Juicing a fruit should be an obvious and smooth action, right? After all, fruits, unlike vegetables, have a lot of juice, and a quick squeeze should get the liquid flowing right out.
You can juice a pomegranate. However, juicing a pomegranate can get a bit difficult because you are trying to extract juice from seeds. The seeds of a pomegranate contain the rich red juice, making it hard to extract this fruit juice by hand.
This article will look at how to extract juice from pomegranate seeds and share some of the top recipes you can use to enjoy pomegranate juice.
In This Article
How to Juice a Pomegranate
Juicing a pomegranate starts with seeding the fruit first. This is the process of removing the seeds from the rows inside the fruit. The seeds are typically red in color and plump when they are ready to be juiced.
There are two methods of seeding a pomegranate, and one is not better than the other; it is just a matter of preference.
Here’s a video that shows how to open a pomegranate:
Method #1
- Cut shallowly into the pomegranate around the crown to remove the whole top outer part of the fruit. This reveals the seeds within without causing them to fall out of their rows.
- Next, cut three shallow slits into the rind of the pomegranate and make sure that they are shallow. The slits should not rip into the fleshy part of the fruit, so cut along the white plinth lines visible from the cut at the crown.
- Pull the fruit apart along the three slits to form three large sections
- Submerge the sections into a bowl of cold water to soften the seed for removal from the pith.
- Proceed to remove the seeds from the pith and leave them in the water. You will have bits of the pith floating in the water, but you can remove those after seeding the fruit.
- The seeds will sink to the bottom, so after removing the floating pith bits, wash them thoroughly.
- Drain in a colander and get ready to juice.
Method #2
- This method needs two bowls. You also begin by cutting off the crown’s top to reveal the seeds undisturbed inside the fruit.
- Turn the fruit over and cut another shallow circle at the base leaving the seeds intact on the lower side as well.
- Cut three slits along the white pith that you can see from the crown’s cut-out to the base.
- Pry the three sections apart but do not submerge in water.
- Gently proceed to loosen the seeds from the pith, but some may burst to release their juice. It is essential to be very gentle during this process to keep most of the seeds intact. Also, keep in mind pomegranate juice can stain.
- Remove the rind and piths that find their way into your bowl of seeds.
Now that you have gotten the seeds ready, it is time to juice them.
- Put the seeds in the blender and pulse them slightly. Do not blend them for long, or they completely break apart and form a cloudy juice. Pulsing only breaks them apart sufficiently for the juice to come out.
- Once you are sure they have broken, and the juice is flowing, remove them from the blender and place them in a strainer. It is best to use a metal strainer to avoid staining plastic strainers.
- Using a spoon, keep pressing the blended pulp to release the juice from the pomegranate seeds. Try and extract as much liquid as possible.
- If you find many whole seeds that haven’t been broken down, you can place them back into the blender and pulse them again to break them open. Repeat the straining process to get more juice.
Alternative Method of Juicing a Pomegranate
Here’s another method if the above strategy doesn’t work for you:
- If you don’t have a blender, you can remove the seed as explained above and place them in a sealable plastic bag.
- Roll over them with a rolling pin or smash them to break them apart. Before you begin rolling, make sure you have removed all the air from the bag and then seal.
- Make sure you roll or smash gently. You will see the juice accumulating in the bag.
- Strain the juice out into a cup.
Health Benefits of Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate contains higher levels of antioxidants compared to most of the other fruits you consume. The juice of one pomegranate fruit contains 40% of the required daily vitamin C levels. The high amounts of antioxidants help with cognitive issues like memory because it eliminates inflammation of brain cells. Inflammation mainly occurs because of oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Antioxidants combat free radicals.
Pomegranate juice is also considered the healthiest juice for the heart. Once again, it boils down to its high concentration of antioxidants that prevents oxidative damage to the arteries in the heart.
The juice slows plaque from thickening the walls of the arteries. Besides, drinking pomegranate helps lower systolic blood pressure combating another dangerous disease – hypertension.
Drinking pomegranate juice is an effective way of consuming the fruit if you do not like to eat the seeds. However, there are other fun ways to consume pomegranates.
Three Pomegranate Recipes
Pomegranate in Dessert
This recipe involves whole pomegranate seeds which have been infused into a dessert. It is a combination of chocolate and pomegranate.
- Buy fresh brownies.
- Buy fresh chocolate fudge.
- Place the brownies on a baking sheet.
- Pour the chocolate onto the brownies and sprinkle pomegranate seeds onto the top.
- Place the mixture in the fridge and let it set.
- Serve while cool with some whipped cream.
Pomegranate in Cocktails
Pomegranate juice is easily enjoyed on its own, but how about having it with a little twist? Here is a simple but delicious recipe for a cocktail.
- 1 ½ ounce of tequila
- ½ an ounce of Cointreau
- ½ an ounce of fresh lime juice
- ½ an ounce of pomegranate juice
- Salt or sugar for the rim
- A lime wedge for garnish
Serve immediately after mixing.
Pomegranate Juice in a Punch
Punch is a crowd favorite and one of the best ways to infuse pomegranate into a party drink. Because it has multiple layers of flavors, the pomegranate taste may not stand out, but the seeds’ tartness can linger on the tongue for slightly longer.
- 10-12 ounces of cranberry juice
- 16 ounces pomegranate juice
- One bottle of club soda or ginger ale
- Three tbsp of lemon juice
- ½ cup of rum
- 8 ounces of vodka
- One full 750 ml bottle of champagne
- Four tbsp of cinnamon syrup
Mix everything and serve chilled. You can also drop in some bits of fruit like pineapple, cherries and orange slices.
One pomegranate fruit will produce only half a cup full of juice. It makes better sense to juice your own pomegranates from home where you can get the undiluted extract. With six large pomegranates, you can get up to four cups of juice. The good news is the pomegranate juice can be refrigerated for up to 6 days.
Conclusion
Pomegranate juice is not only delicious; it is packed with plenty of health benefits. It helps with:
- Thinning the blood
- Protecting the body from free radicals
- Preventing arthritis
- Protecting from the growth of cancer cells
Juicing a pomegranate is easy because it doesn’t need much effort once the fruit is seeded. However, keep in mind that you may be allergic to pomegranate. Such people experience swelling, itching, and running noses when they ingest pomegranate juice. This can also happen when you drink too much pomegranate juice.
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