Choose a ripe pomegranate based on season, skin color, quality, size, shape, and weight. Look for a deep color, firm and taut skin, and avoid any cracks or bruises. Choose a large, plump, and heavy fruit for juicier seeds.
Pomegranates are popular fruits that have tough, leathery skin on the outside and hundreds of edible seeds on the inside. A pomegranate is supposed to be sweet and juicy and is believed to be full of health benefits. The fruit can be purchased in juice or frozen form, but is also popularly eaten in its natural state. Choose the best ripe pomegranate based on season, skin color and quality, as well as size, shape and weight.
If pomegranates are grown in the area where you live, choose to eat them when they are in season. In areas where the fruit is not grown naturally, it must be transported and, therefore, the season for availability is usually later. In the Northern Hemisphere, for example, pomegranates are considered to be in season from October to December. If you buy fruit outside of these months, they may be under or overripe.
It is best to choose a pomegranate that has a deep, rich color. Deep red ones are usually recommended, but colors can range from yellow-orange to red-purple. You want to choose the ripest one available since the fruits are picked before they are ripe enough if they are to be transported and will not ripen when picked.
The pomegranate skin should be firm and taut. Rub your finger on the skin; it shouldn’t move or wrinkle. Although the leather may have superficial scratches and marks, it shouldn’t be broken in any way because this lets the juice out and creates an entrance for bacteria. Cracks can also indicate acidity. You should choose a fruit with leathery skin and it looks like it is just starting to lose its luster.
If the skin is dull with no sheen, the fruit may be overripe, and if the skin is very shiny, the fruit may not be ripe enough. The skin should also feel supple. If the peel is dry, the fruit inside is likely dry as well. Also try to choose a fruit with a hard but not too thick skin – this can make the pomegranate peel harder. The pomegranate shouldn’t have a strong smell or be wet or sticky.
Choose a pomegranate that is large as they tend to have juicier seeds. You also want it to be plump, round, and firm. Don’t choose fruit with flat or mushy spots – this can indicate a bruised, crushed or dry area. You can squeeze the top of the fruit to determine maturity. If it is very hard, then the fruit is not ripe, too soft, and is overripe, and if it releases a powdery puff, it may be moldy. Finally, choose a pomegranate that feels heavy for its size, which indicates a very juicy fruit.
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