What is the best way to cut a pomegranate? Sure, there are many ways to do it, including just cutting it in half and letting all the seeds disperse onto your kitchen countertop. But to avoid the mess, there is a specific way of cutting a pomegranate that allows you to create a portable snack and stop this fruit from staining your fingers and your kitchen!

Health Benefits of Pomegranate

Before getting into how to cut pomegranates, consider these good reasons to include this fruit as part of a healthy diet. Pomegranates are slightly sweet and slightly tart. They add a lot of color and taste to recipes and are loaded with healthy nutrients, including vitamin C, potassium and antioxidants. These help protect your cells from damage, reduce inflammation and may even help slow down the aging process. Studies show that pomegranates may also help lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Grown in California, pomegranates are in season in autumn, typically from the end of September through November. The next time you see them at the grocery store, don’t hesitate to pick some up!

How to Cut a Pomegranate

The easiest way to cut a pomegranate is to start by placing the fruit on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, slice off the top and bottom of the fruit. Cut just enough off so that you can see some of the seeds inside as well as the divided sections of the fruit.

Once you can easily see the sections, use the knife to score the sections about a ¼-inch deep around the outside of the fruit. You should have approximately 5 or 6 sections when you’re done.

Then hold the fruit in your hands and gently pull apart the sections, like you would with an orange. The result will be beautiful red wedges of fruit, with the seeds easily exposed for eating.

How to Juice a Pomegranate

Many people enjoy drinking the healthy juice of pomegranates instead of eating the seeds. To do so, after opening the pomegranate, remove all of the seeds and place them in a plastic bag. 

Seal the bag and place it flat on a cutting board. Then take a rolling pin and roll over the bag several times to crush the seeds.

Once you have released all the juice from the seeds, cut a small hole in the corner of the bag. Then pour the juice into a glass and enjoy!

Using this method will prevent excess pulp from finding its way into your glass and it helps prevent messy red stains on your countertop!

Delicious Pomegranate Recipes

There’s nothing like the beauty of ruby red pomegranate seeds to dress up a salad, drink or dessert. Here are some pomegranate recipes we recommend:

Pomegranate Chocolate Cake

Pomegranate Cocktail

Pumpkin Pie in a Glass