How To Store Pomegranate?

How to store pomegranate?

By TheWholePortion

Page last updated: 04/05/2023 | Next review date: 04/05/2025

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In this brief article, we will answer the questions how to store pomegranate, how to buy pomegranate and three tips to store it.

Pomegranate should be stored in a cool, dry, well ventilated place with no direct exposure to sunlight. Pomegranate can be stored as a whole fruit in the refrigerator for up to 2 months and the seeds for 5 days.

Pomegranate is a fruit made of several juicy seeds, its seeds are consumed as its fruit. It is very healthy and delicious. It is used as a fruit and its nectar is used as juice worldwide. Pomegranate is beneficial to health and consumed for its sweet juicy fruit.

Nutritional value of Pomegranate:

One serving of pomegranate gives up to 80 calories of which 1.2 gm is from total fats of pomegranate. It has Sodium, Potassium and carbohydrates. Pomegranate is rich in Dietary fiber and sugar. Due to its nutrient content it is considered one of the healthiest fruits.

Health Benefits of pomegranate:

Along with having almost all of the nutrients and good calorie count, pomegranate is also quite healthy. It is rich in antioxidants and has almost three times more antioxidants than green tea. Antioxidants protect body cells from damage and also prevent diseases. Pomegranate is also known for its anti-inflammatory action and its effect on ageing.

How to buy Pomegranate:

Pomegranate is a fruit with thick covering, so it is impossible to know if the fruit inside it is safe to consume. Unless there is a visible defect there is no way you can determine the quality. But some tips, to help you through your pomegranate buying market experience, are as follows:

If the outer skin of pomegranate feels soft upon scratching or applying gentle pressure, it might be rotten from inside
If the shape is round or surface looks circular instead of flat, it is better not to buy such pomegranate
An over mature fruit tends to crack open from crown area or sides

Pomegranates become red once they mature. Even after harvesting, it keeps on increasing in juice content, a mature pomegranate looks flat as seeds tend to pull walls closer due to higher juice content. Best pomegranate is weighty, juicy, glossy in appearance and has unbroken skin

Shelf life of Pomegranate:

Pomegranates are stable fruits and have a thick skin to stop insect attack. If pomegranate is properly stored its shelf life goes as far as 1 to 2 weeks. It lasts longer in proper storage conditions when temperature is also normal or moderate.

If pomegranate arils are removed from it and placed in open air they spoil quickly as compared to when stored in the refrigerator. A whole fruit of pomegranate can stay unspoiled in a refrigerator for 5 to 6 months. If you want to freeze the fruit the chance of freeze burn is higher.

How to extend shelf life?

Pomegranate’s shelf life is quite long and it is shelf stable as a whole fruit. Pomegranate is stored as a whole fruit, as juice, and frozen as pomegranate arils. Some tips to store pomegranate to extend its shelf life are as follows:

1. Storage conditions:

Pomegranate is stored in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place. Make sure there is no direct exposure of sunlight and no chance of insect attack. If stored properly pomegranate’s shelf life can increase up to 2 months

2. Freezing Pomegranate arils:

The removed pomegranate arils are best consumed fresh, but you can freeze them too. Freezing pomegranate arils is done with the help of a baking sheet or wax paper to absorb moisture.

Freeze them in baking sheet lining or wax paper lining on a bowl, for 2 hours. This transfers the moisture to the paper. Now you can easily freeze pomegranate in a vapor-proof freezing bag or container. These pomegranate arils can be used even after one year

3. Freezing the juice:

Pomegranate juice is obtained by crushing pomegranate arils and extracting their juice. Pomegranate juice is used for its delicious taste and health benefits. It is better served fresh but if you want to save it is best to freeze it.

Pomegranate juice is stored in an airtight bag, container or bottle. Freezing the juice is preferred as it saves the flavor and color, to avoid any change when packing pomegranate juice it is best to leave ½ inch head space. Also freeze in a freezer bag or airtight bottle with proper labeling. The shelf life of properly stored pomegranate juice is 1 year.

Now you know how to store pomegranate, pomegranate arils and pomegranate juice. Pomegranate itself has a good shelf life but its canning makes it safe to use even after one year. To avoid any harmful effects due to spoiling of pomegranate make sure to keep it in a dry place without sunlight.