Preparing pomegranate

Roll the pomegranate across the countertop to loosen the seeds. Cut the pomegranate in half and then tap the peel with a wooden spoon on the back of the pomegranate while squeezing the peel a little. The seeds will fall right out, provided the pomegranate is not too old. Collect the seeds in a bowl. You can also cut the pomegranate into segments and fold them inside out. Then the seeds will fall out too.

The pips are completely edible, the membranes of the chambers that separate the seeds are not.

Beware: the juice of the pulp and the skin will leave stains that cannot be removed. So preferably put an apron on.

You can also buy pomegranate seeds loose if you find that easier.

Storing pomegranates

You can keep pomegranates in the fridge or on the fruit rack. The thick leathery skin keeps them good for a long time, up to a few weeks.

If you are going to freeze pomegranate seeds, put the loose seeds in a sealed freezer bag or freezer container.

Storage times

Whole pomegranate
Fruit bowl: 2 weeks
Refrigerator: 2-4 weeks

Loose seeds
Refrigerator: 3 days
Freezer: 3 months