Learn how to easily seed a pomegranate and juice the seeds! In this post I will walk you through my tried-and-true methods for removing seeds from a pomegranate, and the easiest way to juice the arils.
For the first few years that I made our Rosh Hashanah meal, the task I dreaded most was seeding the pomegranate. Extracting the itty bitty juicy red seeds (also known as arils) from a pomegranate can be a daunting task. I used to peel the fruit and navigate my way through it, staining my clothes and squishing lots of seeds along the way. Since that time, I have learned some helpful methods that make seeding pomegranates a snap!
There are many ways to seed a pomegranate. I’ve outlined two of my favorite methods below. The first method is fastest, but you will lose a bit of juice in the process. The second method takes a bit longer and is messier, but you won’t get pruney hands from deseeding underwater. Either method works, so choose what makes the most sense to you.
As an alternative to these methods, some cooks prefer to cut the pomegranate in half and whack the heck out of it with a spoon to dislodge the seeds. This works, but I find it messy. Juice gets everywhere, and your wrist can quickly become tired if you have a lot of pomegranates to seed. Use one of the kinder, gentler methods outlined below to save yourself the violent effort. I mean, really. What did that pomegranate ever do to you? 🙂
Seeding your own pomegranates sure beats paying a premium for boxed seeds, which can go for as much as $6 for a small box. It’s also really simple.
Once you’ve extracted all your pomegranate seeds, you can eat them whole or juice them. I’ve described my favorite simple juicing method below. Pomegranate juice is very healthy (it contains more antioxidants than red wine), but it can be expensive. One pomegranate contains up to a half cup of juice, so you can really save yourself some money by juicing your own pomegranates.
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How to Seed and Juice a Pomegranate
Ingredients
For Seeding Method 1, you will need
- 1 large bowl
- 1 small sharp knife
- Mesh strainer or slotted spoon
- 1 colander or strainer with small holes
For Seeding Method 2, you will need
- 1 pomegranate
- 1 small sharp knife
- 2 bowls (1 large, 1 small)
- 1 dark colored kitchen towel
To juice a pomegranate, you will need
- Blender
- Mesh strainer
- Container for liquid
- Spoon
Instructions
HOW TO SEED A POMEGRANATE: METHOD 1
- Make a shallow slit at the top of the pomegranate where the knob/stem is (this part is known as the crown). Cut all the way around the top of the rind, creating a shallow circle. Don't push the knife in too deep, or you may burst some seeds.
- Pull the crown of the pomegranate off to reveal the inner seeds.
- Cut three shallow slits through the outer rind, following three of the white pith lines, from the top of the fruit to the bottom.
- Pull the fruit apart to create three large sections.
- Remove any large pieces of pith that are visible.
- Submerge the sections in a large bowl of cold water.
- Break apart the sections underneath the water, separating the seeds from the rind and pith. As you remove the seeds, they will sink to the bottom of the bowl. The pith will rise to the top and float. Discard the large chunks of rind (the peel).
- When all the seeds have been removed, use a mesh strainer or slotted spoon to remove the floating pieces of pith from the surface of the water. A few seeds may float as well; separate these out and return them to the bowl.
- Drain the seeds in a colander. Remove any additional pieces of pith that may have mixed into the seeds.
HOW TO SEED A POMEGRANATE: METHOD 2
- Place the pomegranate in one of the bowls. Place the other bowl nearby.
- Make a shallow slit at the top of the pomegranate around the crown. Cut all the way around the top of the rind, creating a shallow circle. Don't push the knife in too deep, or you may burst some seeds.
- Pull the crown of the pomegranate off to reveal the inner seeds.
- Turn the pomegranate over. Repeat the process of creating a narrow slit in the rind, cutting a circle around the base of the fruit.
- Pull the bottom off of the fruit.
- Turn the pomegranate back over. You will see six white strips of pith around the edges of the fruit. Cut slits in the sides of the rind, following the lines of the pith, from the top of the fruit to the bottom.
- Pull the fruit apart. You will now have 8 sections of fruit (including the top and the bottom), with the seeds fully exposed.
- Gently loosen the seeds from the pith and place them into the clean bowl. Keep a dark-colored towel handy to clean up any juice that might escape from the seeds. Careful, pomegranate juice can stain.Before long, you will have a bowl full of luscious pomegranate seeds! Discard the rind and the pith.
HOW TO JUICE A POMEGRANATE
- Place your pomegranate seeds in a blender.
- Pulse the seeds a few times to break them apart and release their juice. Don't blend them for a long period of time, or the seeds will break apart and create cloudy juice.
- Use a mesh strainer to strain the pomegranate liquid into a container.
- Use the back of a spoon to gently push against the pomegranate pulp and extract as much juice as possible.
- Chill, if desired, and enjoy.
Coco Galvez says
Oh Tori, thank you!!! you are a fairy in my kitchen, xo
Magic of Spice says
What a great tutorial Tori…enjoyable post! I have always loved pomegranate and always remember making quite a mess as a child 🙂
alex says
how informative! thanks for the info!!
Kristy says
I can’t tell you how happy I am that you posted this. I love pomegranate juice and think that the fruit is so pretty, but I’ve always been far to intimated to buy one due to the seeding process. I didn’t even know where to begin. So thank you! Now I have an idea where to start and what to do. 🙂
Chaia Frishman says
Great advice. Just note that seeds of pomegranates are called arils, not anvils….
Tori Avey says
Thanks Chaia! Gotta love spell check/auto correct… 🙂
Anita M. says
Thank-you so much for this information on pomegranates. I have used pomegranates as a health remedy. While undergoing chemotherapy, I had sores in my mouth, which were extemely painful. My sister-in-law told me to try pomegranates to relieve the blisters and pain. It was difficult to get the seeds out, but using your method this sounds so much easier. I would put the seeds in a plastic baggy and put them in the freezer and use them as needed, sucking the juice out of the seeds and then discarding the seeds. This was a remedy that worked so well, all the sores went away so fast and the relief from the pain was instantanous. By juicing as you described, is a great option. Thank-you again. I recommend this for anyone who has anykind of mouth problems.
Tori Avey says
Anita, that’s really interesting! I’ve never heard of it being used that way as a health remedy. Thank you for letting us know. Hope all is well!
Rachel @ My Naturally Frugal Family says
Well that answers tons of questions about pomegranates and should make life easy for me…now I just need to go out and buy my first one 🙂
Ann says
What a great tutorial! I tend to avoid Pomegranates because I had no idea how to seed them! I look forward to your series and the three weeks leading up to Rosh Hashanah…
carolina barker says
You are a dear lady.. Pomegranates have been a favorite of this family since I was a little girl back in Easton, Massachusetts in the late forties! My Father used to get all kinds of “new fruit” at some of the great markets in the North End of Boston..
His method for peeling them was much like what you have taught us.. Thank you..The pith and peel went into compost ..Delightful fruit..G*d Bless you! L’shanah tovah!
.
Tori Avey says
Thanks Carolina! L’Shana Tova to you!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
Thank you for this post!! I’ve always wanted to try baking and cooking with pomegranate, but it’s always been so intimidating! This post is so helpful!
Kim Bee says
I LOVE this post. I always make such a mess when doing mine. I am going to bookmark this to help me out this season. I love the culture and stories behind your food Tori. It’s so interesting and I always learn something I didn’t know before.
Anita says
What about after separating the seeds, pouring them into a juicer?
Tori Avey says
Great idea Anita. I don’t have a juicer so I’ve never tried it. If you do please report back and let us know how it worked for you!
marjie says
Yes you can use a juicer! That’s the way I do it BUT it stops up the holes in the juicer so you have to stop and clean the “grater” or whatever it’s called. I’m going to try this recipe Fresh juiced poms are the best juice ever, tastes nothing like store bought, nothing at all.
Marian says
Can’t wait to shop tomorrow and give it a try!
Tanya says
I love this post! Thanks!
Lydia says
Martha Stewart demonstrated on her show years ago how to remove the seeds of pomegranates. I’ve used it since. I just hold a section of pomegranate in my left hand over a large bowl with the seeds facing down and tap on the peel with the flat side of a large knife or a large spoon. As you tap, the seeds fall into the bowl. I’ve had a bush (now a tree) for about 10 years now and it’s an easy one to grow, does well in California weather (even the dry hot summer days). You’ll never have to pay those high prices again for juice or seeds.
Stephanie says
I agree with your method being by far the quickest and best. Why , in the above directions they said whacking it with a spoon makes a mess is a mystery to me! As long as the Pom isn’t literally SLICED in half, which would break many seeds, thus cause splattering, I cut around the belly of the Pom, only enough to break the skin, then gently wedge the Pom open. Then, over a bowl of water in the sink I put 1/2 the Pom face down in my hand and with a wooden spoon I hit the back of the Pom and the seeds come flowing out like rain! No spattered juice, no fighting to get seeds out. I can clean 3 large poms with this method in 5 minutes flat!!
Tori Avey says
Stephanie, I’ve found the “beating” method to be somewhat messy. I tend to lose some seeds from it as they fly out willy-nilly, and then I have to pick out the random chunks of pith that dislodge. Plus when I’m seeding a lot of poms, my wrist gets tired from the pounding. Sounds like you’ve mastered the technique, though, which is great (you’re likely more coordinated than me!). I much prefer seeding underwater, which takes me less than one minute per pomegranate– fast, easy, no fuss. To each his (or her) own!
Dee says
What do you do with the pulp? Is it good to make anything, like pom-preserves jelly?
Jyothsna says
This method verygood
Irene Foss says
If you make compost you could put it into the compost pile. I don’t know if you would end up with hundreds of baby trees or not. I’ve never tried it. Maybe someone else has tried composting the pulp.
Anita Silvert says
Thanks for reminding me about the under-water method. I remember when I was a kid, my mom and sisters and I would wait for a night when Dad had a meeting, so we could slurp at the pomegranate to our hearts’ content. Dad hating slurping sounds! We’d split the fruit, each take a section, inelegantly lean over a bowl, with paper towels protecting our shirts, and suck in the tasty seeds. Until I was an adult, I didn’t know there was another way to eat a pomegranate! Shana Tovah!
Charlotte says
Thanks so much. This is such a messy fruit, but you made it so easy to seed it. I’ve never tried juicing it, but you made that look easy too, so I may try this year. This is a tradition for Rosh Hashanah that you made easier to do. Thanks.
jfo says
When I lived on kibbutz eons ago, some of the kibbutzniks would have large jars of pomegranate seeds sitting outside their places in the sun. I never did find out if they were juicing them, turning the into wine or what. If anyone reading this knows, do tell! Also, when I was a kid growing up in NY, we knew pomegranates by the very un-PC moniker of “Chinese Apples”
Janet Spacey says
The best, easiest, and fastest way to juice a pomegranate I came up with and share with you because you are THE Shiksa is this: I collect old kitchen tools/gadgets and so on. So, my old time orange juicer “the Juice-O-Mat by Rival” comes to mind, the one that you put the fruit , halved in the device and then you ratchet down on the crank handle, and the juice flows neatly into the glass beneath it. It’s metal and strong and gets the job done. Google the name and mfg. I put up , to see a picture for clarification if need be. If you or any readers try this, you will surely be surprised at the amount of juice you can remove w/minimal effort & max. results! The pulp, pithy stuff and seeds remain behind. Win win I’d say! Enjoy, comments welcome, of course.
Janet
Ramona says
Wow! Thank you so much for showing us this method. I bought a pomegranate a while back and was totally frustrated trying to get the seeds out. I made a big mess on a kitchen towel trying to scrape the seeds… not pretty. Your method looks so much better! I loved all the history of the pomegranate used as the new fruit for Rosh Hashanah too! I wish you a very Happy Rosh Hashanah! ~ Ramona
Tori Avey says
You’re welcome Ramona! I’ve been through that, too… not fun! These methods make it a lot easier. 🙂