This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see our privacy policy.
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.
Janette says
Chris,
Are pomegranates typically used raw? I have never bought one, but now I want to try it. Do the seeds sometimes require roasting or some other method of cooking?
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Janette, yes, they are used raw.
Emma says
It actually works! Super easy and practically mess free way to open a pomegranate.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks, Emma!
Lori Fekkes says
Love this idea. Thank you! Also I love the Scripture and inspirational songs at the end. Those were very encouraging!
Chris Scheuer says
I'm so glad, Lori! 💕
Hector Trillo says
Al igual que tu al ver granadas en el supermercado era una opción complicada, principalmente por lo complicado que era separar las semillas, pero ahora con esta técnica muy rápida e ingeniosa ya no hay excusas para llevarlas a casa y disfrutar su sabor y beneficios, muchas gracias.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks, Hector!
Linda Lew says
OMG!!! When I was little my family and I would go with friends to pick Pomegranant's and I always loved eating them but never learned how to get the seeds out !! Now that I've just seen your method , I'm just amazed at how easy it was to remove the seeds instead of picking it out one at a time! I can't wait to go buy some now!! Thank you!!!
Chris Scheuer says
Yes, this method is so easy! Enjoy, Linda!
Jenny says
Yeah the wooden spoon didn’t do anything for me. I broke out the meat mallet and that seemed to do the trick although I still had to pick out some membrane.
Chris Scheuer says
Oh my! 😂
Jeri says
This is brilliant!
Chris Scheuer says
🥰
Melissia says
`This was the BEST way to get pomegranate seeds out. Glad I found this on Thanksgiving where getting stress out is a good thing. Happy Thanksgiving!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks, Melissa! I was thrilled when I discovered this technique. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Christine Ann says
Thank you for sharing this easy peasy method!
Chris Scheuer says
I'm so glad it's helpful, Christine!
Joya says
Thank you so much for this amazing trick! Fast aril extraction and thanks to your suggestion of whacking into a large bowl over the kitchen sink, my kitchen no longer looks like a crime scene after getting those yummy arils extracted. Made my day!!
Chris Scheuer says
Yay, Joya, I'm so glad!💕
Thomasine says
Tried it, and was amazed how well it worked.
Chris Scheuer says
Awesome! Thanks for letting us know, Thomasine!
Musetel says
Wow! It worked!
I have all nice pomegranate seeds without ruining my shirts!
Thank you!
Chris Scheuer says
Yay! That's so awesome, Musetel! Thanks for sharing your results! 👏👏👏
Debbie says
I had just bought a Pom and after reading your article, I immediately went to the kitchen and tried the whack method. Voila! Works like a charm. Thank you so much.
Chris Scheuer says
That's SO awesome, Debbie! I love it!
Amanda says
It worked great for me!! Thank you!
Chris Scheuer says
Yay! Thanks for sharing your results, Amanda!
Kate Jenkins says
Why is your website and posts formatted small and long? I love your recipes (have followed for years) but I tire of trying to read your information. I'm sure there is a good reason why you choose to present your material this way. Would you share your thoughts?
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Kate, good question! It's not something I have a choice about at this time. It's the theme that's used to generate the website. If you look at the majority of food blogs, this is the format.
Kind Regards, Chris
Blain says
Ctrl plus + will make the size of the web page readable!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks, Blain, on a Mac it's Command plus +.
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Kate, that is the setup of most blogs and the setup of our WordPress theme. It's not something we can change.
Karo says
After reading this marvelous article, I suddenly realized I have stopped buying pomegranates because I was so tired of sectioning and de-seeding them. Haven't tried one for years. However, I am going to immediately go out and but one. Started buying them years ago in college and over the years grew tired of the hassle . This is a wonderful suggestion!
I so look forward to your "Cafe" emails. Thank you so much. They are an inspiration to me- every bit!
Meg says
What an amazing pomegranate hack! I will never be scared of making a recipe that calls for pomegranate seeds again! Thank you so much for sharing this tip.
Chris Scheuer says
You're welcome, Meg! Thanks you, for taking the time to share your results!
William K says
Couple tips that worked great for me- I didn't have a heavy wooden spoon, so instead i used the back of an ice cream scooper. I think the curvature of the scoop helped deliver a more concentrated force to the hitting area so i didn't really have to whack that hard. Also, i rotated the pomegranate half in my hand as i went so i could constantly strike the same spot (area between thumb and index finger). This seemed quicker and safer for all fingers involved and worked great!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks, William!
Jessie Foster says
Make sure you have your fingertips out of the way when you give it a right whack!!
Chris Scheuer says
Haha! Very true, Jessie!
Mary Smith says
It worked perfectly! I used to remove in sections and thought that was easy but this was even better! I can’t wait to do this for my elderly mother who drinks Pom juice for her hair. She will love the fresh poms even more.
Thank you! Mary
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks, Mary! I'm so happy this worked out for your and I love that your mom uses pom juice for her hair! This will be perfect!
Kevin Sparks says
Hi Chris,
I can't believe that I was scared of pomegranates all these years also. I'm a 57 year old building inspector who just learned something amazingly simple that will enrich his family's life with the gift of seasonal pomegranates. I'm not one to respond to this type of stuff, especially a cooking blog, but I just had to. Thanks again, Kevin - Mokelumne Hill, CA
Chris Scheuer says
I love this, Kevin! You made my day! You will have so much fun using pomegranates. They're so pretty and add such a nice touch to so many seasonal dishes! Thanks for taking the time to leave your comment!
Karen Calanchini says
I love this technique, and so has everyone I have told about it. About those already out of the pomegranate and packaged...they taste nothing like the fresh whacked ones. They have lost so much of their lovely flavor, not worth buying except for looks . Whack them, you will be so happy you did!
Chris Scheuer says
Haha! I love it, Karen! I totally agree with you, there's probably some kind of preservative in the ones you buy to keep them fresh. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment 💕
Mattie says
Yes! Thanks for the great info.
It very easy for the seeds to come out!
The wooden spoon is the balm!
Seeds came out nicely!😀
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks, Mattie!
Sue S says
Thanks for the great whacking idea - it was easy as could be! No more will I be buying the little arils already whacked and packaged.
Judi Buck says
This method worked perfectly. Thank you
Chris Scheuer says
You're welcome, Judi!
Laura says
This method worked great - but I wonder what you do with the juice in the bowl - do you drain them?
Chris Scheuer says
I like to drain them and save the juice. It's wonderful to add to orange juice (pour the oj first, then add a little of the pom juice - it turns into a beautiful sunrise!). It's also great in cocktails!
Jama says
What do you mean drain them? Tell me more please.
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Jama, I'm not sure what you're asking??
kar says
You know that meat tenderizer in your kitchen drawer!! hit it with the flat side of that. it works amazingly well.
Chris Scheuer says
Haha! Great idea!
Crystal says
Love this method! Very satisfying. I'm glad Hades never thought of this, or winter might have been a lot longer!😉 Thanks for sharing!
Chris Scheuer says
haha!