Monday, January 7, 2013

The Pomegranate



One evening over the holiday, I dressed up our pumpkin pie with some juicy pomegranate seeds. I forgot to include this picture in my Christmas post, but perhaps my omission was serendipitous because the next day my pomegranate de-seeder arrived! Yes, there is such a thing, and it is quite the facilitator of pomegranate consumption. I thought I'd share a quick review. 

It's a three-piece device. The strainer sits in the bowl, while the rubber cover fits over the pomegranate (faced down). A few enthusiastic whacks with the back of a large spoon on the rubber cover dislodges the seeds from the rind so that they fall into the bowl.

Ever since pomegranates appeared in the grocery store, I have been eating them daily. This tool has definitely made eating them a lot easier, as there is no mess involved. 


And as you can see, the tool also works great in removing the precious seeds from the rind. 


Some of the seeds get a bit pulverized with this method and there's a lot more juice as a result, but that may be a good thing.

The summary of my pomegranate de-seeder review? I recommend it if you are a pomegranate lover like me. It really does help extract the seeds as quickly as possible without a lot mess. It's also quite nice to work on the countertop, and not in the depths of the farmhouse sink as I did last pomegranate season in order to contain the splatter (sorry Martha).

Pomegranate seeds are wonderful on pancakes and french toast, or on plain old morning oatmeal - makes oatmeal sparkle like it is studded with rubies! 

Of course, they are also just great all on their own. 

Happy Pomegranate Season to Everyone! 
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27 comments:

  1. MaureenJanuary 7, 2013 at 6:51 AM

    Thanks for this review. We got a juicer at Christmas and have not done pomegranetes yet because of the time getting the seeds out. Could you share where you go this one. It should would make it easier to add these to our morning juice.

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  2. My Little BungalowJanuary 7, 2013 at 6:58 AM

    What a great sounding tool. Where did you find it?

    I have purchased three pomegranates this season, two of which dried up before I got around to using them. Why? Because they're such a hassle and a mess that I procrastinate to the point of the fruit going bad. I got some seeds out of the third pomegranate, but red juice was splattered on the counter, backsplash, floor and on me! I would love to know where you purchased this de-seeder. Also glad to know you give it a good rating.
    Claudia

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  3. AndreaJanuary 7, 2013 at 8:59 AM

    We (my 7 and 9 yr old) tried a pomegranate for the first time in August. Let me say we were underwhelmed. Maybe because there is so much hype about pomegranates we just expected so much :( same with the mango we tried. Bummer.

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  4. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2013 at 11:11 AM

    Where do I get one!!!

    Ellen

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  5. UnknownJanuary 7, 2013 at 11:34 AM

    Well, I have never seen one of those before-what a clever idea.
    Have a good week.

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  6. Mary Palumbo CollingsJanuary 7, 2013 at 11:54 AM

    That looks like a great tool... Love pomegranates too, and they are so beautiful...Happy 2013

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  7. CatherineJanuary 7, 2013 at 11:56 AM

    If you google 'pomegranate deseeder' on Amazon, it will come up. I didn't get mine from there but it's the only online source I found to share.
    Best,
    Trina

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  8. LeeJanuary 7, 2013 at 12:42 PM

    I love that you posted this. We have pomegranates and my mom adores them but often thinks twice because she hates taking the seeds out. Awesome!
    Thank you Trina
    PS. Do you eat the seeds? Someone told me they eat the seeds and I had never and was just wondering how many out there eat the seeds. They are hard and I would think they would upset my stomach. Just wondering.
    xoxo
    Lisa
    Leeshideaway.blogspot.com

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  9. MommabelleJanuary 7, 2013 at 3:29 PM

    That does look handy. I avoid buying pomegranate because of the mess. When I was a kid our school bus stop was at a neighbors house and they had a pomegranate tree in the front yard. All the kids used to share on after school and it was a fun mess!

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  10. CrossnoteJanuary 7, 2013 at 4:56 PM

    Thank you so much for this info. I purchased pomegranates for Christmas decor around my house...I have since
    wanted to eat them, but everywhere I look them up on the internet it warns about the mess and worst of all the staining. So, I gave them away and now I wish I had kept them and given them a try. I'll have to go and get some more before they are no longer in season. Thank you...love your home and your blog. Corinne

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  11. CatherineJanuary 7, 2013 at 9:03 PM

    Lee,
    Yes, all there is to eat is the seeds. They are a little crunchy, sometimes tart. They go great with things if they are too tart for people.
    : ) Trina

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  12. LeeJanuary 8, 2013 at 9:37 AM

    I love them too, but for years I suck on the seed and then spit it out and it can be tedious. I had no idea you crunch on the seeds after you suck on them. Hmmm. I will try eating the entire thing now.
    Thanks.
    Lisa
    Leeshideaway.blogspot.com

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  13. CatherineJanuary 8, 2013 at 10:06 AM

    Hi Lee,
    That's exactly what Margaret does! She doesn't like to eat the seed, she just sucks out the juice. Graham eats the whole thing and therefore, seems to like eating them more than her. She always gives me this look like why are you giving me this to eat?
    xoTrina

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  14. AnonymousJanuary 8, 2013 at 11:23 AM

    Pomegranates are a favorite at my house! I've tried the method of submerging in water while picking out the seeds, which sped up the process and cut down on the mess. However I was so excited to come across something similar how your tool works, minus the actual tool - if you cut the pomegranate in half (or score and pull apart, less mess), over a large bowl you turn the seeded side towards your palm and whack the outer shell with a wooden spoon, TADA!! In 10 seconds you can enjoy all the wonderful seeds! Amazing!!

    -Bridgette

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  15. Keeping It CozyJanuary 8, 2013 at 12:43 PM

    I have seen these de-seeders and wondered how they worked! We love pomegranates... my daughter makes me laugh every time she says the word. When she says it the "g" tends to be silent so it sounds like pome-ranate. :-)

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  16. CatherineJanuary 8, 2013 at 1:29 PM

    Hi Bridgette,
    That's what I used to do too! I just couldn't keep the splatters contained well enough.
    Best, Trina

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  17. Sette DesignJanuary 8, 2013 at 5:17 PM

    The red is amazing. If I could just get a wall that exact same color.

    They are my daughter's favorite fruit.

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  18. Windmill FarmJanuary 8, 2013 at 6:11 PM

    Hello and thank you!!! We have a small farm and have over 200 pomegranate trees. EAch year our customers always ask us how do we get the seeds out!!! I am going to google it tonight and order one to try it out. We usually do hundreds of pomegranates for the juice to make the jelly. We use a 5 gal. buckets, wear my worst clothes and do it outside because of the mess. I love them too and more and more people are eating them because they are so healthy for you. Thanks again for the tip.
    Paula-Windmill Farm

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  19. AnonymousJanuary 8, 2013 at 9:05 PM

    The orange and the red together is so gorgeous. I love the Margaret stories in the comments.

    (200 trees is a *small* farm? :) )

    Take good care,
    Em

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  20. AnonymousJanuary 9, 2013 at 12:06 AM

    I am so afraid i would break a tooth crunching on the seeds! I have gallstones and I was wondering if this fruit would upset my gallbladder? I am always tempted to buy one at the grocery store.

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  21. CatherineJanuary 9, 2013 at 1:39 AM

    They are called seeds but they are not very hard at all. They just have a little tiny crunch on a small part of the seed. I'm so sad to say that I ate my last one this morning!

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  22. AnonymousJanuary 9, 2013 at 12:19 PM

    I grew up eating pomegranates, but avoided them as an adult because de-seeding them was so tedious. Then a few years ago I saw Nigella Lawson's method and I've been enjoying them again ever since. But it is messy, so this little gadget is perfect to contain the splatters. Thanks so much for the recommend!!!! Kerry

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  23. judiJanuary 9, 2013 at 12:45 PM

    trina,
    i just discovered organic pomegranates at our local grocery store and how to deseed them. it certainly is labor intensive and messy. this tool is unique and i may have to invest in one. i love the bite that the pom has and use it in my oatmeal, in yogurt as a healthy snack and in a fruit bowl for that beautiful color. so good for you!

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  24. AnonymousJanuary 9, 2013 at 7:45 PM

    Believe it or not Walmart carries this tool! I passed by them in the Produce Section today.

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  25. the growers daughterJanuary 10, 2013 at 12:02 PM

    I read this, and picked some up at the store the other night. They were my first of the season. So delicious! I ate them over some greek yogurt with a little honey (and a few spoonfuls on their own!). I was surprised that my son loved them as well! I didn't think he would like the crunchiness, but he kept asking for another bite.

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  26. JessicaJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:17 PM

    What a great device! I had no idea something like that existed! After I eat them it always looks like a juicy pink fruit murder scene on my plate and I have stained a number of things with pom hands...our couch, my clothes, and even our dog!

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  27. AnonymousJanuary 11, 2013 at 9:32 AM

    This technique also works well...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUBU5Ij3eOE

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Thank you for leaving your thoughts. Kind regards, Catherine