Learn how to cut a pomegranate open and remove the pomegranate seeds quickly and easily with my easy instructions! This handy DIY will save you money as you'll never need to purchase ready to eat pomegranate arils again!
Cut off the crown of the pomegranate, which is located on the left side in the diagram. Place the pomegranate on its side on a cutting board, then insert a sharp knife into the middle of the pomegranate just through the outer red husk (do not cut all the way through), cutting and rotating the pomegranate all the way around. Pry the pomegranate apart as gently as possible.
1 pomegranate
How to Deseed a Pomegranate
Hold each pomegranate half and break up a bit without breaking the husk. This will loosen the arils so that they come out easier.
Hold the pomegranate cut side down in your hand over the mixing bowl with your fingers open. Whack the pomegranate with the back of a wooden spoon firmly to extract the arils into the bowl. Be sure to whack all the way around it, turning it over to see which areas you need to work on as you go.
If any tough arils remain, use your fingers to open them up a bit and gently remove them.
Notes
Nutritional value is an estimate only as it depends on the size of your pomegranate. A medium to large pomegranate will yield roughly 1 cup of arils.
If there's a fair amount of white pith in the bowl with your arils, add water to the bowl and the pith will float to the top so you can easily remove it. From there, drain the arils well in a colander.
Store pomegranate seeds in an air tight container for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
If you'd rather not get your hands dirty, I purchased this pomegranate deseeder years ago and it works wonderfully!