Adding a pop of color and flavor to winter dishes makes extracting pomegranate seeds well worth the effort. One of the oldest fruits, and a staple in Mediterranean cooking, each of these In Season Now produce packs more than 600 juicy, ruby-red seeds inside its tough exterior. Pomegranates are in season from late September through January and thrive in warm, somewhat arid climates. The seeds are mostly enjoyed raw, often used as a garnish over salads and desserts (we also love them in guacamole!), or processed into juice. Perhaps best of all, pomegranates are rich in antioxidants and a good source of vitamins C and K. Read on for tips to buy, store and prepare pomegranates, plus recipes from around the web.
HOW TO BUY
Select large pomegranates that are hard on the outside and feel heavy for their size; large, heavy fruits promise more juice. Skin color indicates variety, not ripeness, however avoid any with damaged or bruised skin.
HOW TO STORE
Whole pomegranates can be kept at room temperature for up to a week or stored in the fridge for up to three weeks. Store pomegranate seeds in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days or in the freezer for several months.
HOW TO PREPARE
Tune in below to learn a simple technique for how to seed a pomegranate.
- Sally’s Baking Addiction – Strawberry Pomegranate Sangria
- Simply Recipes – Pork Chops with Pomegranate Glaze
- Inspired by Charm – Sparkling Pomegranate Cocktail
- Smitten Kitchen – Cauliflower-feta Fritters with Pomegranate
- Oh She Glows – Superfood Crunch Salad with Homemade Balsamic Apple Vinaigrette
- Just a Taste – Easy No-Bake Cheesecake (pictured above)
What’s your favorite recipe starring pomegranates?
This post may contain affiliate links.
wonderful Kelly! i am sure it’s as tasty as it looks. here is the link to get some health benefits of this fruit
Thanks so much, Kiara!
One of my go-to dishes in the fall/winter is roasted butternut squash (diced) that I add to pan-roasted green beans and toss with a lemon-maple vinaigrette, roasted pumpkin seeds, and pomegranate seeds. The pom seeds really make the dish and people are kind of precious about them lmao. For Christmas this year, though, I just bought frozen seeds and thawed them an hour before tossing them in and they were honestly just as good, and my kitchen didn’t look like a crime scene.
That sounds delicious, Sari! Thanks so much for your comment. :)