Aack! I'm turning purple!

November 20, 2006 1:58 PM

foolproof anti-mess method of eating pomegranates?

I've googled and searched AskMeFi but still would like to know if anyone has a truly foolproof way of preparing / eating pomegranates whilst minimising the mess potential (here's the tricky part) AND at the same time preserving the concentrated flavour.

It's pomegranate season again, and while I love this particular fruit, the hassle and mess potential often discourages me from buying them. I really love using the seeds in salads and ice cream but the time and struggle it takes to de-pith and dissect them, along with the whole 'stain-everything-within-a-3-metre-radius-red' aesthetic is, on the whole rather daunting. Last time I tried to prep one, I ended up having to bleach red splatter off the white kitchen grout in my rented condo.

Note: I don't much care for the 'separate under water' method; I've used it before and it seems that it doesn't much mitigate the hassle and significantly dilutes the flavour. That said if this is truly the only foolproof way, I suppose it will have to do.

posted by lonefrontranger to food & drink (14 comments total)

It's a pain, to be sure, but it's not THAT bad. We cut them in half and then carefully pull out the seeds and pulp and direct the seeds into a plastic tupperware container to be stored in the fridge. I've taken to eating them with granola every morning for breakfast, yum.

It might help to wait until the pomegranate seems almost like it's gone bad before opening it...unless you have some really tough ones though, I'm a little amazed at the spatter effect you have going. Our seeds tend to tumble out with a small poke of the finger.
posted by agregoli at 2:03 PM on November 20, 2006

Costco is selling 2 packs of the seeds only. I believe it was for $8.99 (I forget the weight, 8oz?)
posted by mphuie at 2:04 PM on November 20, 2006

pom wonderful has a suggested technique. they suggest you cut off the crown, and peel off the membrane in water, then strain. i've always done the slightly messy way of picking them out with my fingers. i usually wear an old sweatshirt and have a big bowl to receive the junk. the best was doing it out a window.
posted by kendrak at 2:09 PM on November 20, 2006

I've never really understood the "pomegranates are SO messy" thing. Maybe I just lucked upon the ideal method.

I cut the pomegranate in half (you can cut a bit in and then guide your knife carefully to cut the "pith" and avoid cutting the pulp), then hold a half above a bowl and give it a bit of squeeze, almost as if it were a lemon--but just enough to loosen the insides a bit, not enough to mash the pulp up.

Then whack it all over with a wooden spoon, cut side facing into the bowl. The seeds drop out really easily and there's basically no juice at all. Sometimes you have to trim away some of the pith if it blocks a section of pulp from falling out.

I have never gotten a single drop on my (incredibly easy to stain) counters using this method and a decently large bowl. And I rarely have any leftover bits inside.
posted by bcwinters at 2:13 PM on November 20, 2006 [2 favorites has favorites]

I love pomegranates, and I don't really have mess problems. I use an alternate of bcwinter's method, with the caveat that it might help to wait until the pomegranates are very very ripe before you pick them - the crown should be fully open and a little tree shake should practically cause them to fall off the branch.
posted by muddgirl at 2:20 PM on November 20, 2006

I just had my first pomegranate in years last weekend, and I cut a very shallow cross-hatch in the top (nicking only one or two seeds) and then pulled it gently apart in half and then quarters, which I further broke in half if necessary. I used a sort of strumming motion with my thumb to stroke the seeds out, with hardly any stains and very little pith bits in the bowl.

It took me 20 minutes, but I was trying to watch Battlestar Galactica at the same time so I wasn't moving real fast. Also, I was wearing black just to be safe.
posted by Lyn Never at 2:22 PM on November 20, 2006

lol muddgirl: point well taken, however I live in Colorado. not many pomegranate trees here!
posted by lonefrontranger at 2:28 PM on November 20, 2006

thanks bcwinters, I'll pick up one at the grocery tonight and try that!
posted by lonefrontranger at 2:31 PM on November 20, 2006

Naked in a bathtub with someone you really like. Then the mess becomes an integral part of the experience!
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 3:40 PM on November 20, 2006 [1 favorite has favorites]

thanks dnab, I'll... um... get right on that then!
posted by lonefrontranger at 4:17 PM on November 20, 2006

I fill a bowl with (warm) water, then peel them in the bowl. Very little mess. Also the pith sinks, while the seeds float. Makes separating those little bitter bits of white pith very easy.
posted by bonehead at 4:43 PM on November 20, 2006

get a tide stain pen. i ate a pomegranate in bed a few week back and my white sheets looked like carnage. the pen eradicated the evidence, so to speak.
posted by twistofrhyme at 6:36 PM on November 20, 2006

Why not juice 'em? For the life of me I don't remember where I read it, but recently somebody recommended a citrus juicer for pomegranates.
posted by SteveInMaine at 6:39 AM on November 21, 2006

Pomegranates are sexy:
If it's the thin-skinned type, roll it around in your hands, crushing the seeds inside with your thumbs. Don't break the skin. Keep going until it's swollen with juice. Then bite a small hole in the skin and hold it to your loved one's mouth so she can suck the juice. Then she holds it for you. After a few rounds carefully break the seeds up again. When it's dry, tear it open and gobble up the rest.
posted by booth at 7:22 AM on November 21, 2006 [1 favorite has favorites]