Can Pomegranates Be Frozen Yes, Heres How !

Pomegranate is a fruit that has been around for thousands of years. It was first cultivated in the Middle East and Asia Minor as early as 6000 BC. The pomegranate tree grows up to 20 feet tall with large glossy leaves and clusters of red-orange flowers. Its fruits are round or oblong shaped, about 1 inch long by ¾ inches wide. They have an edible aril surrounding a hard seed inside.

Let’s see if you can freeze the seeds and find out if they are any good. If you are planning on doing anything other than a smoothie, this will matter a lot.

Can pomegranates be frozen ?

It is possible to freeze pomegranate seeds very easily. The best way to freeze them individually is to place them on a lined sheet pan and put them in the freezer for about an hour. This way they don’t clump together, and you can take as many as you want.

Once they’re frozen, store them in a freezer safe container or a Ziploc bag for up to a year.

If you’re in a hurry, you can freeze the seeds together, but this will result in clumps. The bigger problem arises when you thaw them. The one in the middle will be frozen until the outside is done, and this will take more time.

Are they good when frozen?

In terms of taste, frozen pomegranates are just as tasty as fresh ones. The longer they are in the freezer, the more prone they are to freezer burn.

It’s a good idea to make sure your container is kept clean. They might get that freezer flavor they don’t like.

If you’re making a smoothie or juicing them, the texture of thawed pomegranates will not be relevant. If you’re planning on using them as decoration, they might be a little too soft.

They’re similar to little corn kernels. When fresh and raw they are ready to burst. Their structure will be a little saggy and they won’t have the same snap.

You can use thawed pomegranate seeds as decoration and see how it affects the presentation. Most people don’t think it would be a big deal, but for some it could ruin things.

Can you freeze whole pomegranates ?

You can freeze whole pomegranates, but we think it’s a bad idea. It’s a bad idea to freeze seeds in clumps because of the same reason. By the time the outer part thaws and is ready to eat, the inside is still full of ice.

The fruit is going to be wet and mushy for a long time. You will need to open the fruit when it’s finished.

It isn’t fun when it’s fresh, imagine when it thaws. The risk of stains and splits that spill seeds everywhere is much higher with a thawed full pomegranate.

It is recommended that you freeze the seeds separately, it will save you a lot of time.

Do you have to wash pomegranate seeds ?

No washing is required before freezing. There is no danger of bacteria growing while they are frozen. If you were to wash the seeds, you’d expose them to water and make them more moist in the freezer or freezing container.

Why is this happening? No matter how well you think you’ve drained the seeds, pat them dry with a paper towel and hope for the best, there’s always some water somewhere.

It leads to more ice crystals on your seeds, and a generally mushy experience. The only reason you would have to wash the seeds is if you accidentally dropped them on the floor or dirty hands.

If you want to ensure that everything is clean, wash your hands and outer pomegranates.

Other ways to store pomegranates

There are many ways to store pomegranates, not just freezing them. It depends on what you’re going to do with them, but you can keep them for a short time or longer. There are a number of ideas you can try for seeds and whole pomegranates.

In the fridge

If you want to keep your pomegranates out of the fridge, they can last for up to two months. The outer skin of the fruits should keep them out of the fridge, so we recommend keeping them in the veggie crisper.

If you’re storing only the seeds, make sure to use a plastic bag or an open container. It could last up to a week in the fridge but it might be pushing it.

The reason they last longer is because they are exposed to air and there is no outer skin to keep them safe from oxidation.

On the counter

If you like, you can put pomegranates on the counter. If you’re planning on eating the fruit within a week or so, it won’t last as long at room temperature.

If you have leftover seeds and don’t know what to do with them, you can keep them on the counter for up to 24 hours. They’ll dry out really quickly if you don’t cover them with a paper towel.

How to open a pomegranate with zero mess?

How are you going to open a pomegranate? You have to get to the seeds if you are going to freeze them. If you want to freeze the seeds, we know of one way that is very little mess but not the best. We’ll give you another option that is better for freezing, but it takes longer.

The first thing you need to do is cut skin-deep into the flesh of the pomegranate. That should be on the part of the fruit that has facial hair. The seed compartments should be visible if you pull it apart. You need to place shallow cuts between the compartments so that you can pull pieces apart.

The first option is to put the fruit in water. The seeds will sink when they float to the top of the albedo.

You will need to strain the seeds and remove any stray albedo after you’re done. The seeds will get more ice crystals if they are frozen after being kept in water. If you’re not worried about that, you can freeze them.

The second option is to make sure you pick out the seeds. You can make things easier by turning the membrane inside out. The more favourable method is to spank the fruit with a wooden spoon, and then spit all the seeds out in a bowl. Some of them would burst, and you’d get stains everywhere.

If you’re going to freeze the seeds, you should remove them by hand if it takes longer.