How To Select And De-Seed A Pomegranate - Once Upon A Chef

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how to de-seed a pomegranate

Pomegranates are gorgeous autumn/winter fruits full of glistening ruby-red seeds called arils, which are like little capsules of juice that burst in your mouth. The taste is similar to citrus—a little tart, a little sweet—and they’re full of vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. De-seeding a pomegranate is easy once you get the hang of it. Plus, it’s half the cost of buying the arils ready-to-eat. Best of all, this method keeps things neat—no cutting board needed and no mess to worry about! These vibrant arils are perfect for cocktails (like this pomegranate sangria), snacks, adding a pop of color to savory salads or fruit salads, or even sprinkling over yogurt or overnight oats.

How To Select A Pomegranate
How To De-Seed A Pomegranate
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Reviews

“What a great and easy way to peel a pomegranate! I tried this and it was so easy!”

How To Select A Pomegranate

Pomegranates usually begin to show up in the produce department of supermarkets between late October and early November. Select pomegranates that feel heavy for their size (the heavier the fruit, the juicier it will be). The ones you choose should be firm and the outside of the pomegranate should be free of blemishes and soft spots.

Before working with pomegranates, be sure to put on an apron and use a stain-proof work surface because the juice splatters and stains (and pomegranate juice stains are a bear to remove).

How To De-Seed A Pomegranate

Using a sharp knife, slice an “X” about one-inch deep in the top of the pomegranate. Hold the pomegranate facing down over a bowl of cold water and break it apart into quarters.

Under the water, pry each quarter back and use your fingers to nudge the arils out of the membrane. They will sink to the bottom of the bowl.

Person removing pomegranate arils in a bowl of water.

Don’t worry if some white pith/pieces of membrane end up in the water.

It will all float to the top of the water; just skim or pour it off.

Person removing a membrane from a bowl of water and pomegranate arils.

Finally, drain the arils in a strainer. That’s all there is to it! The seeds will keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days.

Comments

This is some kind of magic!! Reduced my de-seeding time by a half. Won’t hesitate to buy pomegranates now!
- — Karine on November 11, 2024
- Reply
This advice was a huge time saver and so much cleaner. Thank you Jenn!
- — Rob Kahn
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Hi Jen- I love your site! Wanted to share, I used to peel pomegranates your way, until I saw a note in Yotem Otelengi’s Plenty: Cut the pomegranate in half along its equator. Take one half in your hand, cut side down, over a bowl. Use a wooden spoon and beat the rind. All the arils fall out through your fingers, but the pith stays put. It’s by far the fastest, neatest and easiest method I’ve tried. Try it and see!
- — Rebecca
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- Thanks for that suggestion, Rebecca. Publix has pomegranates on sale 2 for $5.00 and I’m eager to try your way of deseeding them! Happy Halloween, too!
  - — Lela
  - Reply
- Just learned this and it worked SO well!!!
  - — Elaine
  - Reply
This method is online from many sites. It makes me a little sad! We used to do it this way, but we hated wasting the bit (give or take 3 tbsp) of juice that collects. For several yrs now -using kitchen gloves- I make SHALLOW cuts very close together all around then pull out sections like an orange. This is done over a deeper bowl and gently pull off the seeds. If done gently there’s not that much juice explosion and you have saved the juice. No water throwaway!
- — Marilyn
- Reply
- I make a shallow cut around the middle, pull the fruit apart and lay a half cut side down on my palm over a large bowl, take a wooden spoon and whack the heck out of the pomegranate – the seeds come tumbling out without the white membrane – totally clean. Easy and doesn’t loose any of the juice.
  - — janice
  - Reply
  - Wow, I just tried the ‘wooden spoon whacking’ method and it worked like a charm!! Jenn I’ve always done the water method but this one definitely seemed faster and easier!
    - — Emilie
    - Reply
  - This is a winner! Thanks so much for sharing…. I LOVE pomegranate but always hesitate due to the time it took to extract the arils. This took very little time & was WAY better. Agree, though, that you should use a large, deep bowl rather than a large shallow one in order to corral the juices. Thanks again 😋!
    - — Fran on December 8, 2024
    - Reply
This makes all the difference to me when it comes to fixing a salad using Pomegranates. Thank you for the tip.
- — Cindy Mackay
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I have heard of this before but never tried it. Thanks! I love pomegranates.
- — Susan
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I bought my first pomagrante after seeing your article on how to seed it. Thank you so much! Now for a real stupid question, after you seed and clean them, how should they be stored? Thank you and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
- — Susie
- Reply
- Susie, The seeds will keep well in the refrigerator for several days. Enjoy!
  - — Jenn
  - Reply
What a great and easy way to peel a pomegranate! I tried this and it was so easy!
- — Sara
- Reply

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Welcome - I'm Jennifer Segal - Classically Trained Chef, Cookbook Author & Busy Mom

Once upon a time, I went to culinary school and worked in fancy restaurants. Now, I’m cooking for my family and sharing all my tested & perfected recipes with you here! Read more…