How To Open a Pomegranate Without Making a Mess

by Sala @ Veggie Belly on October 12, 2009

Ever made a bloody mess opening a pomegranate? Or do you buy pre-seeded, over priced pomegranates at the grocery store because you dont want to deal with opening a fresh one? If you’ve answered ‘yes’, this post is for you! A completely mess free way to open those lovely, fresh pomegranates that are in season now…

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Fill a large bowl with water. Using a sharp knife, make two deep slits on top of the pomegranate in the shape of a ‘x’. Do this on a cutting board for more support. Place the pomegranate in the bowl of water.

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 Put your thumbs where you made the ‘x’ shaped slit, and pry open the pomegranate. Do this underwater so that the red juices don’t splash on you. You should be able to pull the fruit apart in wedges. If the pomegranate is difficult to pull apart, make the slit on top deeper and longer. 

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 Pull the pomegranate wedges apart into manageable pieces. Gently remove the white membrane, while keeping the fruit under water. Then use your fingers to gently remove the red seeds. The seeds will sink to the bottom and the membrane and skin will float to the top.

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Skim the top of the water to remove all floating white membrane and skin. Then pour out the water, reserving the pomegranate seeds. Pour a little more cold water over the seeds and pour out once again to make sure all the white membrane is gone. Gently pat dry the pomegranate seeds. Serve immediately or store covered in the fridge.

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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }

shaz October 13, 2009 at 1:00 am

Lovely step by step photos. I love pomegranate and I open it quite similarly, I hold it over a bowl of water and let the seeds drop in.

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neha October 13, 2009 at 5:12 am

I also do open it in a similar fashion, but sorting the seeds and the skin with water is a brilliant idea, shall try it next time. Thanx for the info..

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nags October 13, 2009 at 6:41 am

that is genious. really!

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Lubna Karim October 13, 2009 at 8:02 am

Awesome pictorial… helpful too….

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Whitney @ Lettuce Love October 13, 2009 at 8:59 am

Great step by step pics, I am bookmarking this for future reference. Thanks for posting :)

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Muskaan October 13, 2009 at 9:00 am

Thats a nice presentation to open this yummy fruit…Its definately going to help..

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Cynthia October 13, 2009 at 10:35 am

Absolutely love the pics.

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Jodi October 13, 2009 at 11:22 am

Great tutorial, the step by step photos are very helpful!

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Deesha October 13, 2009 at 1:03 pm

I guess this post was meant for me .. I always make a mess with pomegranates .. This is useful, really .. thanks girl

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Chakh...le...Re!!! October 13, 2009 at 2:07 pm

nice step by step process!! You made it simple.

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tigerfish October 13, 2009 at 3:14 pm

Thanks for the tip!

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Blue Jean Gourmet October 13, 2009 at 3:18 pm

agreed! pomegranates are my favorite food & I eat as many as possible while the season lasts–this is the way to do it that doesn’t make it such an overwhelming task. did a batch of four all at once for our Indian fruit salad this weekend and that would have been a pain without this method. I cracked open the leftover one last night & devoured it!

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Soma October 13, 2009 at 3:45 pm

Lovely pictures Sala. is that cute white bowl built tilted like that? real nice!

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Sala @ Veggie Belly Reply:

yes, its slanted like that! i love it, but that bowl can be a bit challenging to photograph sometimes. it tends to make the whole picture look slanted (because people are expecting a straight looking bowl!)

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Olga October 13, 2009 at 10:50 pm

Ooh, you redid your site!
Love pomegranates, and this is definitely an easier way to open them than what I do.

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sheba October 16, 2009 at 3:42 am

I bow to thee….you are amazing!!!

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Spice Rack October 24, 2009 at 12:28 am

Thanks for the tip. I’ll have to try this.

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Olga November 1, 2009 at 9:25 pm

I just did this: works as a charm! Thanks!

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Kasra November 23, 2009 at 9:24 am

I have to do this…
Thank you very much…

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Deepa January 17, 2010 at 11:57 am

Nice idea, but what a tragedy to let all the juices go a waste!

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Annam February 26, 2010 at 1:49 am

My God!!!! You really make things more Beautiful than what they are.
The pics in all the blogs are absolutely beautiful.

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