One of my favorite parts of living in California is the variety of fruits that grow here! I have memories of picking pomegranates since I was a kid. Pomegranates, citrus, and persimmons are all associations with autumn:) Since buying our own home, I am so thankful for the pomegranate bushes that were planted here by the previous owners. We have quite a harvest and I enjoy picking a few daily.
Peeling pomegranates was always a big deal growing up though because, quite frankly- it’s messy! To add, pomegranate juice does not wash off very easy. We had specific old stained clothes that we would put on and we would peel a lot of them at a time. Over the years, I’ve discovered my favorite way to peel the pomegranates. It’s easy, clean, and all of the pomegranate seeds remain whole.
Obviously there isn’t any ONE right way of peeling a pomegranate, but I do not like cutting through the pomegranate in the middle because I like when the seeds are whole and juicy. There is also a method where you submerge the pomegranate into water as you peel, but I do not like that option because the pomegranate arils go bad quicker once wet.
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It’s best to pick pomegranates when they have a crack because they tend to be sweeter and more ripe with a beautiful deep crimson color. It also is easier to get the seeds out of such a pomegranate. Pomegranates are so healthy! Just to name a few health benefits, they are high in vitamin C, rich in antioxidants, and a good source of fiber.
What You’ll Need
- a sharp knife
- a glass bowl for the pomegranate arils
- another bowl for the peel
Step 1
Cut off the bottom and top section of the pomegranate right above the seeds. Toss the pieces into the trash bowl.
Step 2
On the top part of the pomegranate, cut out the circle in the middle so that it’ll be easier to separate the pomegranate into sections.
Step 3
Cut along the sides of the pomegranate in lines, as if cutting the fruit into quarters, but only going deep enough to see the seeds. As I cut along the sides, I tear off part of the peel so that the pomegranate can open up easier later. Depending on the size of the pomegranate, you can make three to even six sometimes “cracks” along the sides of the fruit.
Step 4
Separate the pomegranate using the cracks that were cut into the sides of the fruit. The pomegranate should divide easily. If it’s hard to separate, you need to create deeper cracks along the pomegranate sides.
If I’m running short on time, I like to serve the pomegranate pieces in this manner. I can grab a section and take out the seeds for myself easily. Even though the white flesh is technically edible, most people don’t enjoy eating it since its bitter. That’s why I like to take out all of the arils into a bowl that way it’s all ready for people to dig into.
Step 5
Finally, gently take out all of the seeds from the white flesh of the pomegranate. Hold the pomegranate section on top of the glass bowl so that any arils that fall land in the right place. Throw away anything else into the other bowl for the compost pile.
The perks of this method to peel a pomegranate is that there is no pomegranate juice squirting everywhere and all of the seeds end up in a bowl, ready to eat with a spoon. Let us know in the comments below what your favorite way of eating pomegranates are or what recipes you use them in! We would love to hear from you:)
Thank you so much for stopping by Two Peas in Two Pods! Stick around and check out our other recipes and fall-inspired posts.
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