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Pomegranates are a vibrant, ruby-red fruit with an unusual composition. Although beautiful, the skin is tough and leathery, and the white pith thick and bitter. When eating a pomegranate, what you're after is actually the seeds (also called arils), which are juicy, sweet, and tart. If you don't know what you're doing, it can be challenging to cut open an unwieldy pomegranate and eat the seeds. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about buying, cutting, and enjoying this unique fruit.

How to buy the best pomegranates

Most pomegranates grown in the United States are in season in the fall, so that's when the freshest ones are available at the grocery store. When shopping for pomegranates, look for fruits that feel heavy, which indicates that they're full of juicy seeds. The skin should be smooth, vibrantly colored, and free of blemishes, spots, and cracks. To test ripeness, the skin should have a leathery feeling with a little give, rather than a rock hard texture.

How to cut pomegranates

It can be messy to cut a pomegranate, which bursts with red juice that can stain your clothing. To limit the mess, use a sharp knife and pull apart the segments over a bowl to catch any juice that might make a splash.

1. Use a sharp knife to cut about a quarter-inch off the top of the pomegranate, which looks like a crown.

2. With the same sharp knife, make about 6 vertical scores along the natural ridges of the fruit. Try to cut through the pith and avoid slicing open the arils.

3. Hold the scored pomegranate over a bowl and gently pull it apart into segments. They should come apart easily along the scored lines.

How to remove pomegranate seeds

The best and easiest way to remove pomegranate seeds is to submerge the segments in water, which naturally helps to separate the seeds from the pith. Follow the below steps for the best way to remove pomegranate seeds.

1. Fill a bowl with water, then submerge each pomegranate segment in the water.

2. One at a time, gently press on the back of the pomegranate segment underwater to release the seeds. The seeds will sink to the bottom while the pith floats to the surface.

3. Gather the seeds in a separate bowl and discard the pith.

Another method involves whacking a wooden spoon against the pomegranate segment to remove the seeds. This method is effective, but messier than the water strategy. Here's how to do it:

1. Hold a pomegranate segment over a bowl.

2. One at a time, whack the back of the segment with a wooden spoon to knock out the seeds into the bowl.

(Real Simple magazine provides smart, realistic solutions to everyday challenges. Online at www.realsimple.com.)

©2024 Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.