How to Peel a Pomegranate

Pomegranates are fun to eat and healthy too! Pomegranates contain polyphenols - the same stuff found in wine. These are one of nature's most powerful and effective antioxidants. Eat pomegranates to protect against free radicals, major factors in aging as well as heart disease and cancer. You'll also get a healthy dose of Vitamin C which can help reduce the severity of a cold and Vitamin K which is a substance for healthy blood coagulation. Peeling a pomegranate takes patience but is definitely worth the time. Enjoy!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pomegranate
• Paring Knife
• Bowl of Water
• Spoon for skimming
• Colander/Strainer
• A Craving for Something tart and sweet

1. 
   Cut the Top Off

   With a sharp paring knife, cut the top of the pomegranate off about 1/2 inch from the crown.

2. 
   Pomegranate Sections

   Position the pomegranate so that you can see the chambers or sections.

3. 
   Score the Pomegranate

   Score the skin along the divisions of each section.

4. 
   Separate into Sections

   Separate the pomegranate along each score line so that you end up with individual sections.

5. 
   Remove Arils

   Holding the pomegranate over a bowl of water, use your thumb and fingers to loosen the "arils" (the flesh-covered seeds).

6. Let all the arils to drop into the bowl. Don't worry if pieces of membrane fall into the bowl too. The arils will sink to the bottom and any membrane pieces will float to the top.

7. 
   Skim off Membrane Pieces

   Skim the top of the water with your spoon to remove any of the white membrane that has floated to the top.

8. 
   Strain

   Pour the remaining liquid through your strainer. Wipe out your bowl and return the arils to the bowl and enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• Arils are usually dark red but it is not unusual to find light colored arils inside. The darker the color, the more robust the flavor.
• The arils burst in your mouth and then you are left with a seed. These may be eaten as fiber or discarded like watermelon seeds. Be careful where you spit!
• Add pomegranate seeds to green salads
• Sprinkle seeds at breakfast - on yogurt, cereal or oatmeal.
• Squeeze the pomegranate juice and add to blueberry juice for a powerful antioxidant cocktail.
• Pomegranate juice stains! Wear an apron or some protective clothing.

[Savvyone]

on 11/7/2008 Great visuals.