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So it is time I tell you about my little addiction with pomegranates.

How To Deseed A Pomegranate (In Pictures!) | halfbakedharvest.com

It has been going on hard-core for about three years now.

Actually, I only ever tried a pomegranate around three years ago, but all I needed was one handful and I was hooked. Now every year I get crazy excited seeing the boxes full of big, bright red pomegranates in the grocery. They are fall and winter’s power fruit and if I had the time to peel one every single day I totally would.

How To Deseed A Pomegranate (In Pictures!) | halfbakedharvest.com

Actually, three years ago I did.

I de-seeded a pomegranate every single day of the fall and winter that year, and that was while taking college algebra, some kind of science class that involved way too many labs (ugh), advanced english and two other classes that have thankfully slipped from my brain.

How To Deseed A Pomegranate (In Pictures!) | halfbakedharvest.com

My point is, I have de-seeded my fair share of pomegranates and kind of love the way I do it.

It is the easiest, fastest and least messy way I have found. Plus, it leaves all those pretty arils untouched and allows them to drop off in picture perfect form! If you think it is too much work, just get over it!! You gotta do it, arils taken straight from the pomegranate itself are so much better than the little containers you can get at the store. And a whole lot cheaper!

This was kind of a last minute post, but I realized after photographing like a gazillion recipes involving pomegranates the last few days that maybe I should let you in on my favorite way to get to those gorgeous arils!

Oh and I really hope you guys dig pomegranates. I have a few recipes with them coming at you soon!

How To Deseed A Pomegranate (In Pictures!) | halfbakedharvest.com

Ok, first fill a large bowl with water. I normally make it super warm water, but that is only because it is stinkin cold here and the warm water feels awesome!

So… take your pomegranate and slice just the very top off. Do not go too far down or you will cut the seeds.

How To Deseed A Pomegranate (In Pictures!) | halfbakedharvest.com

Alight now sit your pomegranate upright and make four slits around the pomegranate’s skin, but do not cut all the way through. You just want to break through the tough skin, making it easy to break the pomegranate open. I like to only cut just a little into the pomegranate instead of slicing all the way through. This way there is less juice spraying and all my pomegranate arils stay nice and pretty!

How To Deseed A Pomegranate (In Pictures!) | halfbakedharvest.com

Throw the split pomegranate into the bowl of water and break it into four sections.

How To Deseed A Pomegranate (In Pictures!) | halfbakedharvest.com

Working under water use your fingers to pry away the seeds from the peel and membranes. The seeds will sink to the bottom of the water while pieces of membrane will float to the top, making it easier to separate the membranes from the seeds.

How To Deseed A Pomegranate (In Pictures!) | halfbakedharvest.com

Once you have removed all the seeds from the membrane, skim the top of the water with your hands and discard or pour off any remaining membranes. Normally  I just pour those white membrane thingies right into the sink. But be careful not to go too fast, you do not want to accidentally dump  the arils into the sink.

That is such a bummer.

Trust me, I know.

How To Deseed A Pomegranate (In Pictures!) | halfbakedharvest.com

Drain the pomegranate arils.

How To Deseed A Pomegranate (In Pictures!) | halfbakedharvest.com

And you are done!

How To Deseed A Pomegranate (In Pictures!) | halfbakedharvest.com

Pretty easy, right?

And so pretty! I just cannot stop with these. I want to take picture after picture of these things! And then I want to shovel handful after handful into my mouth. They are so good!

How To Deseed A Pomegranate (In Pictures!) | halfbakedharvest.com

How I Deseed My Pomegranates (In Pictures!)

Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 1
Calories Per Serving: 166 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Ingredients

  • pomegranates
  • colander
  • water
  • sharp knife

Instructions

  • Fill a large bowl with water
  • Take your pomegranate and slice just the very top off. Do not go too far down or you will cut the seeds.
  • Now sit your pomegranate upright and make four slits around the pomegranates skin, but do not cut all the way through. You just want to break through the tough skin, making it easy to break the pomegranate open.
  • Submerge the whole pomegranate in the bowl of water and break it into four sections. Working under water use your fingers to pry away the seeds from the peel and membranes. The seeds will sink to the bottom of the water while pieces of membrane will float to the top, making it easier to separate the membranes from the seeds.
  • Once you have removed all the seeds from the membrane, skim the top of the water with your hands and discard or pour off any remaining membranes. Drain the pomegranate arils. EAT!!
  • The arils last a while in the fridge, at least 4 to 5 days in a covered container, but they always, always get eaten within a day around here!
View Recipe Comments

How To Deseed A Pomegranate (In Pictures!) | halfbakedharvest.com

Can’t get enough.

Recipes using pomegranates:

Crispy Kale Salad with Couscous, Grilled Chicken and Pomegranates

Pomegranate Chocolate Chip Muffins

autumn arugula salad with caramelized squash + pomegranate ginger vinaigrette (How Sweet It Is)

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Comments

  1. OMG, how easy. I already ruined like 10 shirts while trying to do it properly. Thank you so much for sharing this!

  2. Thanks for this post. I’ve had a pomegranate in my fridge for over a week now because I’ve been to scared to cut it open. Last time was a messy disaster!

  3. Oh my goodness, I’m addicted to pomegranates too and this is how I deseed them. I try and make one last three days but seriously, I could eat one in just one sitting. I’m so excited for them to be in season. Stopping by from Tidy Mom.

  4. I used to do it like you, but a year ago I came across another method and it works so so much better and quicker. Here is Martha doing a little demonstration.

    YouTube video