How to choose a ripe pomegranate - the rules for determining a juicy fruit. How to choose a ripe and sweet pomegranate

Everyone knows that pomegranates are very beneficial for health, so they are recommended to be included in the diet not only for people suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system, but also for pregnant women, as well as children who need to strengthen their immunity. However, the most useful in this regard are ripe fruits, which not only have excellent taste, but also contain a huge amount of vitamins. True, in order to make the right choice and distinguish a ripe pomegranate from an unripe or overripe one, one must not only have good intuition, but also certain knowledge.

How to choose a ripe pomegranate

A kind of litmus test, which helps to avoid mistakes when buying a pomegranate, is their peel. If it has a rich red or burgundy hue, then in front of you is a well-ripened and juicy fruit, from which the body will receive undoubted benefits. A pink or pale brown skin indicates that the pomegranate is not ripe. It is these fruits that can often be found in supermarkets that buy unripe vegetables and fruits in order to increase their shelf life. However, even if the pomegranate lies in the refrigerator for several weeks, its peel is unlikely to acquire a more intense color, although the grains of the fruit will taste quite pleasant and quite juicy. But the benefits of such a purchase will be very doubtful. The same can be said about overripe pomegranates, which are also not difficult to identify. The thing is that their peel has characteristic cracks, and it looks dry and rough to the touch. There are quite a lot of vitamins and nutrients in such fruits, but the grains inside often burst due to overflowing with juice. As a result, foci of decay can form inside the pomegranate, and eating it is fraught with serious health problems.

The weight and size of the pomegranate is also worth considering. if you want to purchase a ripe and tasty fruit. Choose the largest of them and take it in one hand, and put a smaller pomegranate on the other, the peel of which visually falls under the definition of ripeness. A truly ripe pomegranate is quite heavy, as its seeds are filled with juice. If the selected fruit turns out to be lighter than its smaller competitor, then it is best to refuse to buy it.

Well, if this argument does not convince you, then you can try to determine the degree of maturity of the pomegranate by ear. To do this, you will also have to select several fruits and compare what sounds they make when you lightly click your fingernail on the peel. A juicy and ripe pomegranate will have a booming and “metallic” sound, as if you hit a miniature pan or an aluminum basin with your finger. Unripe pomegranates "sound" muffled and quiet, and overripe ones can make ringing sounds of dry wood. In addition, if the fruit is overripe, then after a click on its peel, characteristic dents and cracks often remain.

You can complete your study with another simple trick, for which you need to slightly squeeze the grenade in your hand, and then listen to your own feelings. If the fetus is slightly springy in the palm of your hand, then it is really ripe and suitable for eating. Too soft fruits, devoid of such elasticity, indicate that the pomegranate is overripe. Well, if you are holding some kind of stone in your hands, then you can be sure that you have an unripe pomegranate in front of you, which you should not buy. In this case, you should additionally examine the stalk, which should be firm and slightly dried. A soft stalk indicates the immaturity of the pomegranate, and the presence of mold indicates that the fruit has begun to rot from the inside.

Pomegranate is a valuable source of vitamins and minerals. It is rich in iron, manganese, iodine, potassium. Thanks to the regular use of juice or grains, immunity improves, hemoglobin increases, metabolism is restored. Unfortunately, many do not know how to choose a pomegranate. The answer to the question is contained in the article.

Benefit

Pomegranate is a useful berry. It is enriched with many valuable elements, including minerals, vitamins A, B1, B2, C, E, PP, antioxidants, fiber, fructose, glucose and citric acid.

Fruits are useful for heart problems: with hypertension, anemia or low hemoglobin. The fruit should be eaten by people with diseases of the lungs, liver and kidneys. In addition, seeds are considered a natural antioxidant, their use restores the hormonal system. Another product is able to reduce fever.

Fruit crust

In the East they say that the fruit should be juicy inside and dry outside. Therefore, if you are interested in how to choose the right pomegranate, you need to examine its crust. It should be slightly dried and "fit" the grains. This nuance is important, since the peel can dry out due to long-term storage, and this leads to drying out of the grains.

The smoothness and dryness of the crust indicates that the fruit was plucked from the tree before ripening. Red grains visible through the incised peel do not confirm the sweetness. It is necessary to evaluate the condition and color of the skin. The peel should not have defects and cracks. The color of the fruit varies from deep red to dark red.

Dark spots and small cracks appear on the skin of an overripe product, while an unripe product will have a light skin. The thickness of the fruit crust of a quality fruit is about 2 mm. Even if it is a rich red color, you should pay attention to the place where the flower was: a ripe fruit does not have anything green there.

Weight

How to choose a ripe and sweet pomegranate, taking into account other nuances? You need to pay attention to weight. The selected fruit must be compared with the rest that are on sale. It is advisable to choose them from two or more batches.

The larger the pomegranate, the more juicy its seeds. Therefore, it is better to choose a large product. If they are about the same size, you need to weigh them, mature fruits are usually heavier because they include a lot of juice.

Sounds

How to choose a ripe pomegranate by sound? You need to knock on the fetus and listen to it. The ripe fruit has a "metallic" sound, reminiscent of tapping on a metal container. The reason for this is the abundance of juice inside. And in immature products, the sound is deaf.

With tapping on an overripe fruit, dents remain on the skin, and the sound will be muffled. It is necessary to check it for elasticity. You should take it and squeeze it. The pomegranate should be firm and its peel should be elastic. Fingerprints indicate that the fruit is overripe or was dented during transportation, it is better not to choose it.

A hard pomegranate may be green inside. The ripe fruit has pink, beautiful grains separated by thin membranes. Juiciness depends on the amount of pulp. Ripe pomegranate has no smell. You can taste the fruit to check its ripeness.

A country

How to choose a pomegranate by country of growth? It is advisable to choose fruits from those states that are closer. The further the country is located, the greater the risk that the fetus will be spoiled during delivery.

Usually, unripe fruits are picked for long-term transportation, which may not ripen on the way or be sour. Residents of Russia are better off buying fruits from Tashkent. It is advisable to purchase them in November or December, because during this period they are ripe and sweet. These nuances are the main ones on how to choose the right ripe and sweet pomegranate.

What if the pomegranate is not ripe?

Unripe fruit is allowed, but in small quantities. But after all, there will be no pleasure from such a product, it is sour. It is advisable to choose ripe fruits, as unripe ones upset the stomach.

Unripe products do not ripen at home. They have to do it on a tree, and if they were picked out of time, then they remain almost the same, so it is important to know how to choose a pomegranate.

How to squeeze juice?

You need to know not only how to choose a pomegranate, but also how to squeeze juice out of it. For this, a special juicer is used. The fruit must be cut in half, and juice is squeezed out of each half. The drink can be obtained with an auger juicer suitable for stone fruits: this requires peeling the fruit and separating it into grains, removing the partitions.

The juice is also squeezed out by hand. To do this, you need to strongly crush the product right in the peel. It is important not to damage the skin. When the fruit becomes soft, you need to make a hole through which you should squeeze the juice. You need to drink the drink in a diluted form, since the acid is harmful to tooth enamel and the gastric mucosa. The juice sold in stores is usually already diluted.

Benefits of Juice

Pomegranate juice is useful for many diseases. It is recommended to use it for sore throat, asthma, radiation exposure. Pediatricians advise giving the drink to children, but in small quantities. It is advisable to dilute the juice with water or mineral water, as well as drink through a straw.

The drink has fixing properties, so it is not recommended for constipation. And since it has a high acidity, it should not be consumed by people with chronic stomach ailments. It is important to know how to choose pomegranate juice for it to be beneficial:

1. The label must contain the name of the manufacturer.
2. If it says "nectar", then this serves as confirmation that the drink is diluted. The color of natural juice is red. The brown tone indicates that the juice is mixed with wild rose or pomegranate peels were used in the manufacture.
3. This drink is expensive, so if there is a low price, it is better to refuse to buy.
4. The container must be intact. It is advisable to choose juice in glass bottles.

Thus, it is necessary to be able to choose pomegranate and juice from it. Quality products are good for health and also have a pleasant taste.

Pomegranate is a very useful fruit. It strengthens the immune system, which is important in the autumn-winter period, and maintains the level of hemoglobin in the blood. There are several secrets on how to choose a ripe pomegranate. Only ripe fruit brings benefits, so you should not neglect the advice.

What to look for when buying a pomegranate in a store

The pomegranate is covered with a dense shell on top, so it can be quite difficult to figure out what is inside it. And relying on the recommendations of sellers is not always right.

Choosing a ripe pomegranate is not as difficult as it seems.

Ripe pomegranate is always elastic. If the fruit is too hard to the touch or soft, dents remain in it, it is better to refuse to buy. Such a fruit will be immature or spoiled. Only ripe fruit is stored in the refrigerator for several months.

To choose a ripe fruit, it is enough to evaluate its external characteristics:

• skin color and condition;
• size.

The peel of a ripe fruit is always bright, well-colored, and may be dark in color. It has no cracks, damage, it is moderately dry. A light shade of the skin, spots and other damage indicate the immaturity of the fetus. And they have nothing to do with varietal characteristics.

Mature pomegranates are heavier and larger. Take two fruits and hold them in your hands. Choose the one that fits all the specifications. A light fruit will be unripe.

Pay special attention to the tip of the pomegranate, i.e. its inflorescence. It should be dry, dark in color, without greenery, fully ripe.

How to choose the right sweet pomegranate

The pomegranate fills with juice as it ripens. An unripe fruit will always be dry and sour. And an overripe fruit is most likely spoiled, its juice with an unpleasant aftertaste.

More juicy and sweet seeds are contained in large fruits. You can determine which grains are inside by the sound that the fruit makes when tapped.

Pomegranate is a truly magical fruit. It has an incredible amount of vitamins and minerals useful for the body. No wonder in the East pomegranate is considered the king of fruits. And even its appearance speaks of a royal position, because the tail of the pomegranate has the shape of a crown.

About pomegranate

Many consider pomegranate a fruit, but it is not. Pomegranate is a berry. It contains such mineral substances necessary for human health as iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, silicon, phosphorus, as well as phytoncides, bioflavonoids, tannin, fiber, glucose, fructose, citric acid, vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, PP, etc.

Due to this, the use of pomegranate contributes to the normalization of hemoglobin in the blood. This fruit is recommended for diseases of the kidneys, heart, lungs, liver. Eating pomegranates gradually lowers blood pressure in hypertension.

Pomegranate is considered a natural antidepressant. And due to the content of estrogens, pomegranate is able to alleviate the symptoms of menopause in women. But in this case, the grains must be eaten with the bones. Since it is in the bones that oil is contained, which restores and maintains hormonal balance.

It has been proven that regular consumption of pomegranate reduces the risk of cancer.
In addition, pomegranate is a good biogenic stimulant, so it is very useful for children.
Pomegranate juice has good antipyretic properties. It contains antioxidants, so it improves immunity and overall body tone.

Thanks to its antioxidant properties, pomegranate juice helps men in the fight against impotence.

It is better to dilute pomegranate juice with water before drinking, as the acid contained in it can irritate the gastric mucosa and damage tooth enamel. To avoid this, drink diluted juice through a straw.

How to get pomegranate juice?

Pomegranate juice can be easily obtained at home. To do this, you need to take a whole pomegranate and vigorously crush it from all sides. It is important that the peel is absolutely intact, and the juice does not start to flow out ahead of time. When the pomegranate becomes completely soft, you need to carefully make a hole with a knife, substitute a glass and squeeze out the juice.

Pomegranate juice can also be obtained using an orange juicer. To do this, the pomegranate fruits must be washed, cut into two parts and juice squeezed out of each hemisphere as well as from oranges.

How to choose a good sweet and juicy pomegranate?

Choosing a pomegranate so that it turns out to be ripe, juicy and sweet inside without opening it is quite difficult, but possible.

First of all, you need to pay attention to the peel. It should be a rich red color, sometimes with an orange or pink tint. It is important that there are no brown soft spots on the pomegranate, which indicates the beginning of rotting of the product. The peel of a ripe pomegranate tightly fits the fruit, clearly emphasizing its edges. There should be no damage on the surface of the pomegranate.

In addition, the skin of a ripened fruit should be dry and slightly stiff. But it should be remembered that a peel that is too dry may be evidence that the fruits have been stored for too long and have also had time to dry or rot inside.

The pomegranate should not be smooth to the touch. If the pomegranate is smooth, it means that it was picked unripe. A mature pomegranate should be heavier than it looks. The fact is that in a ripe pomegranate there are no voids, and the grains are filled with juice.

Choose dense and firm fruits. If the pomegranate is soft, it may have been frozen or bruised during shipping.

When choosing, you should also look into the ponytail or the so-called "crown" of the pomegranate. There should not be any green sprouts, and the inflorescence should be dried up.

A good ripe pomegranate has no smell

If at the time of purchase there is an opportunity to try pomegranate, be sure to use this. Since, very often it is possible to determine sweet grains or not only by taste.

Ripe pomegranate seeds should be juicy and sweet. The color of the grains is not a criterion for the quality and ripeness of the pomegranate. But if you want to decorate a salad or other dish with it, then, of course, you need to choose pomegranates with grains of a rich red hue.

We wish you a good choice!

Pomegranate is the king of fruits, because its beneficial properties are simply inexhaustible. This native of the East is present in any market with sultry merchants who like to invite people with stories about the juiciness and ripeness of their particular product. How to choose a good pomegranate? Let's talk about it in our article.

Good to know

First of all, its useful properties should be noted. Unlike many other fruits, it has remarkable qualities from roots to seeds. The grains themselves are used in cooking as an excellent component of second courses, desserts, sauces. And the bones have a positive effect on the digestive tract - it is enough to eat just a few pieces to increase intestinal motility, as well as saturate the body with the daily norm of fruit acids and oils. Well, pomegranate peel, bark and leaves are harvested and dried as a medicine. Their tannic and astringent properties put this tree on a par with oak. And there is nothing to say about its nutritional value.

It is not for nothing that doctors prescribe grains as an enhanced restorative agent. The fruit is rich in iron, potassium, magnesium, and therefore it is prescribed for iron deficiency anemia, to improve health during pregnancy. Moreover, due to the high content of estrogen, it is extremely useful for women to alleviate the symptoms of menopause. But for men, this fruit is also useful - its properties in the fight against sexual impotence are impressive.

And pomegranate is useful for children - it acts as a stimulant for the growth and development of the body. It also increases hemoglobin levels, reduces the risk of cancer, and is also a natural sedative. And this is not a complete list of what this fruit can do.

Where is he from?

Based on botanical features, it can be more likely attributed to berries. However, in everyday life, almost all people believe that pomegranate is a fruit. How to choose the best from a pile of fruits on the market? First, let's find out where he comes from. Of course, we can safely say that he came to us from the Middle East. This is partly true. His homeland is Mesopotamia, the Nile Valley, but given that, in general, they grow in tropical and subtropical climates, Greece and Spain are often their main suppliers. And then the distant country of Chile. However, from Turkey and Egypt, the fruits go on sale at least. So, we know where the pomegranate came from... How to choose it correctly?

Remember that the fruit is seasonal, and at this time it comes earlier than in the countries of Southern Europe. And in Chile, the season will be in the winter at all - after all, the state is located in. Therefore, in the spring, choose pomegranates from Egypt and Turkey, in the summer - Greek, Georgian and Spanish, and in winter the freshest fruits will come from South America.

Important note

As you know, pomegranate seeds are distinguished by a stunning deep color, which is called pomegranate. But after all, when buying, you can’t see the inside of the fetus, whatever one may say. Then how to choose the right pomegranate? This fruit is covered with a dense leathery shell on the outside. A ripe pomegranate has a glossy, rich red color. Make sure that there are no visible damage on the peel, as well as reddish spots - this can be a sign of rot. Also, you should not even stare at cracked fruits - even if the visible contents of such a pomegranate look attractive, the juice inside the grains could already turn sour or ferment, and they themselves will be covered with mold.

Well, a fruit with a wrinkled and rough skin, most likely, was plucked a very long time ago, and has already managed to dry out and deteriorate inside. True, you don’t need to take an overly smooth fruit either - it may not have ripened. So, our choice is only the neatest and most beautiful reddish garnets. In addition, a “crown” must be preserved on its crown, but there cannot be greenish sprouts on it.

And what size should a good pomegranate be? How to choose the best? On average, the weight of one pomegranate is from 400 to 800 grams. In order not to miss, try to choose larger fruits. You can also estimate their weight by weighing them in your hand. Those that feel heavier than they look are more likely to be juicy and ripe. By the way, in a good pomegranate, the amount of juice is 60% of the total weight. So feel free to take the bigger ones. And what should a pomegranate feel like? How to choose the one that will be a great treat? Press it a little in your hand - if it is fresh, the skin will be a little woody, but you will feel the relief of the grains under it, and you will not see depressions or voids in it. Also, when pressed, it can creak a little - these are grains rubbing against each other.

Where can I buy?

And the last question: where to buy pomegranate? To choose in the market or to give preference to the assortment of the supermarket? It's all about your personal attitude. On the one hand, the pomegranate is well stored in a cool place, lined with leaves or paper. In a supermarket, already substandard fruits can be stale for a long time - after all, only conscientious staff can sort them. On the market, on the other hand, they can overweight, stick low-quality goods and simply deceive. But if you know a few tricks, this can be avoided.

How to choose a ripe pomegranate in the market?

First of all, take the most pleasant and neat seller. They all sing sweet songs, and therefore choose not with your ears, but with your eyes - a decent-looking merchant, most likely, keeps his goods in order.

Then choose the fruits yourself, after holding each one in your hands. Watch the scale carefully when you are being served. And if, in your opinion, the declared weight does not match what you expect, feel free to go and check it on the control device. And inform the seller in advance. Sometimes this technique helps, if not to avoid deception, then negotiate a discount. And be sure to smile - according to statistics, positive-minded people are less likely to come across low-quality goods.

Conclusion

We hope that after reading our article, you have understood a lot. Now you know what pomegranate is, how to choose it, we also told.