Want to know the BEST way to cut a pomegranate? You’re in the right place!
With this quick & easy method, there are no red juices staining everything in your kitchen and you won’t lose any precious seeds. There’s also no spoon-whacking involved. Let’s do this!
What are Pomegranate Arils?
Fun fact: The juicy, vibrant red morsels inside a pomegranate are technically called pomegranate arils, not pomegranate seeds. The seeds are actually the small fibrous part at the center of the arils (and they’re edible!).
Since it’s more common to use the term pomegranate seeds when talking about pomegranate arils, we’ll be using the terms interchangeably in this post!
How to Cut and Open a Pomegranate
Getting the seeds out of a pomegranate involves three steps:
- Score (cut) the pomegranate skin into quarters without piercing any seeds
- Gently open the pomegranate along the cut lines
- Break apart each section to release the seeds into a bowl
1 pomegranate will produce about 1 ¼ cup of seeds when using this method!
We hope this guide is helpful! It’s:
No fuss
No mess
Quick & easy
Way fresher than store-bought
& Guaranteed to get all the seeds out!
What to do With Pomegranate Seeds
Pomegranate seeds make a juicy, crunchy, tart-sweet snack all on their own. They’re also a beautiful, antioxidant-packed topping for salads, fesenjān, squash, and more!
More Helpful How-Tos
- How to Cut a Butternut Squash
- Instant Pot Potatoes (Fast, Tender, Buttery!)
- How to Cook Spaghetti Squash
- DIY Pumpkin Pie Spice
- How to Roast Vegetables (Plus 6 Ways to Enjoy Them)
If you try out this method, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
The BEST Way to Cut a Pomegranate
Instructions
- Get out a large, sharp knife and a medium size bowl (for your seeds) and set both nearby. Place the pomegranate on a clean work surface or cutting board.
- Hold the pomegranate with the stem (the part that sticks out) facing up toward you. Then place your knife in the center of the stem and gently cut down into the stem, creating a cross or plus sign (+). You don’t want to cut INTO the pomegranate, just down through the stem. Now, using one of your cross lines as a guide, carefully score all the way around the pomegranate, piercing just the skin with the tip of your knife. Again, avoid cutting into the pomegranate or piercing any of the seeds inside; simply cut through the red, outermost skin of the fruit. Turn the pomegranate and repeat with the other line of your cross so you have scored the pomegranate into 4 even quarters.
- Now, gently begin pulling and breaking the pomegranate apart into 4 quarters. If you didn’t score the skin deeply enough, it might be hard to break apart, so you can repeat step 2 if necessary. Once the pomegranate is broken up, you can easily break apart each individual quarter to release the seeds into your bowl. If the seeds feel stuck, try bending the quarter back, “flexing” it to help release the seeds.
- Pomegranate seeds keep for 4-5 days in the refrigerator and in the freezer for up to 1 month (but the texture changes with freezing).
Video
Notes
*If you get a stubborn pomegranate and really want to keep the juices under control, try this: After quartering, pluck out the seeds in a bowl of water. The arils will sink and even the tiniest bits of pith will float to the top so they can be skimmed off before draining.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate.
Susan Ottwell says
When I first started the cancer treatments, they had me go to a nutritionist. The only fault she could find with my diet (thanks to haunting your site) was that I drank fresh 100% pomegranate juice from the market. She said she’d rather that I ate the seeds whole. I’d never done that, sure that I would not like the seeds, and picking them out would be awkward. But not only is your method simple, but I find the chilled arils to be sweet, juicy, and slightly crunchy – everything I want in a light snack. Even when I really don’t feel like eating, a handful of these not only are easy on the stomach, but frequently soothe things enough to trigger an appetite for one of your fabulous soups.
Aw, we’re so glad our guide was helpful and that you’re enjoying the arils, Susan! xo
Mark says
I cut the same way. But I fill the bowl with water and break it apart in the water. The plith separates and floats, and any juice from broken arils just gets diluted in the water and cleaned off any other arils. This leads to a clean kitchen and clean hands while eating. I do not wack with a spoon as my mother thought me as I find it breaks some of the arils
Love that! Thanks for sharing, Mark.
Bobbi says
It helps to hold the sections seed side down in your hand and tap on the skin side with a wooden spoon – loosens those seeds right up!!
Mello says
Another thing you can do is open it in a bowl in case you get a really juicy one…you can drink the juices afterwards….we love pomegranate seeds. We have them in our salad every day.
Mello says
Hahahaha. Same with me.
Yes! Thank you for sharing! We find that helpful especially with more stubborn pomegranates.
Gail Thompson says
I normally have to take my shirt off and put on an apron and I still get red juice everywhere-staining my bra etc so thanks for the info
Will try it tomorrow!!
We hope it’s helpful, Gail! Also check out the notes section for an extra handy tip, especially if using a tougher pomegranate.