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What are pomegranates?

Now mainly grown in America, Spain, the Middle East and India, pomegranates originated in the area from Northern India to Iran. They have a round shape, like an apple, with a hard, shiny skin blushed with red or yellow. Inside, scores of edible little white seeds are held in jewel-like, ruby-coloured sacs filled with sweet, juicy flesh. The sacs themselves are packed in a bitter, pale yellow pith.

Pomegranates have always been highly prized for their flavour, but their recent emergence as a highly nutritious superfood, packed with antioxidant vitamins, has made them even more popular. The skin and the pith should not be eaten.

Read our guide on the health benefits of pomegranates.

When are pomegranates in season?

All year round.

Choose the best pomegranates

Look for pomegranates with unblemished, shiny skins. Those that feel heavy for their size are the juiciest. Avoid any with soft patches.

How to prepare pomegranates

Cut open across its middle then, holding a half over a bowl, cut-side down, bash the skin with a rolling pin. The seeds should pop out.

To extract the juice, put the seeds in a sieve and press out the juice with the back of a spoon. Avoid crushing the sac membranes too much as they can taste bitter. Be careful when preparing pomegranates, as the juice stains.

Watch our video on how to remove pomegranate seeds:

How to store pomegranates

In a perforated bag in the fridge for a couple of weeks.

How to cook pomegranates

Eat straight from the shell using a toothpick. Scatter the juicy sacs over salads, fresh-cut fruit; use in marinades or rice dishes. Use to decorate duck, fish, chicken or pork.

Get inspiration from our pomegranate recipe collection and read our guide on how to eat pomegranates.

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