How to Test Pomegranates for Ripeness

Ripe pomegranates can be held in the refrigerator for months.

You can test pomegranates for ripeness before picking them from the tree or the produce section. Pomegranates are a large round tree fruit filled with tiny elliptical seed pods called arils. As a pomegranate ripens, the arils fill with juice and become plump. By the time the outer skin of the pomegranate dries out and cracks, the fruit is overripe. Enjoy pomegranates at their peak by running them through a few tests before you tear them open.

Instructions

1. Look for a pomegranate with a deep even color to the skin. Light colored pomegranates are usually not ripe. Dark blotchy spots may be a sign of an overripe pomegranate.

2. Feel the weight of the pomegranate in your hand. Heavier pomegranates are generally riper and juicier.

3. Press on the outer skin of the pomegranate with your thumb. A ripe pomegranate skin will give a little and bounce back when pressed on. If the skin cracks or stays dented, then the fruit inside is probably dried out as well.

4. Tap on the skin lightly with your index finger. A ripe pomegranate usually has a hollow sound similar to a metal container when it is tapped on.

Tips & Warnings

• Store ripe pomegranates in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator for up to seven months. The arils actually get juicier over time if the refrigerator stays between 32 and 41 degrees Fahrenheit.

References

• California Rare Fruit Growers: Pomegranate