If you love pomegranates, you have to see this! Find out how to cut a pomegranate in 1 minute using my easy method. No more struggle or fancy tools are required. Just grab a sharp knife and a fresh pomegranate.

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Did you know Pomegranate seeds are called arils? Whatever you call them, they are delicious, good for you, and have so many uses! My favorite way to serve them is in a bowl with a spoon for munching. It’s one of my favorite winter snacks while watching a show.
I also love to sprinkle them over Salads, Green Smoothie Bowls, and Steel Cut Oats. From garnishing to juice to ice cream toppings, you’ll be amazed how quickly they disappear. See all of the yummy serving ideas below.
The Best Way to Cut a Pomegranate Video
Here is a short video tutorial on how to eat a pomegranate. Are you surprised at how easy it is to get the seeds out? If you’re super speedy, I bet you could remove the seeds in under 30 seconds.
How to Buy a Pomegranate
When picking a Pomegrantate at the grocery store, here’s what to look for:
- Angular Shape – ripe pomegranates aren’t actually round. Find one with more flat sides.
- Smooth skin – you’re looking for firm, leathery skin. You don’t want a ton of give, but if you can scratch it slightly with your nail, it’s perfectly ripe. The color can vary from light red to dark red.
- Heavy – Get a fruit that is heavy for its size, so you know the seeds are juicy!

How to Cut a Pomegranate
Cutting this delicious fruit may seem intimidating, but our step-by-step tutorial on how to cut a pomegranate is the best way to learn! De-seeding your own fruit is much cheaper than buying the seeds, and they will be fresh!
- Cut off the top – Make a slice around the top of the whole pomegranate to cut off the flower. Be careful just to pierce the skin, and not cut into the seeds.Pull the top off gently and set it aside.

- Identify the Veins – find the ribs or veins inside that divide up the fruit, like you’d see in an orange. Cut around the outside of the fruit just like you did in step one, going just through the skin, but this time following the veins and cutting almost to the bottom.

- Use your hands to loosen the veins and seeds inside the fruit, gently pulling the sections apart and being careful not to crush the seeds.

- Turn each slice over in your hand over a bowl so the seeds face down, and then use a wooden spoon to hit the top or skin side. The seeds will pop right out in your hand and bowl. Easy!

Pro Tip:
To remove all the white pith from the seeds, add cold water to your bowl of seeds. The white debris floats to the top and the seeds go to the bottom of the bowl!

How to Serve Pomegranate Arils
Pomegranate seeds pair with and garnish so many breakfasts, desserts, salads, and even savory ingredients. Here are some Ideas:
- Garnish – scatter around your Roast Turkey, or Prime Rib for the holidays.
- Salads – try them in Winter Fruit Salad, Pear Salad, Sweet Potato Salad or Beet Salad
- Dessert – ttry Pomegranate Christmas Cake, Baked Pears or Panna Cotta
- Breakfast – Top Buttermilk Pancakes, Waffles or Overnight Oats, or layer with Granola in Parfaits.
How to Store Pomegranate Arils
Once you learn how to open a pomegranate, you can easily store the seeds. If you used my cold water trick above to remove the white membrane pieces, be sure to dry the seeds with a paper towel and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days

It’s so easy to learn how to cut a pomegranate! My method is tried and true, and I can’t wait to hear how you like it. Have you tried this technique? Do you do something different? I’d love to hear how it went and what are your favorite uses for pomegranate seeds in the comments!
How to Cut a Pomegranate
Ingredients
- 1 Pomegranate
- 6-8 cups cold water optional
Instructions
- Cut off the top (flower side) of the pomegranate, about 1/2 inch down the pomegranate, being careful not to go past the skin of the pomegranate. Wiggle off the top and set aside.
- Slice down the sides of the pomegranate following the veins inside to divide the pomegranate into segments, again being careful not to cut past the skin.
- Use your hands to loosen up the sections of the pomegranate to separate the sections along your cut lines.
- Place the pomegranate section in your hand over a large bowl (seeds-side-down) and hit the back firmly with a wooden spoon. The seeds pop right out! Repeat with the second half.
- To get rid of any white debris that might end up in your bowl, add cold water and it floats to the top where you can easily skim off the white pith, then drain well in a strainer and enjoy.
This is so great to know, and perfect timing. We give one of our daughters (who doesn’t care for candy) a pomegranate in the toe of her Christmas stocking each year… and I haven’t had an easy way to cut it without a juicy mess! I’ll be referencing this post again next week!
I’m so glad this was helpful! Now you won’t have pomegranate juice spraying everywhere!
Thanks for this. Now tell us the best way to juice them, please! 🤔
Hi Natasha. Real simple question. What do I have to do to follow you? Maybe I’m blind but just can’t figure out how to do it. Really enjoy your recipes and cooking tips and tricks. Thanks.
Hello Gil, great to hear from you. Feel free to subscribe to my newsletter via this link to be able to receive emails from me with some tips and new recipes!
Can you eat pomegranate seeds during pregnancy ?
I have never heard anything bad about eating pomegranate seeds while pregnant. I would suggest eating it in moderation if you enjoy them. Too much of anything is not good whether you’re pregnant or not. 🙂 Have you done any research online about it? I’ve just never heard anything bad about pomegranate seeds in pregnancy. They are rich in antioxidants which I imagine is good for anyone. 🙂 what are you concerned about with them?
I take the entire pomegranate cut it in fourths and put it in a bowl woth cold water. With my hands i pop out the seeds and they dont get mushy under the water, they pop right out. All the other stuff float to the top and the seeds fall to the bottom. 🙂 I love your recipes Natasha!!!
Thanks for sharing Masha! 🙂
haha wow! Can i get all those excruciating pomegranate-juice-squirting minutes back! This tip is a wooden spoon to my head. Thanks Natasha
Lol. 🙂 It sounds like you and pomegranates have quite a history 😉
Seeding a pomegranate have always been a headache to me!! Such a cool tutorial) thanks!!
I’m so glad you like it. It is really easy this way and keeps things clean 🙂
Hi natasha,
I like to cut it at the natural soft spots and then i can quickly seed the pomegranate bunches without any splatters by hand.
I have seen pro chefs and my dad seed then in a bowl of water to prevent splashes and quickly release the seeds.
After I seed them, i press them in a potato ricer for pure crisp juice, i bought the potato ricer just for that ;))im a fan.
In israeli studies, it had been proven an effective remedy for controlling high blood pressure, just 2 oz squeezed juice a day, i recommend to everyone.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me. That is so great to know! I had no idea it helps to lower blood pressure. Also thank you for sharing your technique. 🙂
Wow! Last time I seeded a pomegranate my walls were covered with juice! Your method is awesome and definitely better than my catastrophic attempt. 😉
Haha that used to be my war scene until my husband inteoduced me to this method. This method definitely contains the mess although you may still want to wear an apron just in case.
You are just so cute!…… “Mine”… Lol. Like watching your videos a lot!:-)
Haha thank you ;-). I’m a little protective of my pomegranate seeds!
Great! Thanks for sharing! I must admit I was drooling lol
I think I looked at it one too many times today too. I just purchased another box of pomegranates at Costco