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• Maltodextrin-pomegranate seed oil coarse and nanoemulsion (1246–325 nm) were fabricated. • Pomegranate seed oil-loaded nanoemulsions had higher antimicrobial activity. • The total phenolic substances of coarse and nanoemulsions were investigated. • Microbial spoilage in strawberry samples was more successfully limited using nanoemulsion. • The nanoemulsion treatment reduced the fungal disease severity. Different-sized pomegranate seed oil-based emulsions (coarse (CsP) and nanoemulsions (NsP): 1246 and 325 nm) were successfully prepared. Strawberries treated with NsP and CsP showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in yeast-mold counts (TMY) by 1.80 log CFU g−1, and mesophilic aerobic bacteria counts (TMAB) decreased (p < 0.05) by 0.91 log CFU g−1, respectively. CsP- and NsP-treated strawberries had a TPC of 74.45 and 82.35 mg GAE kg−1, respectively, while control samples had a TPC of 44.24 mg GAE kg−1. The strawberries treated with NsP exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity with 179.44 mol TEAC g−1. After treatment with a coarse emulsion, severity levels of A. niger and B. cinerea were 60 and 73 % while the nanoemulsion treatment significantly reduced severity levels to 55.3 and 56 %. The coarse and nanoemulsions may have potential use within the food industry owing to their antioxidant and antifungal properties as well as their ability to enhance strawberry quality and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]