How to Prepare Pomegranates

Pomegranates are a great winter fruit that often gets overlooked. Many people simply either don't know how to prepare a pomegranate or they aren't willing to spend the extra time to prepare one. But, taking the 10 minutes to prepare a pomegranate is a great way to add variety to your diet. It also contain high amounts of important nutrients. A pomegranate are a rich source of soluble and insoluble fibers.. They also contain Punicalagin, which is a polyphenolic anti-oxidant compound. Studies suggest that this compound is effective in reducing heart disease risk factors. Pom's have also been found to be effective against prostate cancer, diabetes, and lymphoma. The portion of the pomegranate that is edible are called arils. They are tiny juice filled sacs with a small seed. They have a unique texture due to the juiciness of the aril along with the crunchy seed in the middle.

When picking out your pomegranate look for fruits that have smooth skin, free from any bruises, and have a dark, rich red color. When you get home store the pom in a cool, dark place at room temperature. You can store your pom like this for 5-8 days. You can also store them inside your refrigerator for a couple weeks or so. So, now that you have your pomegranate - how the heck do you eat it? It's actually very simple....

1. Take your pomegranate and cut it into half, and then cut the halves into half. So you should have 4 quarters.

2. Get a medium bowl and fill it partially with luke warm water.

 3. Take each quarter slice of the pom and use your hands to proceed to gently break it apart to allow the arils to break free from the rind or pith. Do this just above the water and allow it all to just fall into the water. The arils are significantly more dense than the pith and will sink, while the pith will float. This makes separating the arils from the pith super easy.

4. Once your done breaking apart all the slices, skim the pith and rind pieces off the top of the water and strain the remaining water out of the bowl. Place the remaining arils in a bowl which can be stored in your fridge.

The arils have a tart flavor similar to that of cranberries. I think they are slightly sweeter than cranberries though. Arils, by themselves, make a great simple snack. Otherwise you can add them to plain yogurt, hot cereals, or salads. I have also seen several recipes for lamb or fish. Personally I just either eat them plain or toss a hand full into my plan greek yogurt.