Pomegranates are an incredibly delicious fruit that has a lot of nutritional benefits. They are rich in antioxidants, vitamin C and fiber.
When you first purchase a pomegranate, you may be concerned about how to eat it. But if you aren’t afraid to get a little dirty, opening up and deseeding a pomegranate is actually pretty simple.
Selecting a Pomegranate
Pomegranates are one of the most popular fruits available. They are tart-sweet and juicy with hundreds of edible seeds inside them.
They are also very nutritious and full of health benefits. They can be bought in juice form or eaten whole, and are often used as garnishes in salads and desserts.
When picking a pomegranate, it is important to pick the ripest one possible. This will ensure that you have a fresh and nutrient-rich fruit to enjoy for a long time. There are 5 tell-tale signs of a pomegranate’s ripeness: color, shape, weight, sound, and texture.
A ripe pomegranate has a deep red color. This is an indicator of a healthy and sweet pomegranate that will be delicious when you slice it.
The pomegranate you pick should have smooth skin and no dark or light spots. The fruit should be slightly flattened with angular sides and should have the perfect balance of roundness and ridges.
You should not pick a pomegranate that is too hard or feels heavy for its size; these can indicate bruises, cracks, or sun burn. You should also look for a pomegranate that has the perfect balance of shape and color.
Pomegranates come in a wide variety of colors from dark to light red. Some are sweet and burgundy, while others have a bright pink to almost white hue.
A pomegranate that is dark in color will be heavier than its lighter counterparts; this indicates that the fruit contains a higher percentage of juicy seeds (arils). Compare like sizes, and select the heaviest one you can find.
Once you have a selection of pomegranates that meet your criteria, it is important to test the flesh of each to see how firm they are. A soft or mushy pomegranate means that it has been crushed or bruised, and this will affect its flavor.
Preparing a Pomegranate
Pomegranates are a sweet and tart fruit that can be prepared in a variety of ways. They are also a good source of Vitamin C and have many health benefits.
Whether you want to juice a pomegranate, eat it as a snack or even make homemade jam, it’s important to prepare the fruit before eating it to keep it fresh and nutrient-dense. The process can be difficult and messy, so it’s best to do it right the first time.
Before preparing a pomegranate, select one that is heavy for its size and has firm, blemish-free skin. Avoid pomegranates that have soft spots or gashes as they will spoil faster and lose their texture and flavor.
Cut the top of the pomegranate off at an angle to expose the seeds, then turn it over. Then, use a knife to score the sides of the pomegranate from top to bottom. This will make it easier to break apart into halves or sections without slicing through the fruit and destroying its precious arils.
Then, submerge the fruit in a bowl of cool water. This will help loosen the fruit and its membrane so you can easily remove the arils from the skin and membrane.
When you’re done, gently break the pomegranate into small sections and place them in the water so that the seeds can sink to the bottom of the bowl. Repeat with all of the segments until you’ve removed all of the pomegranate’s seeds.
Once you’ve removed all of the pomegranate’s arils, store them in an airtight container in your fridge or freezer until you’re ready to enjoy them. The seeds will last up to 6-7 days in your refrigerator and up to 12 months in the freezer.
Before juicing a pomegranate, be sure to wear an apron and work with a clean surface because the red juice can stain. If you’re working with a light carpet or a tiled floor, you may want to use a splatter guard so that the fruit doesn’t stain your work area.
Once you’ve removed the seeds from your pomegranate, you can enjoy them as a solo snack or add them to a salad or pan of roasted vegetables for added flavor and a tangy kick. You can also add them to a smoothie or juice for an extra dose of vitamins and antioxidants.
Cutting a Pomegranate
Pomegranates are beautiful fruits, but they can be difficult to eat if you don’t know how to cut them. Their bright pink flesh is packed with hundreds of ruby red seeds (called “arils”), and you don’t want to pierce them when you cut them open!
To cut a pomegranate, you’ll need a sharp knife and a large bowl of water. You also want to protect your kitchen counter and wear apron.
First, select a ripe pomegranate that is heavy for its size and has a glossy, leathery skin. It should be round and have a hollow sound when you tap it.
Next, look for ridges on the outside of the fruit. You’ll want to make a few cuts along those ridges, just through the skin. You’ll want to do this from the blossom end of the pomegranate all the way down to the base.
Once you’ve scored the pomegranate, it’s time to peel it and remove the seeds. To do this, you’ll need a paring knife or chef’s knife.
Start by holding the pomegranate with its stem end up toward you. Score a cross or + sign on each side of the pomegranate using one line from your cross as a guide. This will divide the pomegranate into four even quarters.
After scoring the pomegranate, you’ll want to carefully peel it. This will separate the segments into sections and make it easier to remove the seeds. You’ll need to do this several times with even spacing.
Once you’re done, you can eat the pomegranate or save it for other purposes. If you’re storing the pomegranate for a long time, freeze the pomegranate in a freezer bag or airtight container.
Then, you can eat the pomegranate’s seeds, which are juicy and delicious! You can also use the seeds in a variety of recipes.
Eating a Pomegranate
The seeds in a pomegranate are incredibly delicious, and they’re also packed with nutrients. They’re high in fiber, and the fruit contains vitamins C and K. Adding a few pomegranate seeds to your salad, or using them in a vinaigrette, is a simple and healthy way to enjoy this juicy fruit.
Before you can eat a pomegranate, though, you need to know how to properly cut one open and separate the seeds from the rest of the fruit. There are a few different ways to do this, and you need to make sure that you’re getting the right parts of the fruit.
Pomegranates are best eaten when they’re ripe and still fresh. Ripe pomegranates should be deep red in color and feel heavy for their size. They should also be free of cuts or bruises, and the skin should give slightly when you squeeze it.
To open a pomegranate, start by cutting it in half with a knife. This will make it easier to cut out the seeds without damaging them. Once the pomegranate is cut in half, use your fingers to loosen each of the arils, or red fleshy sections around each seed.
Once you’ve removed all of the arils, discard the white membrane or pulp and any spongy inner flesh of the fruit. Then, peel back the fruit’s skin and eat the juicy seeds!
In test-tube and animal studies, pomegranate extracts have been shown to reduce inflammation in the arteries and may help lower blood pressure. They also help fight atherosclerosis, which is a buildup of plaque in the arteries that can lead to heart disease.