What to do with a whole bag of pomegranates?

[thursday]

A friend has a pomegranate tree and gifted us a grocery bag full of pomegranates - there's at least 20. Frankly, I've always found pomegranates a bit more trouble than they're worth, especially because the husband does not like sweet mixed with savory...
I found this thread:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/819751
But I'm also looking for tips/ideas on how to get the seeds out faster than picking through them like I'm looking for rocks in lentils... And any other ideas on what to do with so many? I do like pomegranate juice, but I don't own a juicer - can I juice them without one, and how?

[heathpack]

We also have a pomegranate tree that yields a large number of softball-sized pomegranates. I usually make grenadine and pomegranate jelly and can them. I always bring fruit in my lunch but Pom seeds are messy to eat. So yesterday I made pomegranate gelatin, will post back as to how it was. Whirled the Pom seeds in food processor, pressed pulp thru a fine mesh strainer. Yield from 2 pomegranates was about 10 ounces juice. Softened gelatin in one portion of juice, then heated the rest and mixed it in until dissolved. Poured into two 5 oz containers and placed in fridge until set. I'm not sure of the amount of gelatin I used, I believe it was 2 teaspoons. Hmm, maybe I should have written that down....?

H

[HillJ]

The hack with a spoon method is messy and time consuming.
Here's what I do, and I prepare about 20 pomms at a time so I have seeds on hand during pomm season. I do love them in all sorts of recipes though.

Get a big, deep bowl.
Fill it with cold water.
Scrub those pomms clean.
Slice your pomm's in half.
Under the water, using your fingers (the best tools on earth!) separate the seeds from the white membrane. Crack open the cavity; the seeds will float to the top of the bowl. The membrane will float too & is easy to discard.
Drain the water-instant seed bounty!
Typically I do this in batches of five.
Takes about 30 mins for 20.
The trick is don't squeeze the seeds. This way the juice stays inside the seeds as they float and wait to be removed from the water.

[maxie]

This is the method I use -- way less messy. I pat the water off, store some fresh, and freeze the remaining in a single layer on a parchment lined sheet pan, then transfer them to a freezer container. I try to freeze enough to last the rest of the non-pomegranate year.

[tardigrade]

That works pretty well, although my pomes usually leave bits of membrane around the seeds.

If you decide to juice them, do it outdoors and do not wear your best black shirt, lest you learn about discharge dying the hard way. The wall ended up with purple dots.

[HillJ]

Ever try using an electric juicer on sliced pomms? The grapefruit setting is the perfect size.
Cleaning some small bits of membrane off a few seeds is easy. The water method is still a much easier, cleaner way of getting the seeds out.

[tcamp]

I'd make chocolate-pomegranate-ginger bark:

http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/ch...

Very jealous too!

[JaneEYB]

I love fresh pomegranate seeds so I consider them worth the effort and I'm very jealous of your treasure. One of my very favorite recipes is by Melissa Clark from 'Cook This Now' for 'Cumin Seed Roasted Cauliflower with Salted Yogurt, Mint, and Pomegranate Seeds; It was reproduced on Serious Eats http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/20... Hopefully it might change your husband's mind - everyone I have served it to has loved it.

[Veggo]

Chiles en nogada.

[Rasam]

Here is a link to a video showing you how to de seed a pomegranate in less than a minute, using a wooden spoon. I haven't yet tried it but do tell if it works for you:

http://lifehacker.com/5895852/deseed-...

Re what to do with it, once you have the seeds out, you can scatter them in salads and soups, desserts, maybe on yogurt,

I don't know about juicing though.

You could also give away a few to others who like pomegranates

[ipsedixit]

Xmas ornaments.