, so I'll be trying this. Love easy 🙂
Ann Light says
Did not work for me. I even tried banging the heck out of it with a wooden spoon (juice running everywhere). I think this method depends on how fresh your fruit is. My arils were very stuck to the cellulose by their little "stems". I think this would work better with pomegranates that were a little bit older and some the the insides have dehydrated a bit - the aril have let go of the interior. I live in Egypt and these were freshly picked and only traveled a few miles. Ill try again later in the season.
Tonyea says
This is such an EASY and STRESS relieving process! I loved it and will stick with it going forward!
Chris Scheuer says
Yay! So happy this worked well for you. I love this method too 🙂
Clare says
This is the WORST way to open a pomegranate 😱😱😱 you bruise the fruit and it doesn’t keep. A better way is to cut the top off so that the pith is exposed, then you can see where to cut down the fruit and split it so that the all the beautiful pomegranate gems are exposed pith less
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks for your opinion, Clare. I and so many readers have had fantastic results with this and, I find, that the arils keep really well.
Denise P says
So, I tried this. It IS a much easier way to get the arils out. BUT even putting the bowl in the sink, the pom juice spattered everywhere!!! Next time, I'll don an apron and do it outside.
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Denise,
Hmm... not sure why it made such a mess. My hand gets wet with the juice but, other than that, I haven't had any mess.
Ray says
If you use a well sharpened knife you can make a clean cut and the fruit won't be bruised. Obviously some of the arils will be cut in two, but most of them aren't and the fruit keeps just fine using this method.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks, Ray.
Sophia says
Worked like a charm. I've never had it so easy with pomegranates before. Thank you! (But I did feel like I was committing fruit murder some of the time.)
Chris Scheuer says
Yay!! Thanks for letting us know Sophia!
Shana says
We just did a head to head show down verses the water method after reading your post. Your method won hands down! Thank you!
Chris Scheuer says
Haha! I love it!!!
Annemarie says
Wow it really DID work. I just gave it 2 hard wacks and then I tapped all over the half and they were out in no time!
I live in Egypt and it is pomegranate time here so I will buy loads now I know this easy way.
Will make your salad with pomegranate 😉 Thank you for all your nice recipes and tips.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Annemarie,
Yay! I love helping people discover this wonderful trick! Thanks for taking the time to let us know your results. Happy pomegranting!! 🙂
Bethany says
This is a great tutorial, Chris! Whenever I de-seed pomegranates it looks like I have bled all over the kitchen!
Besides the crazy high price tag on ready to eat arils, another reason for DIY pomegranate arils is to maximize the nutrients available.
I tell my clients that once you cut fruit and expose the inside to oxygen you begin a downhill loss of all of those super-nutrients!
Here's to Wholesome! Bethany Thomson, RDN, LDN
Chris Scheuer says
Excellent points Bethany! Thanks for the great info!
Karen Hicks says
Don't the poms stain really bad? That's the reason I haven't done this before. If you deseed it over the counter, won't it make a huge mess? I am disabled so the cutting parts of your recipes I have to get help with. Am more worried about the staining. Karen
Chris Scheuer says
I actually usually put the bowl right in the sink and do the whole thing there. But if you're doing it on the counter, just use a large bowl and you'll be fine. The seeds will all go into the bowl. I've done it that way too.
Jan says
Just wear an apron! After getting dressed in the morning, the first thing is put on an apron. It usually stays on all day..I'm messy, so this has saved many outfits.
Chris Scheuer says
Haha! I probably should wear an apron, just never got in the habit. But, like I mentioned in the post, I do this little trick in the sink as it's a better angle for me to do the whacking. Honestly, I've never gotten a drop on myself and the sink stays clean too.
Ada says
keep your hand low in the bowl and they shouldn't go everywhichway 🙂
Jeanette says
Thank you for this. Now my son can enjoy one of his favorite snacks with a lot less work for mom. I will share this with friends and family
Chris Scheuer says
That's so cool Jean, what a wonderfully healthy snack for your son!
Sami Hall says
I read this whole article thinking I was going to learn how to get the SEEDS out of a pomegranate. All you've done is get the little red kernels out of the pomegranate. The seeds are still in them! How do you get the SEEDS out, They taste terrible and I've never figured out how to get rid of them. I love the taste of pomegranate, but hate the seeds! What a misleading article!
Chris Scheuer says
Haha, you might need to switch to another fruit. You do eat the tiny pomegranate seeds, kind of like with raspberries. Zillions of people love them (including me and my family) and use the beautiful arils in all kinds of sweet and savory recipes. I think they add a nice little crunch. I understand that everyone's tastes are different though. I think it might be better for you to enjoy pomegranate juice 🙂
Robyn Gleason says
I saw my sister-in-law do this a few years ago and she made it look so easy! I was astounded that I had been doing the underwater technique with such a fuss, lol. I can't believe the price of arils either, Chris - crazy!
I love that you did this post and it will make so many readers happy to see how easy it is!
Welcome home 🙂
Karen Batchelor says
I love pomegranate seeds but have always bought them in those expensive little packets because I didn't want the hassle of removing the seeds myself. Yes - like many others, I too was intimidated by a piece of fruit. But last weekend I bought a pomegranate at the farmer's market with the notion that, once and for all, I was going to tackle the challenge of getting at those juicy little seeds. This morning I found your post and voila - 5 minutes later I've got a heaping mound of my favorite snack.
Enjoying the fruits of my labor as I write this comment. Thank you!!
Chris Scheuer says
Yay! Your life will never be the same 🙂 Your heart will start beating a little faster from this day forward when you see a big bin of pomegranates on sale. Sometimes one of my local grocers has poms 10 for $10, I love it!
Anne Brassell says
This worked great!!! Thanks!