pomegranates

[DrPr]

Is there a trick to getting the "berries" out of the pomegranate without squirting juice all over the place? Currently I use a spoon to scoop them out, but no matter how I place the fruit or the spoon I get juice stains on me, walls and the counter! :p

[bethtastic]

The trick to getting them out without all the squirting is to break them apart in a bowl of water. Immersing them in the water catches the liquid that might spurt out, saving your walls and clothes. :)

[DrPr]

Wow- why didn't I think of that? Thanks!!

[karenisraw]

Awsome about the bowl of water. I was just going to post that I just flick them out with a spoon but your idea is much better.

[Sheryl]

I cut lightly around the edge in a circle, then gently pull it apart. It takes a while... but I peel back the white parts, exposing as many berries as possible, then occasionally break it into smaller chunks. If you're gentle you can basically deseed the entire thing smoothly without breaking even one seed.

The other option for juice is to split in half completely, and just in a citrus juicer (we have a manual press). It works great! It's probably too hard for the plastic citrus juicers you do by hand... would give you quite a workout.

I have a funny story to share... last year I was shopping, and found fresh pomegranites. I was just taken over by my imagination of how yummy it would be, and ended up standing over a garbage pail in the mall tearing it open by hand, occasionally using my teeth. A gentleman (truly one) possibly in this 70's stopped and said in a voice of wonder... "Where did you get that? I haven't had one since I was a child.". An hour later he walked by me and held up his pomegranites in victory. That's got to be one of my favourite fruit stories ever!!!

Cheers,
Sheryl

[Guydiane]

I Usually just pop them open and get it all over the place. But the water is a grand idea.

[RawTruth]

The great thing about opening it immersed under water is that the membrane float to the top and you can just scoop all the debris away. (BTW, if you search on this forum, you'll find many many recent discussions about pomegranates, how to open, and even recipes.)