How to deseed a pomegranate

Deseeding a pomegranate can seem intimidating but it can be quite easy. Here are 3 ways to deseed a whole pomegranate.

Getting the arils and seeds out of a pomegranate can be intimidating with the thick skin and red juice that can stain everything. Thankfully there’s Google to help out. I found three ways to deseed a pomegranate and instead of trying to decide which was the best option, I tried them all.

Pomegranate Seeds vs Arils

People often refer to pomegranate seeds and arils interchangeably but the seeds are actually encased inside of the aril. The aril is the juicy, red fleshy fruit that has the white seed inside.

Both the arils and seeds are edible.

Method 1 – Slice the Pomegranate

A good one for stress relief as it requires some vigorous smacking. The skin is quite thick so go to town, expend some energy and smack away!

1. Slice the pomegranate in half.
   

   

2. Turn one half, cut side down, in your hand over a bowl and with a spoon smack the top (uncut side) of the pomegranate to dislodge the seeds. You can’t be gentle here, it requires a number of good hard smacks and a little squeezing of the pomegranate to get all the seeds out. Just keep smacking until you feel the tension in your body start to slip away and an abundance of seeds in the bowl.
3. Once all of the seeds are out repeat with the second half.

This method can get messy. With each smack of the pomegranate juice is released along with the seeds and if you are not careful the juice can get everywhere.

Method 2 – Peel & Quarter

This method requires some dexterity and focus.

1. Score the top of the pomegranate, cutting all the way through the thick skin, but not into the arils and flesh underneath.
   

   

2. Pull the top off to expose the arils and pith (white membrane) underneath.
   

   

3. Following the lines of the pith, score the skin into sections without cutting through the seeds and flesh.
4. Using your hands, gently pull the sections apart to expose the sections of seeds.
   

   

5. Gently nudge the arils away from the skin and pith.

Method 3 – Underwater

This isn’t my favourite method, but doesn’t require much focus and is quite soothing. A great end to my pomegranate deseeding experiment.

1. Cut the pomegranate in half (same as in Method 1).
2. Submerge one half, seeds side up, in a bowl of water.
3. Using your hands, carefully break the pomegranate apart letting the seeds out. You may need to use your fingers to push some of the seeds away from the pith.
4. Repeat with the second half.
5. The seeds will sink to the bottom while the pith and skin will float to the top, making it easy to separate.

How to use Pomegranate Arils

Pomegranate seeds can be eaten raw, as is or added to a variety of recipes from salads to chia seed pudding, on yogurt for breakfast or used a beautiful garnish.

Health Benefits of Pomegranates

Pomegranates contain healthy nutrients in the arils and the seeds. They are a source of vitamin C, phytonutrients, antioxidants, fibre and magnesium. Keep in mind that if you are consuming pomegranate juice versus the whole aril with seeds the nutrient content is not the same.

If you are interested in learning more about the health benefits of pomegranates there are a variety of studies available for review.