Deseed a Pomegranate in 60 Seconds: Quick, Mess-Free Method

People. We need to talk about how to deseed a pomegranate.

Pomegranates deserve a place in your kitchen. Their jewel-like arils are not only beautiful, they’re delicious and packed with nutrition.

Pomegranate

The arils—the ruby-red, juice-filled sacs that surround each seed—look like tiny gems. Beyond their appearance, they taste bright, sweet, and refreshing.

They’re also a nutritional powerhouse. Pomegranate arils provide dietary fiber, antioxidants, vitamin C, manganese, B vitamins, vitamin K, calcium, potassium and other beneficial nutrients.

Despite all that, many people avoid buying pomegranates because they seem difficult to open. In reality, with the right approach deseeding a pomegranate is fast and almost mess-free.

How to Eat a Pomegranate

To enjoy the arils you must first break through the hard exterior and release the arils from the membrane and pith. When done poorly it can be messy, but you don’t need complicated techniques or large bowls of water.

Below is a simple method that takes about one minute once you get the hang of it. The arils are edible with the seeds inside; the little crunch and pop are part of the experience, so there’s no need to remove the seeds from the arils.

How to cut a pomegranate

Score about 1/4-inch deep into the pomegranate around the equator of the fruit. Don’t cut all the way through—just slice through the colored outer layer until you see the white pith beginning.
Insert your fingers into the scored seam and pry the fruit apart into halves.

Tips for removing pomegranate arils:

Only the outermost red layer needs to be scored. When you see the white pith, dig your nails in and split the fruit. This takes surprisingly little force and feels satisfying.

Hold one half cut-side down over a bowl. Use a sturdy wooden spoon to firmly thwack the back of the pomegranate a few times, rotating and repeating so you hit every section. The arils will fall into the bowl. Clean out any small bits of pith that end up there.

A small amount of juice may splatter; it wipes up easily with a damp cloth.

How to open a pomegranate

How to choose a perfect pomegranate

When selecting pomegranates, use touch and sight. Pick a fruit that feels heavy for its size—heaviness generally indicates juicy arils. Size should fit comfortably in your hand; heavier is better.

Visually, choose a pomegranate with firm, unwrinkled skin and deep color. It can be reddish-brown or deep red; avoid pale, shriveled fruit.

Once you have a bowl of arils, here are some simple ways to use them.

How to eat a pomegranate

Ideas for using pomegranate arils:

Scatter over salads for a bright pop of flavor and color.
Garnish savory dishes for holiday flair.
Sprinkle over rice porridge or grain bowls.
Top Greek yogurt or oatmeal to add texture and nutrients to breakfast.
Eat them by the handful as a snack.
Toss a few into seltzer for color and a hint of flavor.
Spoon over vanilla ice cream for a quick, colorful topping.

Now that you know how to cut and deseed a pomegranate, you’ll likely find more ways to enjoy them. It’s a tasty, healthy obsession worth having.

How to Deseed a Pomegranate

Place a half pomegranate cut-side down on your hand over a bowl. Firmly strike the back with a wooden spoon several times, then rotate the half and repeat so you hit every section. Repeat with the second half. Remove any stray pieces of pith from the bowl.

Serve the arils immediately or store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

How to Deseed a Pomegranate in 1 Minute

Rebecca Lindamood

Ingredients

1 pomegranate

Instructions

Score about 1/4-inch deep into the pomegranate around the equator. Do not cut all the way through—just slice through the outer colored layer until the white pith appears. Pry the fruit into halves.
Place one half, cut-side down, on your hand over a bowl and firmly thwack the back with a wooden spoon, rotating and repeating so you hit every section. Repeat with the second half. Remove any pith from the bowl. Serve the arils immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutritional information is an estimate. Calculate nutrition with your own ingredients if needed.