How to Get Those Darn Seeds Out of a Pomegranate

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It’s pomegranate season! And thank goodness for that. Because it’s also cookie, pie, macaroni and cheese, and mashed potato season (and Happy Thanksgiving, by the way!). But when I pop a bunch of these succulent seeds into my mouth, I can feel a little better about all the other crap I’ve been eating.

Packed with vitamins and other good stuff, those little seeds (or arils) taste amazing, too.

But they can be a tad daunting to get to. Here’s my method for getting from this…

To this! (It’s easy!)

 Print this recipe

How to Seed a Pomegranate

Instructions

1. Choose a pomegranate that seems very heavy for its size.
2. Fill a medium to large bowl with water.
3. Cut off the top – this is the end with the part that sticks up, or the crown. Maybe that’s the bottom, I don’t know, but it’s the only end that looks like that.
4. Make several slices – just through the outer layer – down the sides.
5. Place the pomegranate, cut side down, along with its top (or bottom!), in the bowl. Leave it in there, soaking, for about 10 minutes.
6. Place your hands in the bowl of water and, keeping the pomegranate under water, pull it apart.
7. Massage the seeds out with your hands (you don’t really need to massage, just kind of prod – I just can’t think of a better word. “Rub” seemed even less appropriate). The seeds will sink to the bottom, and the white stuff (pith) will float to the top!
8. Pick the pith out and discard it as you go.
9. Okay, now just dump your seeds into a strainer (preferably over the sink, unless you’d like a little kitchen adventure), rinse, and pick out any stray pieces of pith, and you’re good to go!

Enjoy plain (mmmmmmm).

Or on a salad. Or over vanilla ice cream.

Or sprinkle them over some roasted sweet potatoes, even (it’s good, see, doesn’t it look good?)

Oh, and I heard someone somewhere say that they spit the little seeds inside the arils out, but I think that’s just silliness. I think that’s the exception. I, and I’m pretty sure most people, just chew the whole thing up.

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