There are several great ways to preserve pomegranates so you can enjoy them long after the harvest. One of my favorite methods is drying the seeds (arils) to use as a flavorful topping for various dishes. Or, if you’re looking for some festive flair, you can even dry the entire fruit for home decor!
Opening the Pomegranate
To dry the seeds, you’ll first need to get them out of the fruit. Pro tip: only use fully ripe pomegranates for the best results. If you don’t have a pomegranate tree in your backyard and are buying them at the store, your best bet for finding ripe fruit is during peak season.
The pomegranate season kicks off in the fall and runs through the winter. You can tell a pomegranate is ready when the skin looks a bit leathery or patchy and gives slightly when you press on it.
To open it up, start at the flower end and gently pull the fruit apart. If it’s perfectly ripe, most of the seeds will tumble right out. Carefully scoop out the rest with a spoon, being careful not to puncture them. Not only do you want to avoid staining your clothes with that bright red juice, but damaged seeds also lose some of that amazing aroma.
Drying in the Oven
Once you’ve gathered your seeds, it’s time to dry them. You can use a food dehydrator if you have one, but only if you have fine-mesh trays—otherwise, those little seeds will slip right through the cracks! For most of us, the oven works just fine.
How to dry seeds in the oven:
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Spread the seeds out in a single layer, making sure they aren’t touching.
- Set your oven to about 120°F (50°C).
- Keep the oven door cracked slightly to let moisture escape.
The drying process can take several hours. If you want to dry the whole fruit for decoration, it’ll take even longer. This is a great trick if you grow your own and have some fruit that didn’t quite ripen on the branch. Since pomegranates don’t ripen after being picked, you can place these unripe fruits on a radiator to dry out. Once they’re dry, a quick coat of gold or silver spray paint makes them a gorgeous addition to your holiday decor.
Eating Dried Pomegranate Seeds
Dried seeds are a fantastic “superfood” sprinkle for your morning oatmeal or a fresh garden salad. If the seeds feel a bit too crunchy for you (they can be a few millimeters thick), you can give them a quick pulse in a grinder or crush them with a mortar and pestle. When ground up, they add a lovely, bright, slightly acidic kick to your meals. Try sprinkling them over desserts or even on your morning toast with jam for a little extra zing!
