You can open a pomegranate the same way you would open an apple or orange, but doing so would lose much of the precious juice contained in the arils (the fleshy part of the seed) inside the fruit. This article will show you how to prevent this from happening.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Vertical Cut
Step 1. Place the pomegranate on a cutting board
Since the juice stains a lot, you can protect the cutting board with a cloth and your hands with rubber gloves.
Step 2. Cut the crown section at the apex of the fruit until you can remove it like a lid
There should also be some kind of cone attached to the part you removed.
Step 3. Carve the peel along the sections of the fruit
These delimit the internal partitions of the fruit and you can easily see their subdivisions. You don't have to cut too deep and get to the arils. You just have to score the peel, then stop when you get to the white part.
A group of sections radiates from the chalice (the apex, where the flower used to be), and a second group from the opposite side. The two groups are divided by another section that runs horizontally about 2/3 away from the crown
Step 4. Gently open the pomegranate
It will open in the shape of a star. If you haven't cut the bottom, the slices will all be joined in the center, like a flower. At this point you can eat the pomegranate as it is, or you can separate all the grains first.
Method 2 of 4: Horizontal Cut
Step 1. Make three horizontal incisions along the circumference of the fruit
One should be central and the other two should be about a quarter of an inch from each end. Do not completely cut off all the fruit; you just have to engrave the peel. The pomegranate must remain whole.
Put on rubber gloves, the pomegranate juice stains
Step 2. Pry up the incisions and cut out the two ends of the fruit
Only the peel should be peeled off and the first arils should show. Only a few grains will remain attached to the peel. If a lot of peel remains attached to the fruit, try to remove it.
A residue of the glass may have remained in the upper extremity, it depends on the fruit and where you made the incisions. If so, carefully remove it
Step 3. Cut the fruit vertically between two sections of arils
Again don't split the pomegranate completely, you just have to cut the peel.
Step 4. Open the fruit in two halves by levering with your thumbs on the central incision
From the vertical cut you made earlier open each half which will show several clusters of juicy kernels.
Step 5. Arrange the pomegranate on the plate
The two central halves will be filled with arils, while the two "lids" can be thrown away. This is a technique for opening a pomegranate, how to eat it is up to you!
Method 3 of 4: In the Water
Step 1. Cut the pomegranate in half lengthwise
You do not have to remove the cup or any part of the fruit. If you are worried that the juice will splash everywhere, just make an incision.
Step 2. Get a large bowl filled with water
Place the two halves face down in the water. If the fruit has only been sliced, pry it up to divide it in half while it is in the water, so you will avoid "spilling" of juice.
Step 3. Remove the beans with your fingers
The white skin will float in the water while the arils will go to the bottom. As you get closer to the peel, you can turn the fruit upside down and remove the outer arils as well. When you are done you will have two pomegranate "skeletons" without arils.
Step 4. Filter the beans
Throw away the peel, remove the floating white skin (also throw it in the garbage) and filter the water. Et voila! A bowl full of pomegranate grains without wasting a single one!
Method 4 of 4: Horizontal Engraving
Step 1. Hold the pomegranate with the stamen side up
Step 2. Make a slight incision along the horizontal circumference
Step 3. Using your fingers on this incision, split the fruit in half
Step 4. Place one half on the palm of your hand with the kernels facing down
Step 5. Beat the surface of the pomegranate with a wooden spoon to drop the grains
Do this over a bowl and don't wear light-colored clothing.
Step 6. Repeat with the other half
It will take about 30 seconds to shell the whole fruit.
Warnings
- The juice of the pomegranate stains permanently. Wear old clothes and gloves when handling it.
- The knives are sharp. Be careful.
