This homemade pomegranate juice recipe knocks the socks off any shelf-stable variety of juice, and it even gives those fancy refrigerated bottles a run for their money. Best of all, I’m showing you three ways you can make fresh juice at home, no matter what equipment you have!
Freshly squeezed juices are just more flavorful than store-bought options; it’s an annoying yet true fact of life you’ve undoubtedly heard from anyone with a cooking show (or a food blog 😅). After over a decade of recipe development, I’ve learned when to cut corners and when to take the path less traveled. Sure, buying premade juice is convenient, but there’s a big trade off flavor-wise when your juice is made from concentrate. You see, juice from concentrate has had all the water evaporated from it, then added back in later after it’s shipped from factory to factory. While this is efficient on one hand, you tend to pay flavor wise in the end.
You can use your juice in so many ways, like in pomegranate salad dressing, making homemade grenadine, custom-mixed pomegranate beverage recipes, or even just drinking it fresh! My favorite hack? Buying pomegranates when they’re on sale (I’ve seen them for $1-2 when they’re in peak season!) and juicing them for later in the year. It’s the best way to enjoy seasonal flavors when the craving strikes out of season!
🧃How to Make Pomegranate Juice Without a Juicer
Don’t have a juicer? No problem! You can still make fresh pomegranate juice at home using one of- these simple methods:
⚡️electric citrus press. If you have an electric citrus juicer, simply slice your pomegranates in half widthwise and press them down, similar to juicing a grapefruit.
💪 manual juice press. You can purchase a large citrus press and manually squeeze the fruits, too. It’ll take a bit more elbow grease, so this isn’t my ideal method.
🌀 blender. Quickly pulse the pomegranate arils using short bursts of blending, so you break open the juice sacs without pulverizing the seeds. Strain the juice and press any remaining arils to extract more juice.
🥄 mesh sieve + spoon. Place pomegranate arils in a fine mesh sieve and press with the back of a spoon.
👩🏻🍳 rolling pin + ziploc + strainer. Put your pomegranate seeds in a zip-top bag and use a rolling pin to gently smash them open. Strain the pulp/seeds from the juice using a fine mesh sieve.
why juicing your own pomegranate works:
♥️ deep juicy flavor. Freshly pressed juice has a deep and vibrant flavor that shelf-stable store-bought juices just cannot match.
🌟 single ingredient. This juice has nothing but pure, fresh pomegranate. Nothing from concentrate, nothing heated or cooked, and nothing added!
💰 budget-friendly. When pomegranates are in season, making juice at home is more wallet-friendly than buying pre-made juice at the grocery store!
🛒 ingredients
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 step-by-step process for juicing pomegranate
1: Cut the crown off the top of the pomegranate.
2: Score the pomegranate into 3-4 sections, then gently pry it apart to reveal the seeds.
3: Place the wedges of pomegranate in a large bowl of water, and gently peel the seeds away from the outer shell of the fruit.
4: Using your hands, carefully agitate the seeds to remove any excess pith or fiber, which could make your juice bitter. Strain the pomegranate arils from the water.
5: Juice the pomegranate seeds using a juicer.
6: Strain your juice to remove any sediment or large pieces of fruit, then pour your juice into an airtight storage bottle.
🧃 juicing a pomegranate without a juicer
Check out how you can use a citrus press or even a blender to juice your pomegranates!
Using an electric citrus juicer? 👀
If you have an electric citrus juicer, you can process your pomegranates easily, too! I have and love this one from tribest (affiliate link), which is a dupe of the one Ina Garten uses.
Simply slice your fruits in half widthwise, and press them down, similar to juicing a grapefruit.
The juicer may get clogged more easily because of the pulp, but you can double-strain it to remove excess sediment or pulp!
Using a blender? 👀
Yup, you can even use a blender to juice pomegranates, too! I prefer to use a smaller blender like my Ninja Foodi (affiliate link). It’s easier to process smaller batches of pomegranate seeds in a more compact blender opposed to a larger one.
Quickly pulse the blender using a pulse button or by lightly tapping the blend button. The key is SHORT bursts of blending, so you break open the juice sacs without pulverizing the seeds.
Take care to strain the juice out, and press any remaining arils to pop the juice out of them!
💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
- on ice – you can freeze your juice into cubes so you can portion it out and have access to fresh pomegranate juice all year long! It’s also great for making frozen pomegranate drinks, too.
- seasonal cocktails – fresh pomegranate juice is the perfect way to make special seasonal cocktails! Try adding some of this juice to drinks like a pomegranate margarita, pomegranate daiquiri, or a pomegranate spritz with homemade pomegranate liqueur!
- mocktail mix in – use your juice to add pomegranate flavor to mocktails, too! You can make pomegranate lemonade, a zero-proof pomegranate soda, or a pomegranate mule mocktail!
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- seeds getting stuck – if seeds are clogging your juicer, try processing smaller batches at a time and cleaning the filter between uses.
- bitter taste – if you include too much of the white membrane or rind when juicing, your pomegranate juice can turn out bitter. Make sure to only use the seeds (arils) for the best flavor.
- not a lot of juice – if you’re not getting much juice, your pomegranates might be underripe. Choose fruits that feel heavy for their size and have a deep red color.
🔆 top tip
The easiest way to just pomegranates is with a juicer, but the second easiest way is with a blender. You can also use a food processor to pulse the arils. If you don’t have any of those tools or gadgets, you can use a mesh sieve and a spoon, or put the arils in a ziplock bags and roll them with a rolling pin! Plus, it’s sort of meditative to sloooow down and take the time to separate pomegranate seeds from the fruit.
Wondering why it’s worth it to go through the trouble of juicing your own fruit? Check out the difference between FRESH pomegranate juice and store-bought juice!
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♻️ customize your homemade pomegranate juice
- add citrus – I love blending seasonal flavors with pomegranate, like blood orange juice or mandarin juice! Mimosas just got a whole lot more flavorful! 😉
- dilute with water – cutting your juice with a bit of water helps to dilute it a bit, which is a great option if the flavor is a bit too strong for you. You can even use sparkling water for a no-sugar added pomegranate soda!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🫙 storage tips
Your finished juice will last for up to 5 days in the fridge. Want to keep it on hand for longer? Pour your juice into ice cube trays to freeze it for longer-term storage!
💬 q+a
Can I juice a pomegranate without a juicer?
YES! You can use an electric citrus press, a blender, or even just press the pomegranate arils down in a mesh sieve using a spoon or you can put them in a ziploc bag and roll them with a rolling pin!
Why is my pomegranate juice turning brown?
Pomegranate juice can oxidize and turn brown when exposed to air for too long. To prevent this, store your juice in an airtight container, fill it as full as possible to minimize air exposure, and keep it refrigerated. It’s also best to consume the juice within 5 days of making it.
How much juice does one pomegranate make?
One medium-sized fruit usually yields about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of juice, or 4 – 6 ounces.
How to Make Pomegranate Juice (3 Easy Methods at Home)
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Equipment
- 1 juicer you can also use an electric citrus press or blender
- 1 fine mesh sieve non-reactive metal
Ingredients
- 4 whole pomegranates about the size of a whiffle ball
Instructions
- Cut. Cut the crown off the top of the pomegranate.
- Open. Score the pomegranate into 3-4 sections, then gently pry it apart to reveal the seeds.
- Peel. Place the wedges of pomegranate in a large bowl of water, and gently peel the seeds away from the outer shell of the fruit.
- Drain. Using your hands, carefully agitate the seeds to remove any excess pith or fiber, which could make your juice bitter.
- Juice. Juice the pomegranate seeds using a juicer.
- Strain. Strain your juice to remove any sediment or large pieces of fruit.
- Store. Pour your juice into an airtight storage bottle.
- Refrigerate. Store your juice in the fridge for up to 5 days, and use it in all your favorite recipes!
Notes
- Quickly pulse the blender using a pulse button or by lightly tapping the blend button.
- The key is SHORT bursts of blending, so you break open the juice sacs without pulverizing the seeds.
- Take care to strain the juice out, and press any remaining arils to pop the juice out of them!
- Simply slice your fruits in half widthwise, and press them down, similar to juicing a grapefruit.
- The juicer may get clogged more easily because of the pulp, but you can double-strain it to remove excess sediment or pulp!
