How to Select & Store Pomegranates

Pomegranates are a little complicated. But, they are delicious and if you are able to pick a good pomegranate at the store, you can have a great user experience! This post is all about how to select and store pomegranates in order to be able to enjoy them to their fullest.

(This post is an excerpt from The Produce Nerd’s Grocery Guide, with input provided by Chad Crivelli from Crivelli Farms. You can learn more about the Grocery Guide, which covers this information for 55 different produce items, with input from 26 crop-specific companies HERE.)

What to look for when picking the best quality pomegranates?

• The fruit should have consistent color. For most varieties, it is a dark red or burgundy. Other varieties can be very sweet at a pink to almost white color, but consistency is key. There should be no dark spots or light spots.

Common issues to avoid when selecting pomegranates?

• There should be no dark spots or light spots. These can indicate bruising or sun burn. If caught early, the arils behind these spots can be removed and the rest of the fruit is fine. Eventually, these arils will decay and spoil the rest of the fruit.
• There are issues like “black heart” that are impossible to detect, except that they will be lighter than a normal one.
• Pomegranates will often crack, but unless the crack is deep enough to expose the arils, it’s fine, and usually sweeter!

Are there any common issues that are specifically caused by bad grocery store handling?

• Once in the store, pomegranates should be stored in a cool, dark place. Not in a refrigerator, but definitely in the shade, and not moved in and out of a cooler. I’ve seen too many times where they move them out in the sun during the day, and in at night. Or, Costco puts them in the fridge until they need the room, then out in the aisle. This is not good for the fruit and will cause the outer skin to eventually dry out and shrivel up. This is a time to avoid cracked fruit, but uncracked fruit will still be good, just not as juicy.

What is the best way to store pomegranates at home?

• Once home, store on a counter (preferably in the shade) until ready to eat. If the arils are not all used when you eat the pomegranate, store the extras in a zip lock bag in the refrigerator.

What is your favorite way to eat and prepare pomegranates?

• I prefer to squish the pomegranate a little to dislodge the arils, then break them open in the field and eat! This method usually results in a diesel flavored fruit, however.
• My second favorite way to enjoy is to remove the arils at home by (first washing) cutting it in half and tapping them out into a bowl with a wooden spoon, then putting a handful with some juice into some vodka over ice.

How to Cut Open a Pomegranate and Remove Your Own Pomegranate Arils?

You can either buy aril products at a mark-up at the grocery store, or you can remove the arils yourself! Some fun hacks for how to easily remove the arils are as follows:

• Water Method (from POM Wonderful)