[dmforcier]

Those that have a ninja heart yet the tender fingers of a gaijin will have divined the true nature of knife vs. pod combat. So forgive the redundancy.

You can safely handle a pod before cutting. I usually hold the pod while cutting around the calyx.

After the initial cut, and you need to cut again or seed, instead of holding the pod with your other hand, use a second small knife to pin it to the board. The rounded end of a bread knife works well for scraping the seeds out of split pods while another knife pins it.

The Technique can be awkward at first and takes more time, but it keeps your fingertips from melting. Check it out.