Pomegranate kernels, or arils, are delicious, beautiful in color, and packed with antioxidants. The only problem? They are protected by a thick, inedible reddish peel. And if you don’t have much experience doing it, cutting and peeling a pomegranate to get to the crunchy seeds inside can be tricky. Don’t worry, we have some tips to make the task much less intimidating.
First, Cut out the Crown
Pomegranates have a small pointy protrusion on one end that resembles a crown. Using a sharp knife, simply slice the crown off along with a little bit of the white pith underneath.
Slice the Pomegranate into Sections
After losing the crown, run the knife from the crown end all the way around the fruit, devising it into quarters. If you notice little ridges running down your pomegranate, cut along those ridges. Next, grab each side with your hand and gently but firmly break the pomegranate into halves along the scored lines, and then break each half into quarters.
Remove the Arils
Place the section in a bowl of water and use your fingers to roll out the arils, separating them from the pith. You can also hold a section over a bowl and whack the peel with a wooden fruit to dislodge the arils into the bowl. Finally, discard the peel and white pith, as they are inedible.
