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Everything you need to know about pomegranate. How to choose the perfect pomegranate, how seed it, how to store it, and more. Pom appetit!
Folks! I just discovered that our childhoods were all LIES. Did you drink Shirley Temples as a kid? You know, ginger ale + grenadine + maraschino cherry? And did you just assume that this was a cherry flavored glass of heaven? Well guess what…it wasn’t cherry flavored! Apparently grenadine is a pomegranate-based simple syrup. I dunno, maybe that’s common knowledge…but it was news to me.
The “pome” in pomegranate comes from the Latin word for apple, and the “granate” from the word for seed. But “granate” may also have come from the Old French word for “grenat”, which describes the deep red color of the fruit. Am I the only one who thinks word history is awesome? Like here’s another one. The term for the scary exploding weapon “grenade” also comes from the French word for pomegranate. Pomegranate, the exploding grenade of sweet, juicy nectar!
How to Pick the Perfect Pomegranate
In the Northern Hemisphere, pomegranates are in their peak season from August to January, while in the Southern Hemisphere it’s just the opposite. Choose a pomegranate that has a deep, vibrant color, and that is a bit lumpy. A lumpy pomegranate is a hint that the seeds inside are becoming perfectly juicy! The unripe fruit will often be lighter and will make a hollow sound when tapped. And as is the case with most fruits, pomegranate should be heavy for its size with few scrapes or bruises.
Wondering how to deseed a pomegranate? This guide to cutting pomegranate covers it all!
And as a note, you can eat the entire pomegranate seed! The small hard seeds inside the juice are full of fiber (though you can spit them out of you don’t like the texture).
How to Store Pomegranates
- Whole: Store whole pomegranates at room temperature for several days, or place them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for a few weeks
- Seeded: The seeds should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days, or they can be frozen in a single layer then stored in a freezer-safe container in the freezer. Note, they may lose their shape when thawed.
Our favorite pomegranate recipes
- Pomegranate Holiday Sangria
- Roasted Cranberry Pomegranate Salsa
- Frozen Yogurt Bark with Pomegranate and Dark Chocolate
- Bulgur Salad with Feta and Pomegranate
- Pull Apart Bread with Orange and Pomegranate
Pomegranate Nutrition Information
per 1 cup of pomegranate seeds (174 g)
- Calories: 144
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 6 g, 28% Daily Value (DV)
- Protein: 2 g
- Fat: 2 g
- 36% DV of Vitamin K: A fat-soluble vitamin that allows for activation of enzymes in the clotting cascade, which is responsible for blood clotting. Also builds bone by modifying osteocalcin so that it may bind calcium, thus building the bone matrix.
- 30% DV of Vitamin C: A water-soluble vitamin that acts as an antioxidant to fight against potentially damaging free radicals (molecules with unshared electrons that float around wreaking havoc) and an important cofactor in collagen synthesis.
- 16% DV of Folate (Vitamin B9): A water-soluble vitamin that helps make DNA & RNA and metabolize amino acids.
- 12% DV of Potassium: A key mineral and electrolyte involved in countless processes, including healthy nervous system functioning and contraction of the heart and muscles.
- 10% DV of Manganese: A trace element that plays a role in healthy brain and nervous system function.
When I was in Japan a few years ago, I discovered that the pomegranates they eat were not like the seedy ones we eat here. Their pomegranates were more like an apple, and they ate the white flesh on the inside. Is that a different kind, or do they eat them at a different stage?
I haven’t heard of these – so interesting! It might just be a different type of pomegranate.
Why do Pomegranates disappear from store shelves almost like clockwork a day or two after New Years? I get that there is a certain season for them like all fruits, but that should vary from year to year depending on many conditions. Their availability in nature doesn’t just shut off like a light switch. Why does their availability in the grocery store switch off almost immediately after the holidays? Why not keep them around longer?
Thnx
That’s a great question! I never noticed this before, it must have to do with the supplier’s schedules!
I have 3 pomegranate bushes that I have had for several years. They are always full of blossoms every year but never make any fruit. What can I do to make them productive?
Unfortunately I don’t have experience with growing pomegranate – sorry Benny!
Is the white inside a pomegranate nutritious? Is the outside red skin nutritious? Thank you, Michael
I’m sure both are filled with dietary fiber! 😀
When I thawed my frozen seeds, they let off a blue liquid. Is this normal, and can I still eat them?
I haven’t heard of this happening before! I would say to use best judgement based on smell and flavor, but I think they’re probably safe to eat!
Love the history that goes with these pomegranates. (as well as the fruits release of seeds and storage) I am new to the fruit. Thanks
Best way to extract the seeds ?
Here’s how to deseed a pomegranate! I typically just eat the pits.
I don’t want to use for at least 2-3 weeks. How do I store them until I need them.
If storing for a few weeks, I would remove the pomegranate arils and freeze them! 😀
Your analysis of pomegranate “food values” leaves out SUGAR!
Carbohydrates are sugar 🙂
We Can Pineapples!! I also grow them in my sunroom. I buy them when they are $1.00 then do the canning a few days after. My husband and I love it. We get cottege cheese and add the pineapple for supper!!!