How to De-Seed a Pomegranate
by: Kamran SiddiqiCutting and de-Seeding a pomegranate can be a messy and tedious task. Fear not- we have a method to cutting and de-seeding a pomegranate that is rather quick, easy, and will leave your favorite shirt stain-free.
Fill a large bowl with cold water; then, slice the small crown off the top of the pomegranate. You should be left with something that looks like the picture above. After the crown is sliced off, begin to score the skin of your pomegranate into four equal parts. Be sure only to cut into the skin, and not into the pomegranate seeds (if a little juice comes out, that’s fine)
Place the scored pomegranate into the bowl of cold water.
Proceed to separate each section under the water
Working with one section of the pomegranate (under the water) using your thumb, gently but firmly loosen the seeds from the membrane. Repeat with each section. And smile because pomegranate juice is not flying all over your white kitchen and staining your favorite white shirt. Yay to no stains!
Be sure to have a bowl to the side, so you can throw away any membrane (the white pith from the pomegranate- it’s not appetizing) away. All of the pith should float to the top and the seeds should stay at the bottom of the bowl. Skim off any white pith from the bowl of water.
Place the pomegranate seeds in a colander, give them a quick wash under cold water. Then, enjoy!
Note: The pomegranate seeds should keep for a couple of days in an airtight container placed in the refrigerator.
All photos © Kamran Siddiqi and The Sophisticated Gourmet
Tags: How-To, Pomegranate, tip thursday
February 07, 2011 | 
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February 7th, 2011
So useful! I love these type of posts. Super pretty pictures too!
February 7th, 2011
[...] (from Kamran Siddiqi of The Kitchen Generation) [...]
February 7th, 2011
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Gail Dosik, Hannah Queen, Kamran Siddiqi, Audrey Rose, ktchngeneration and others. ktchngeneration said: new at the kitchen generation: how to de-seed a pomegranate! http://bit.ly/gp0pZz [...]
February 7th, 2011
I use this technique too! (it’s the best way to do that anayway! ;) )
February 7th, 2011
Nice photos you guys! It’s one thing to be a gifted writer, cook and photographer, but hand model?! Now you’re just rubbing it in. ;^)
Kamran Siddiqi (Editor) Replied:
February 7th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
You are too kind!
February 7th, 2011
Beautiful photos! And, great tips to avoid the pomegranate carnage all over the kitchen counter. :)
February 7th, 2011
Very helpful post! I was in for quite a surprise the first time I bought a pomegranate – had no clue each seed had to be popped out individually! I love them so I’d hate to pass over them in the store and this will make my life much easier!
Kamran Siddiqi (Editor) Replied:
February 7th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
This method is probably one of the cleanest, quickest, and mess-free methods I know of; I know that people do the “back of a wooden spoon” method, which is just as fast, but I find that the mess is not worth it and all of the seeds are ruined from all of the smashing against the pomegranate.
Happy pomegranate eating! :)
February 7th, 2011
I learned this method a few years ago, and it made me like pomegranates about 500 times more. Ha! Gorgeous pictures. Love it!
February 7th, 2011
Great post! I despise seeding pomegranates…you make it look so easy! Beautiful photos as well :)
February 7th, 2011
My method is just to half the fruit horizontally and then knock the seeds out with the back of a heavy spoon. Beautiful post still.
February 7th, 2011
Does this mean I have officially lost my hand model status. :(
Kamran Siddiqi (Editor) Replied:
February 7th, 2011 at 9:40 pm
Haha, no Mr. Bernstein. We promise! :)
February 7th, 2011
It’s my favorite technique (really, it’s the only one) for de-seeding a pomegrante. Great post!
February 7th, 2011
I love pomegranates and I used to seed mine this way too. However, a reader shared with me an even easier way and it’s now my go-to method on my site. Anyway, just thought I’d share! Pretty pictures on this post btw…
February 8th, 2011
Great Post! I have always done it like this- no muss no fuss!
February 8th, 2011
Aha! Thanks for this! I almost bought a pomegranate the other day but decided not to because it always takes me forever to cut and de-seed it! Now, can you tell me how on earth to cut up a mango properly?
February 8th, 2011
My Grandma used to have a pomegranate tree in the yard. I used to put one in my bag and rip into it on the walk home from school. We used to make such a mess!
I like the seeds frozen too. :)
February 8th, 2011
ooo great post!
but don’t they absorb water and get kinda watery or sth?
if they don’t it’s perfect :)
February 8th, 2011
I use to love eating these as a kid… we would pick the seeds out with a pin… kept us busy for hours … this looks a better way to do it I have to say
February 8th, 2011
Love this! Beautiful photos. I’ve only bought a pommegranate once – and it was a long and messy process preparing it for my family. Thanks! Maybe I’ll try again.
February 8th, 2011
such a genius idea! makes me want to run out and buy a pomegranate!
February 16th, 2011
You make the simplest things look so beautiful, Kamran.
February 21st, 2011
[...] winter, and they are rather expensive. However, it is quite challenging and also very messy to de-seed a pomegranate yourself. But in search of a better (and cheaper) way to get my fix, I recently came across this [...]
March 5th, 2011
[...] new food blog The Kitchen Generation is so fun. Great tips, ideas and beautiful [...]
March 8th, 2011
The only thing I do not understand with this method is: Why do you have to stay in the cold water?
April 21st, 2011
I have 4 pomegranates in my fridge just begging to be cut into…thanks for the tips guys! love the photos and their simplicity!
November 28th, 2011
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December 12th, 2011
[...] festive brussels sprouts with hazelnuts and pomegranate serves: 4 notes: Wanna know the best way to de-seed a pomegranate? Look right here. [...]
January 1st, 2012
[...] How to seed a pomegranate (from The Kitchen Generation) [...]
January 19th, 2012
[...] stores, but if you have pomegranate juice around, it’s easy to make. My friend Kamran over at The Kitchen Generation has a great tutorial on deseeding pomegranates without getting the red juice all over yourself, [...]
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January 30th, 2013
[...] I vowed to eat clean. In other words: only simple, whole ingredients that grandma can recognize. As part of this, I tried satsuma, a kind of citrus fruit (thanks, Whole Foods), and learned how to seed a pomegranate. [...]