How to choose a pomegranate: the ripest and juiciest fruits in the store

Pomegranate is one of the healthiest fruits, rich in vitamins and antioxidants. However, it can be difficult to choose a really ripe and juicy fruit among the variety on the shelves. There are several important criteria that will help determine the quality of a pomegranate: the condition of the peel, the weight, the sound when tapping, the shape and appearance of the crown. All the details are in the Izvestia article.

Peel inspection

The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing a pomegranate is the condition of its peel. The skin of a ripe fruit should be slightly dried, thin and rough to the touch, as if hugging the grain inside. At the same time, it is important that it is not excessively dry, this indicates long-term storage, which means that the grains may turn out to be unsalted.

The color of the peel should be uniform, with a slight glossy sheen. Depending on the variety, the shade can vary from red-orange to bright red and rich burgundy. Cracks, dents, dark or brown spots are unacceptable — they indicate over-ripeness or the beginning of the rotting process.

If you try to pry the peel with your fingernail, it will be more difficult for a ripe pomegranate than for an unripe one with a smooth surface. The skin of a quality fruit is dense and leathery.

Fetal weight and size

A ripe pomegranate must be weighty for its size. The heavier the fruit, the more juice is contained in its grains. One mature fruit can weigh from 600 to 700 g.

When choosing between several grenades of the same size, it is recommended to give preference to the heaviest copy. A light fruit indicates that the grains have not had time to collect enough juice or have already dried up.

Large fruits tend to be more ripe because they ripen longer on the tree. They may have an irregular shape with bumps — this is normal and is explained by the different size of the grains inside.

Testing by touch and sound

Ripe pomegranate should be firm and elastic. With light pressure, the fingers should spring slightly, and a characteristic crunch of grains may be heard inside. If the peel bends or the fruit is soft, it is likely that the fruit is spoiled, frostbitten or damaged during transportation.

You can check the quality of a grenade in the following ways:

• tapping on the fruit — the sound should be clear and clear; a thud indicates overripe, drying out, or, conversely, immaturity;

• squeeze a pomegranate in the palm of your hand — with careful compression, you should hear the sound of bursting grains, which indicates their juiciness.;

• to smell the fruit, a high—quality pomegranate has almost no smell; if the aroma is present, the juice inside has begun to ferment.

The state of the Crown

Special attention should be paid to the top of the pomegranate, which is called the crown. This part of the fruit, where the flower used to be, should be dry and open. The color of the crown should match the color of the rest of the peel and be uniform — red, not green or pale pink.

A green crown is a clear sign of fetal immaturity. It is important to remember that pomegranates do not ripen after harvesting, so you should immediately purchase ripe fruit.

The petals of the crown of a high-quality pomegranate should be fresh, without signs of wilting or rotting. If the tip has a brown tint or looks parched, this may indicate that the fruit has been stored for too long.

Season and varieties

The ripest and best quality pomegranates appear on the shelves from September to February. During this period, the fruits are maximally saturated with juice and useful substances.

Among the sweetest varieties of pomegranate are:

• Peru,

• Uzbekistan,

• Azerbaijan,

• Morocco,

• Lazansky,

• Zionsky,

• Mangulatti is sweet (bred by Israeli breeders).

Grenades are most often supplied to the Russian market from Azerbaijan and Turkey. Azerbaijani fruits are usually cheaper than Turkish ones, although they are almost as good in taste.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.