For those of us struggling with stockpiling enough arils (pom seeds) for fancy salads and desserts: this is probably the trick that "frizz" mentions above:
- Cut an incision all the way around the middle of the pomegranate, about 1/4 inch deep. Press in your fingers at the incision and pull the halves apart.
- Hold one half of the fruit in two hands, seed-side facing down, and slightly press with your thumbs on the center of the rind so that the edges bend outward to loosen the seeds. (The seeds will not fall out yet.)
- Hold one half of the fruit in your palm, with seed side facing down into your palm and fingers. Use the back of a wooden spoon to whack hard all over the back of the pomegranate. The seeds will fall into the bowl. (Still some seeds in the husk? Don't be shy - whack harder.)
I fill a bowl with water, put the pomegranate in and then cut it open and take the seeds out with my hand. This goes quickly and the water prevents the pomegranate juice from squirting all over the kitchen.
I've read about the soaking for many years, and I thought that there must be a better (quicker) way. There is! http://lifehacker.com/5895852/deseed-a-pomegranate-in-10-seconds-using-a-wooden-spoon
Cut your pomegranate in half and soak the two halves in warm water. The seeds will soften from the white pith and be much easier to separate and pull out.
6 Comments
- Cut an incision all the way around the middle of the pomegranate, about 1/4 inch deep. Press in your fingers at the incision and pull the halves apart.
- Hold one half of the fruit in two hands, seed-side facing down, and slightly press with your thumbs on the center of the rind so that the edges bend outward to loosen the seeds. (The seeds will not fall out yet.)
- Hold one half of the fruit in your palm, with seed side facing down into your palm and fingers. Use the back of a wooden spoon to whack hard all over the back of the pomegranate. The seeds will fall into the bowl. (Still some seeds in the husk? Don't be shy - whack harder.)