Do You Have to Remove Seeds When Juicing?

December 31, 2025 •

4 min read

While many fruits contain small, edible seeds that offer nutritional benefits, it is a crucial—and sometimes overlooked—fact that some common fruits contain pits or seeds that are toxic or impart an unpleasant flavor when juiced. Knowing which to include and which to discard is essential for making safe and delicious juice at home.

Quick Summary

This article explains which fruit seeds and pits must be removed before juicing due to potential toxicity or bitter flavor. It also identifies seeds that are safe to include and offers best practices for proper produce preparation for your juicer.

Key Points

Toxic Seeds: Stone fruits (cherries, peaches, plums) and apples contain amygdalin, which releases toxic cyanide when the pits or seeds are crushed, necessitating removal.
Bitter Seeds: Seeds from citrus fruits can impart a bitter flavor to juice; removing them along with the pith ensures a sweeter taste.
Beneficial Seeds: Many fruits like pomegranates, kiwis, and berries have small, soft, edible seeds that are safe to juice and add nutritional value.
Juicer Type Matters: High-speed blenders and centrifugal juicers are more likely to crush seeds, making removal of toxic types crucial, whereas slow-press juicers often expel them intact.
Safety First: The safest approach is to always remove large, hard pits and seeds, prioritizing safety over convenience to prevent equipment damage and health risks.

The Seed Dilemma: Toxic, Edible, or Just Unpleasant?

Not all seeds are created equal, especially when it comes to juicing. While some are packed with nutrients, others contain potentially harmful compounds or can ruin the flavor of your fresh juice. The key is understanding the distinction based on the type of fruit and how your juicer or blender operates.

Seeds You Must Remove Before Juicing

For certain fruits, removing the seeds or pits is not just a suggestion—it's a critical safety precaution. These fruits contain cyanogenic glycosides, like amygdalin, which can release toxic hydrogen cyanide when crushed. Modern high-speed blenders and centrifugal juicers are powerful enough to pulverize these hard seeds, releasing the toxins directly into your juice.

Cyanogenic Seeds and Pits

Apple Seeds: Apple seeds contain amygdalin. While the amount is small, blending or crushing large quantities regularly is not advisable. Coring apples before juicing or blending is the safest practice.
Stone Fruit Pits (Cherries, Peaches, Apricots, Plums): The hard pits of these fruits are the most dangerous. They are not only a major safety risk due to their cyanide-producing potential but can also cause significant damage to your juicer's motor or blades if not removed completely.
Pear Seeds: Similar to apples, pear seeds contain amygdalin. It is best to remove the core and seeds when juicing pears to avoid any risk.

The Bitterness Factor: Seeds to Remove for Better Flavor

Beyond the safety concerns, some seeds are best left out simply because they will ruin the taste of your juice. The following seeds, while not toxic, can add an unpleasant bitterness that detracts from the fresh, sweet flavor you desire.

Seeds for Optimal Flavor

Citrus Seeds: Seeds from lemons, oranges, and grapefruit, along with the pith, can make your juice taste bitter. For the best-tasting citrus juice, always peel the fruit and remove all seeds before juicing.
Papaya Seeds: Papaya seeds have a slightly peppery, bitter taste. While some people eat them for health benefits, they can overpower the sweet, tropical flavor of papaya juice. For a sweeter juice, scoop them out before processing.

The Good Seeds: Edible and Beneficial

On the other hand, many seeds are perfectly safe and even beneficial to include in your juices. These small seeds are soft enough that they won't damage equipment and contribute a nutritional boost of fiber, healthy fats, and antioxidants.

Safe and Nutritious Seeds for Juicing

Pomegranate Seeds (Arils): The entire aril (the jewel-like seed and pulp) is juiced to extract pomegranate juice. They are a powerhouse of antioxidants and healthy fats.
Kiwi Seeds: The tiny, black seeds in kiwis are completely edible and pass through most juicers and blenders with no issue.
Berry Seeds (Strawberries, Raspberries): These seeds are very small and soft, posing no risk to your juicer or your health. They are often included in smoothies and juices for their fiber content and texture.
Watermelon Seeds: Modern, domesticated watermelons have soft, white seeds that are perfectly safe to juice. They are rich in magnesium and can be included for their nutritional value.

How Your Juicer Affects Seed Safety

The type of juicer or blender you use is a major factor in determining your seed-related risks. High-speed, high-powered machines, such as centrifugal juicers and blenders, are designed to pulverize ingredients, which is why they pose a risk for crushing toxic pits and seeds.

Cold-press or masticating juicers, however, operate at lower speeds and use a crushing and pressing action. This means they are more likely to expel hard pits and seeds into the pulp bin intact, though caution is still necessary. Regardless of the machine, the safest practice is to always remove all known toxic seeds and pits.

Comparison Table: Common Fruits and Seeds for Juicing


Fruit	Seed/Pit Type	Juicing Action	Removal Required?	Reason
Apple	Hard Seeds (Amygdalin)	Blending / Centrifugal	Yes	Risk of cyanide release
Cherry	Hard Pit (Amygdalin)	Blending / Any	Yes	Risk of cyanide release, equipment damage
Pomegranate	Soft Arils	Blending / Any	No	Safe, provides nutrients
Orange	Soft Seeds (Pith)	Blending / Any	Yes	Bitter taste
Kiwi	Tiny, Soft Seeds	Blending / Any	No	Safe, provides fiber and nutrients
Strawberry	Tiny, Soft Seeds	Blending / Any	No	Safe, provides fiber and nutrients
Peach	Hard Pit (Amygdalin)	Blending / Any	Yes	Risk of cyanide release, equipment damage

Conclusion

In conclusion, the decision of whether to remove seeds when juicing is not a simple yes or no. The answer depends entirely on the type of fruit, the seeds' inherent properties, and the equipment you are using. For hard pits from stone fruits and seeds containing cyanogenic compounds like apples and pears, removal is a non-negotiable safety measure. For citrus seeds, removal is advised for optimal flavor. For safe, edible seeds found in fruits like pomegranates, kiwis, and berries, you can confidently include them for a nutritional boost.

Prioritizing safety and proper preparation over convenience ensures your homemade juices are not only delicious but also completely healthy. Always remember to check reliable sources, like the Missouri Poison Center, if you have any questions about specific fruit toxicity or accidentally ingest potentially harmful seeds.

By following these guidelines, you can navigate the world of juicing with confidence, creating healthy, vibrant beverages without unnecessary risk. Ultimately, the extra minute it takes to prep your produce is a small price to pay for peace of mind and better-tasting juice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, high-speed blenders are powerful enough to crush and pulverize hard pits and seeds from fruits like apples and cherries, which can release toxic cyanide compounds into your drink.

Swallowing a single, intact cherry pit is generally not dangerous because the hard outer shell prevents the release of the toxic amygdalin. The pit will usually pass through your digestive system unchanged.

Citrus seeds and the white pith contain compounds that can give juice a bitter or unpleasant taste. It's a matter of preference, but removing them is the best practice for optimal flavor.

Yes, pomegranate arils (the seeds with their juicy coating) are completely safe to juice. They are a healthy source of antioxidants, and juicing them is the standard way to make pomegranate juice.

You can safely include small, soft seeds from fruits like kiwis, berries (strawberries, raspberries), and grapes. The tiny, white, soft seeds from domesticated watermelons are also safe.

While some heating processes can reduce the amount of cyanide, it is not a reliable method for complete removal. It is always safest to physically remove toxic pits and seeds rather than relying on heat to neutralize them.

If you suspect you have ingested a significant amount of crushed seeds, or experience symptoms like headache or nausea after drinking a juice with crushed pits, contact a poison control center immediately for guidance.