In lieu of a podcast this week, I thought I’d offer a short video on my favorite method for seeding a pomegranate. While there are as many ways to accomplish this tedious but rewarding autumn chore as there are roads to Rome, I’ve found this particular technique the easiest.
First choose a large bowl to prevent splatter and subsequent spousal arguments. Then slice the pomegranate in half along its equator. Take a spatula or other sturdy object and then spank the back until the seeds release (this sounds more erotic than it actual is). If I’m lazy I just pick out the pith from the bowl. If I’m more thorough I’ll fill the bowl with water so that you can easily skim off the pith which floats to the surface.
Our tree gifted us with an abundant crop, so this has been a daily practice for the last month. This is also confirmation of my theory that the easiest things to grow make the most work for the cook.
What’s your favorite pomegranate seeding method?
That’s one way to get those underlying pomegranate agressions out! (=
We have an insane number of pomegranates to process this this year, you’ve see a picture of the tree, it’s even larger now.
We like to take a paring knife and slice off the blossom end and then score the skin on all four sides with the knife, break the pomegranate into quarters over a bowl and then just break it into pieces, the sarcotestas just fall right out of the rind intact with minimal effort and any membrane is easy to remove without water.
We already have 10 pounds of cleaned sarcotestas (seeds/berries) vacuum sealed in the freezer and we haven’t even put a dent in fruit still on the tree.
I just saw a video describing your method, and I can’t believe it is that easy! I also saw a video similar to this one http://youtu.be/HGYpk395PUA but it didnt work for me, maybe my fruit was a different variety or not big enough or i was starting at the wrong end…
There was a video going around showing how to peel it into sections like an orange. I couldn’t find it, but here is basically the same technique. I’ve never gone back since learning this.
http://www.mypersiankitchen.com/how-to-open-seed-a-pomegranate/
Yep, that’s how we do it too, works great, you still have to wash your hands after, it’s a bit sticky, but not too bad!
I learned to use the method where you slice of the ends, half the pomegranate, soak it in water for a few minutes, and then peel it. For me it peels really quickly and easily once the membranes are softened in the water.