From the outside, a pomegranate is a simple, round fruit, but inside there are many delicious seeds. Getting to them is not that easy. They burst open easily and squirt their red juice everywhere. A big mess! Which trick works better?

Pitting pomegranates is a bit time-consuming

Look for fresh and ripe fruit

The kernels must be plump, juicy, aromatic and bright red in color. Sometimes the disappointment is great when the inside comes to light at home. But then it's too late. So you can already pay attention to fresh and ripe fruit when buying:

  • select only plump fruit that packs tight
  • soft spots are signs that the fruit is rotting
  • the peel should be shiny and not dried out
  • there should be no mold in the base of the flower; smell it if necessary
  • the variety with the reddish skin is more suitable for fresh consumption

tips

A ripe pomegranate feels heavier than an unripe specimen of the same size. Be sure to do the test by picking up different pomegranates. Unfortunately, a fruit that is picked unripe will no longer ripen.

That way the seeds come out without mess

To date, no device has been developed for pitting a pomegranate. Therefore, “hard” manual work awaits before you can enjoy it. What is common with a conventional apple should be avoided as much as possible with the pomegranate: cutting through with a knife. You do that once and never again.

When the seeds are cut, their red juice squirts everywhere where it is not wanted. Clothing, table, chairs… nothing is spared. In order for the pomegranate juice to give its seeds without making a mess, they must remain intact or their juice must be slowed down in its flight. These methods are known so far:

  • Carefully break the pomegranate into pieces
  • Knock out the seeds with a wooden spoon
  • Open pomegranate underwater

Carefully chop the pomegranate

With this variant, a sharp knife can be used, albeit very cautiously. Since a few seeds can burst despite all caution, you should place the pomegranate on a large tray. Wearing old clothes or an apron and gloves won't hurt. How to properly cut up the pomegranate to get better access to its seeds:

  1. Using a sharp knife, remove the two ends of the pomegranate by cutting off a slice from each. If you are not sure how far you can cut, you can approach the inside step by step. Once the cores are visible, you've removed enough.
  2. Use the tip of a knife to scoop out as much of the visible, white flesh from the open ends as possible without damaging the seeds.
  3. Now cut the skin of the pomegranate 5-6 times lengthways without touching the seeds underneath. The optimal cutting lines are where the individual chambers are separated from each other by the white pulp. You can see this clearly by the cut ends.
  4. Take the pomegranate in both hands and try to break it into pieces by gently pulling it apart. You might have to deepen the interfaces a bit here and there.
  5. When you have successfully cut up the pomegranate, get your hands close to the seeds and scoop them out piece by piece in a bowl.

tips

While the white dividers are edible, they may not be to everyone's taste. They contain a lot of bitter substances and are therefore usually thrown away.

Knock out the seeds with a wooden spoon

A wooden spoon can also do the tedious pulling out of the seeds by hand, but it requires a lot of muscle power. They are not simply spooned out, but beaten out. Here's how to do it:

  1. Place the pomegranate on a large plastic tray or plate, as some of the juice may come out when you cut it. Wooden boards are not ideal as the red sap will stain.
  2. Score the pomegranate about 1/2 inch deep all around.
  3. Grasp each half in one hand and twist them in different directions. The two halves detach from each other. You then have one half with the stem end and one half with the flower base.
  4. Hold one pomegranate in half over a large bowl, open cut side facing down.
  5. Using a sturdy wooden spoon, tap the outer shell vigorously until all the seeds have gradually fallen out.
  6. You can carefully loosen stubborn seeds that are still stuck by breaking the shell into pieces and exposing the seeds.

Open pomegranate underwater

With this method, a few seeds can burst, but the escaping juice cannot be distributed throughout the room thanks to the braking effect of the water.

  1. Fill a large bowl with cold water.
  2. Cut off both ends of the pomegranate.
  3. Break apart the pomegranate underwater with your hands.
  4. Remove the exposed seeds from the shell by hand. The heavy cores then sink to the bottom, while the thin membranes float on the water surface.
  5. Use your hands to fish out the inedible parts of the pomegranate.
  6. Then pour the contents through a sieve to collect the seeds.
  7. Rinse the seeds well with clear water.

durability

Fresh pomegranate seeds are too tempting to wait too long for a willing eater. Undamaged pomegranate seeds can also be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to two days.

Conclusion for fast readers

  • Ripening characteristics:Shiny skin, plump fruit with no soft spots; is heavy in hand
  • Tip: The red-skinned variety is tastier when eaten fresh
  • Challenge: Cores burst; the sap splatters, leaving red stains
  • Clean Methods: Carefully break up fruit; knock out seeds; core under water
  • Divide fruit: cut off ends; Cut lengthwise 5-6 times; break apart and take out cores
  • Knock out: cut 0.5 cm deep all around; split in half
  • Knock Out: Hold half over bowl; knock on bowl with wooden spoon; cores fall out
  • Underwater: Cut off ends; Break apart the fruit in a bowl of water
  • Underwater: fish out white parts; Pour the rest through a sieve and rinse out the seeds
  • Shelf life: Intact kernels can be stored in the refrigerator for two days

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Trees