When Are Pomegranates Ready to Eat?

Ripe pomegranates have bright red color and shiny skin.

Pomegranates and pomegranate products have become popular because of their antioxidative properties. Growers harvest ripe fruit, so fresh fruit in stores should be at its prime. Look for some of these signs.

Color

The skin should be a bright to dark red color. If part of the fruit was in the shade, that area might have a lighter color. If the skin has begun to turn brown in spots, the seeds might be dry and brownish in color instead of dark red. According to pomegranate grower Gene Etheridge in "Nature's Secret Messages," pomegranate skins develop stretch marks when they are ripe.

Luster and Texture

A ripe pomegranate has a glossy skin. As the seeds ripen, the skin thins somewhat and feels more leathery.

Shape

The pomegranate goes from a smoothly spherical shape to a less rounded contour. There are several internal seed chambers, and the fully ripened seeds make the fruit more angular.

Weight

A heavy fruit is a sign that the seeds, which are the only edible parts of a pomegranate, are plump and not dried out.

Sound

If tapped, a ripe pomegranate will sound sharper; some people characterize it as sounding metallic. Corky, unripe fruits and dry, overripe fruits have duller sounds when tapped.

References

• Pomegranates: News and Information
• "Nature's Secret Messages"; Elaine Wilkes; 2010

Resources

• University of Nevada Cooperative Extension: Growing Pomegranates in Southern Nevada