Pomegranate Hack
Pomegranates are one of the best fruits you can eat. When you slice into a nutrient packed pomegranate you’ll discover a cache of juicy ruby red seeds. These seeds are an excellent source of antioxidants, phytochemicals, vitamin C, and fiber - all key nutrients for reducing inflammation, fighting disease and maintaining a healthy heart. The seeds also have the potential to soothe gut diseases and arthritis.
Pomegranates are grown throughout Asia, the Mediterranean, Africa, and California and are available in the U.S. from August to December. Now that they’re in season, here’s how to get the most out of these superfood gems.
pomegranate seeds are great for:
your heart health thanks to their antioxidants
immune boost with 48% of your daily vitamin c
fiber to keep you full
brain boosting because they’re antioxidant-rich, encouraging blood to flow to the brain, which ultimately helps keep the brain’s function sharp.
pre and post workout as they help your body deliver more oxygen to your muscle tissue, improving your athletic ability overall and your ability to recover after exercise.
add pomegranate seeds to your salads, oatmeal, light cocktails, yogurt, or as a snack on their own. YUM!
How to choose a good pomegranate:
The fruit should be heavy, and the skin should be firm. Small scratches on the surface don’t affect the fruit inside, so don’t judge a pomegranate by its scarred skin!
Getting the little seeds out of a pomegranate can be labor intensive and messy! Here’s a helpful hack to make this process effortless from my kitchen to yours:
using a sharp knife, remove the top and bottom of the pomegranate. then score the skin of the pomegranate from top to bottom. you will make a total of 4 incisions, creating 4 equal sections. only cut through the skin, stopping when you hit the pit/membrane (the white part.)
fill a large bowl with cold water. place the pomegranate in the water and begin to break it into 4 sections along the incisions you made.
using your fingers, pull the seeds away from the skin and membrane. the seeds will sink to the bottom of the bowl and the skin/pit will float to the top. *make sure to do this while the pomegranate is submerged under water to prevent staining your surface or clothes!
before straining, skim the top of the water and remove any excess skin and pulp (pictured below.)
5. Transfer the pomegranate seeds into an airtight container. the seeds will store up to 3 days. alternatively, you can freeze the seeds on a cookie sheet and then place them in a baggy for up to a year.