How to Cut, Deseed, and Eat a Pomegranate

So you picked up a deliciously ripe pomegranate from the store, but now how are you supposed to enjoy it? The bright-red seeds inside the pomegranate are delicious, and it's really easy to cut the fruit open and eat them. Keep reading to learn the right way to cut and eat a pomegranate, including which parts of the fruit are safe to eat!

Best Way to Deseed & Eat Pomegranate

Use a sharp knife to slice the top off of the pomegranate.
Score vertical lines along the section lines in the rind, being careful not to cut the seeds.
Submerge the pomegranate in a bowl of cold water and gently rub your fingers along the rind to remove the seeds.
Eat the pomegranate seeds as a snack, or add them to oatmeal, parfaits, or salads as a garnish or topping. Alternatively, squeeze the seeds to enjoy fresh pomegranate juice.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Cutting and Deseeding a Pomegranate

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1
Cut off the top of the pomegranate with a sharp knife. The top of the pomegranate has the pointed blossom end.^{[1]
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Ollie George Cigliano
Private Chef & Food Educator

Expert Interview. 31 January 2022.} Set the fruit on its side and slice through the top of the pomegranate to expose the membrane and seeds inside.^{[2]
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- Rinse the pomegranate under running water to get rid of any dirt and debris on the surface.^{[3]
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- Throw the top of the pomegranate away. While the rind is edible, it’s really bitter and not as flavorful as the seeds.
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Score vertical lines in the pomegranate’s rind along the section lines. If you look where you just cut, you’ll see ridges separating the sections of seeds inside the fruit.^{[4]
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Research source} Place your knife on the pomegranate’s skin and make a straight line down to the bottom of the fruit. Be careful not to cut all the way through the fruit. Make a cut wherever you see a ridge inside the pomegranate.^{[5]
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Ollie George Cigliano
Private Chef & Food Educator

Expert Interview. 31 January 2022.}
- Cutting through the fruit could damage some of the seeds, but scoring the skin makes it easier to pull apart on your own.
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Since the seeds sink and the inedible parts of the pomegranate float, water makes them easier to collect.^{[6]
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Pull the sections apart by hand. Push your thumbs into the middle of the cut that you made on top of the pomegranate. Apply a little bit of pressure so the pomegranate splits into sections and exposes all of the red seeds, or arils, inside.
- The score marks make it easier for the rind to split without breaking any of the seeds.
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Push the seeds out from the rind using your fingers. Work on one section of pomegranate at a time. Keep the pomegranate underwater as you slide your fingers along the rind. The white membrane will float to the top and easily separate from the seeds.^{[7]
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- Pick the white membrane out of the bowl and throw it away.
- If you have trouble getting the seeds out by hand, try scooping them out with a spoon. You may even be able to tap the back of the rind with a spoon so the loose seeds fall out.
After you finish seeding all of the pomegranate sections, pour the bowl into a colander to catch all of the seeds. Shake any excess water from the seeds and pick out any membrane that’s still stuck to them so they’re ready to use!^{[8]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Eating Pomegranate

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Eat the pomegranate seeds by themselves for a sweet snack. As soon as you separate them from the rind, you can eat pomegranate seeds by the spoonful just like a bowl of cereal. The seeds are filled with juice and have a little crunch so they make a perfect snack whenever you’re hungry.^{[9]
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- The whole seed is safe to eat, but you can spit it out after eating the juicy red part surrounding it if you prefer.
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Top a parfait or oatmeal with pomegranate seeds to add some crunch. Pomegranates are super nutritious and they make a great addition to a balanced breakfast. Sprinkle the fresh seeds on top and mix them in so you can have a burst of flavor in every bite.^{[10]
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- Try adding pomegranate seeds into your breakfast cereal.
- Mix the pomegranate into a fruit bowl to add even more nutrients.
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Sprinkle pomegranate seeds on a salad for a pop of color. Pomegranate seeds give any salad a bit of sweetness and tartness, so sprinkle a few on before you dig in. Try the pomegranate on a spinach salad with nuts and feta or in a chicken salad with celery and almonds.
- Make a fruit salad with pomegranate, apples, mango, and any other fruit you want to enjoy.
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Garnish your entrees with pomegranate seeds for fresh flavors. Combine the sweet flavor of the pomegranate seeds with the savory meal to add a lot of depth to the flavor. Try sprinkling the pomegranate seeds on meatballs, pork chops, or an herbal flatbread.^{[11]
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- Always add the pomegranate seeds after you cook your meal so they stay nice and juicy.
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Spice up your desserts with pomegranate seeds. Since pomegranate seeds add a sweet flavor and a crunchy texture, they pair really well with any type of dessert. Try out your pomegranate on top of a cake or fruit pie. You could even mix the seeds into a pudding or cheesecake to make them the star of your dessert.^{[12]
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- Sprinkle some pomegranate onto ice cream for a classic berries-and-cream flavor.
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Juice the pomegranate seeds to enjoy a sweet, tart drink. Just put the seeds in a citrus squeezer or use a masher to get all the juices out of the seeds. Juice the seeds over a large bowl or glass so it doesn’t splatter. Once you have enough in your cup, drink it fresh or use it in another recipe.^{[13]
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- Try adding the pomegranate juice to club soda or punch to make it even more flavorful.
- Mix the juice with red wine vinegar and olive oil to make a vinaigrette.^{[14]
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Recipe Ideas

Ways to Incorporate Pomegranate Into Meals

Pomegranate Smoothie Recipe

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Can you eat the white part of a pomegranate?

Ollie George Cigliano
Private Chef & Food Educator
Ollie George Cigliano is a Private Chef, Food Educator, and Owner of Ollie George Cooks, based in Long Beach, California. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in utilizing fresh, fun ingredients and mixing traditional and innovative cooking techniques. Ollie George holds a BA in Comparative Literature from The University of California, Berkeley, and a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from eCornell University.

Ollie George Cigliano

Private Chef & Food Educator

Expert Answer

Though the white part is safe to eat, it’s bitter and most people choose to discard it.

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Can you eat the peel of a pomegranate?

Ollie George Cigliano
Private Chef & Food Educator
Ollie George Cigliano is a Private Chef, Food Educator, and Owner of Ollie George Cooks, based in Long Beach, California. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in utilizing fresh, fun ingredients and mixing traditional and innovative cooking techniques. Ollie George holds a BA in Comparative Literature from The University of California, Berkeley, and a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from eCornell University.

Ollie George Cigliano

Private Chef & Food Educator

Expert Answer

The skin can be eaten, but since it is very fibrous and bitter, it is generally reserved to use in extracts and powdered forms.

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How do I know when pomegranates are ripe?

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Pomegranates are ripe when the skin is reddish-pink. It will also have a very large crown.

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Choose pomegranates with flat sides and a deep red color since they’ll be the most flavorful.

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If you don’t plan on using or eating the pomegranate seeds right away, keep them in an airtight container in your fridge for up to 5 days. You can also store the seeds for up to 1 year in your freezer by freezing them on a baking sheet for 2 hours before transferring them to an airtight bag.

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To get juice out of the seeds, you can put the seeds into a sealable baggie, then squish them with your palm and fingers. Once all the juice has been squeezed out, cut off a small corner of the bag and pour the juice into a cup!
I like to slice the pomegranate in half and place it over a bowl. Then, I hit the outer shell with a wooden spoon to quickly dislodge the seeds.

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Warnings

Juice from the seeds could stain clothes, so wear an apron or old shirt while you’re opening your pomegranate.^{[15]
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