A ripe pomegranate is a treat, whether on its own, in a salad or to refine meat dishes. The juicy seeds taste fruity-sweet with a slightly tart note. However, this unique taste experience is only available with the ripe fruit.

The shape of pomegranates is similar to that of domestic apples, but they have a very firm, leathery skin and, instead of fruit pulp, they contain a large number of edible seeds. There should be several hundred. The seeds consist of a small, firm core surrounded by a bulging, juice-filled, glassy-looking, pink to deep red pod.

When can you buy ripe pomegranates?

In Germany you can buy ripe pomegranates between September and December. These will mainly consist of

  • Spain,
  • Turkey,
  • Israel and
  • Iran

imported. In the countries of origin, the pomegranates are harvested when they are fully ripe, as the fruit does not ripen afterward.

How can you recognize ripe fruit?

The degree of ripeness of a pomegranate cannot be determined by smell or sound. Whether a fruit is unripe can only be judged by its appearance. In contrast to the conventional apples, where the beautiful exterior suggests the tasty content, the tastiest pomegranates usually look unattractive.

Their shell is blotchy, irregularly colored, reddish, light orange to yellowish or brownish, depending on the variety. It has small dents or bumps and a dried flower base. In addition, it is often very hard, feels rough and cracked, almost woody. The ripeness test also includes touching the skin with your fingers. Soft, discolored spots indicate rotting inside.

Carefully open ripe fruit

Ripe fruits are easy to break open. The seeds of such fruits simply fall out when you tap the outside of the shell lightly. Care should be taken when opening a ripe fruit because of the juicy contents. The dark red sap leaves stains on textiles and wood. If you roll a ripe fruit extensively over the work surface before opening it, the juice practically gushes out when you cut it open.

The pomegranates - although harvested when ripe - have a long shelf life thanks to their protective skin. They can be stored in the refrigerator for several months without any loss of quality. Even if the fruit looks a little dried up after a long period of storage, the pits remain fresh and juicy on the inside.

tips and tricks

If a pomegranate dries up so much that you no longer want to eat it, the exotic fruit is ideal for decorative purposes, especially during Advent and Christmas. You can give the woody fruit a new shine by rubbing it with paint or dusting it with gold dust.

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Category:

Trees