Pomegranates are fruits that are native to the south western part of Asia and are also typical in California and Arizona. They are sweet, juicy and bursting with flavor but eating them can also be quite tricky. They juice can easily stain your clothes. While the mess is worth it, you want to minimize the negative consequences of eating this fruit by learning how to de-seed the pomegranate and bite into it in the cleanest way possible.
What you will need:
- Pomegranate
- Knife
- Bowl of cold water
- colander
Instructions:
- Cut the crown end of the pomegranate. The crown is the part where the fruit was originally connected to the tree through the stem. You need to cut at least two centimeters of the crown to allow the seeds to show. Make sure to use a chopping board for this to prevent the juice from staining your countertops.
- Slice the rind into sections. Make sure that you don’t slice all the way through. Just cut the fruit just so you create small partitions on it.
- Soak the fruit in cold water. Place the pomegranate upside down on the bowl of water and let it sit for five to ten minutes. This should be more than enough time to let the seeds get out of the rind and sink to the bottom of the bowl.
- After ten minutes, break the rind apart. Remove the remaining seeds of the membrane so they all sink at the bottom of your bowl. Remove the rind and the membranes or flesh from the bowl so only the seeds remain.
- Drain the water from the seeds using a colander. Pat the seeds dry using a paper towel and then eat them immediately. Alternatively, you can store the seeds in an airtight container and put them in the refrigerator. You can only keep the seeds for two days, though. Some people serve the seeds with yogurt while others eat them as they are.
To extract the juice:
- Press the fruit on your countertop. Roll it back and forth to get the kernels to release the pomegranate juices.
- Puncture the pomegranate at the crown. You can also cut a small portion of the crown and then squeeze the fruit’s juice out.
Tips:
- Another way to eat pomegranates is to blend the seeds using a blender or a food processor. Make a puree and drain the juice using cheesecloth.
- If you’re going to get your children to take the fruit to school, place it in a separate container with the seeds already out so it doesn’t stain their clothes.
- It’s also a good idea to have napkins on hand when you eat pomegranate because the stains are hard to remove from your clothes.