How to Cut a Pomegranate
See how to easily cut and open a pomegranate with this step-by-step guide. Enjoy this delicious and healthy snack with sweet, tart flavors!
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 124kcal
Ingredients
- 1 large pomegranate
Instructions
Cutting and Opening the Pomegranate
- Rinse the pomegranate and place it on a work surface with the blossom facing up.
- Using a paring knife, cut a 1 ½ inch circle around the blossom, scoring diagonally into the surface of the skin. Then peel off the circular section with your fingers.
- Feel for the 5-6 vertical ribs of the pomegranate with your fingers. Make shallow cuts along these ribs, just scoring the skin to avoid puncturing the arils inside.
- Working from the top down, use your fingertips to gently pull open the sections of pomegranate like flower petals.
De-seeding the Pomegranate
- Fill a medium bowl with water and add the pomegranate sections. Pop out the arils with your fingers. You’ll notice the arils sink while the peel and pith float.
- Skim off the floating debris with a large spoon and discard. Then drain the arils through a sieve or strainer.
Making Pomegranate Juice
- Add the arils to the blender (1-2 cups at a time is ideal).
- Pulse the blender several times briefly to release the juices. Blending more than that will start pulverizing the seeds, introducing bitter flavors.
- Place a sieve over a small-medium bowl. Pour the contents of the blender through the sieve. To extract as much juice as possible, press the pulp into the sieve with a spoon.
- Working from the top down, use your fingers to gently pull apart the sections of pomegranate like flower petals.
Video
Notes
- 1 pomegranate yields approximately 1 cup of edible pods/arils, or ¼ to ½ cup of juice depending on the size.
- Whole pomegranates can be stored 1-2 days on a counter at room temperature, or up to 1-2 weeks in a sealed ziptop bag in the fridge.
- Pomegranate arils can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze pomegranate arils in layers separated by parchment or wax paper in a sealed container for up to 3 months. Note: the texture will deteriorate somewhat.
- Note that pomegranate juices will stain clothes, wood surfaces and even some steel surfaces. Wear an apron if needed!
Nutrition
Serving: 5oz | Calories: 124kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 354mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin C: 15.3mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.5mg | Net Carbs: 22g