I didn't even come across a pomegranate until I was in high school, and even then I don't remember how my friend was unzipping it to get at the jewels inside. We were on a car trip at the time, too! Fortunately, decades have passed, and I've got a bit more experience making the most of the vegetal world.
First things first: Cut off the bottom (blossom) end as low as you can go, to avoid losing any more of the seeds than is absolutely necessary.
Fill a bowl partway with cool water.
Then, hold the fruit, cut side down, in the water (it will spurt) and, using your fingers from below, break it open into halves, and then again into quarters. Sometimes it breaks differently, but it really has to get smaller than halves.
Now, gently work at the inner sections to loosen the seeds from the membrane. Having all this underwater keeps you from squirting dark red juice all over the kitchen and yourself, but the water also helps separate the seeds from the membrane too.
Be as gentle as possible to avoid losing any juice.
When all the seeds are removed from the rind and you have worked gently at all the clumps to get the membrane off, much of that yellow stuff will rise to the top of the water, and is easily skimmed off with a slotted spoon. Clean the last clumps carefully and then pour seeds and water through a strainer over the sink.
There will still be a few bits of the inner membrane, but they are easily removed.
Shake the strainer several times and leave the seeds to dry for a bit if possible. Then find your most dramatic plate or bowl and showcase these jewels. Voilรก!
Thank you for sharing how to get those seeds out of the pomegranate! No more red stains on the kitchen counter, hopefully.
ReplyDelete