You make some homemade lemonade; you chuck the peels. You eat an orange for a snack; you throw the peel in the compost. You add some lime to the coconut; the peel gets pitched. It’s a shame that up to 40% of the fruit is just wasted. But it doesn’t have to be! There are a plethora of uses for your citrus peelings. DIY Citrus Vinegar Cleaner One of my personal favorites is using the grease smashing properties of citrus and combining it with the might of vinegar. Together they are a disinfecting powerhouse that is nearly unstoppable. And making it is crazy easy. Just fill a mason jar with your collected citrus peels. I use orange peels, but you can also add lemon peels. Once filled to capacity, pour in white vinegar to the top of the jar. Then put the lid on and let sit for a minimum of 2 weeks. Strain out the peels and combine the vinegar with water at a 50/50 ratio. If you want to get extra fancy, add some dried herbs to your spray bottle for an olfactory delight. Your kitchen and bathroom counters won’t know what hit ‘em! Please note, citrus may damage some surfaces. Do not use on granite, marble, stone or hardwood floors, or painted surfaces. Our orange canning jar labels and pastel dots labels are nice options for labelling your concoctions! Citrus Deodorizers and Potpourris Orange and lemon peels also make tremendous deodorizers. They have the natural ability of absorbing foul odors. Place some peels in the back of your fridge or in the base of your kitchen garbage can to keep things smelling fresh. Shred peels in your garbage disposal to release that great citrus smell in your kitchen. Make a refreshing potpourri by simmering peels in water with some cinnamon and cloves. Add cut up peels to stockings and hang in closest or cars. Your nose will thank you, especially when you replace synthetic fragrances with FREE and natural scents. Lemon Peel Cleaners Lemons are especially handy for removing hard water stains on faucets. Rub fresh lemon peels onto stainless steel faucets to remove unsightly white buildup. Repeat as needed and your faucets will shine bright! This will also work on copper, silverware, pots and pans. Are you a coffee or tea junky who is also bad at cleaning stained mugs and pots? Lemon to the rescue! Add some salt to the outside of a lemon peel to rub away stains on mugs. Coffee tastes better from a clean pot, so don’t forget to clean that too. Add lemon peels and water to your pot, then turn on. As the pot heats, citric acid is released from the peels and melts the stains away. Coffee anyone? Citrus Vinegar Pest & Cat Repellant Another great household use for peels is as a pest deterrent. Citrus has an acidic oil in its peels called d-limonene. This substance is toxic to ants and will kill them if they come in contact with it. You can make a citrus-vinegar mixture similar to the cleaning formula above. Put some peels in a pot and cover with white vinegar. Heat the pot to almost boiling, then turn the heat off and let it sit for 2-12 hours. The longer you let it sit, the stronger the concentration. Strain the liquid into a spray bottle and have at those ant intruders! You can also add citrus peels to flower beds and gardens to repel cats. I personally tried this with no luck. If you have tried everything else to repel cats, it's worth a try. Just cut orange peels up into one inch pieces. Scatter in your flower beds or anywhere you don't want cats. Add new peels once a week to refresh. No need to remove the old peels outside since they'll decompose. Another option is to make a citrus repellant spray for cats. Bring 2 cups of water and 1 cup of chopped citrus peels (orange, lemon, or limes) to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool, then strain the peels out and add to a spray bottle. If anyone has luck with any non-lethal cat repellant, I would LOVE to hear about it!! This solution is also supposed to work for dogs, but why on earth would you want to repel them? ;) Add Citrus Peels to Food Candied citrus peels are definitely the place to start. So delicious, once you make them you will accept no substitutes. This Candied Citrus Peel recipe would be great on baked goods or ice cream. And just imagine them dipped in dark chocolate. Mmmmmmm. This citrus infused vinegar recipe is great for salads or cocktails. If you want a vinegar with a knockout color, try this Blood Orange Balsamic Vinegar recipe. Stop buying expensive store-bought extracts! They are so easy and cost-effective to make yourself. In no time you can whip up some lemon or orange extract in your kitchen. Citrus extracts are perfect for holiday gifts or favors once packaged up in cute bottles or mason jars. Make citrus ice cubes by infusing water with leftover peels. Add peels to a pot of hot water and steep until infused. Freeze orange, lemon, and limes cubes, or combine all flavors together. Lemon ice cubes are especially tasty in ice tea. You can also use citrus zests in food like our Zesty Lime Curd recipe. Spread this delicious curd in a baked tart shell for a quick dessert. Top the tart with a ring of fresh raspberries or a twisted lime slice to impress. Or try this vibrant Three Citrus & Vanilla Bean Marmalade recipe. This citrus marmalade would make a great holiday gift. Your kitchen will smell amazing as you zest your citrus. Use our free printable tags and labels to decorate your jars for gift-giving. Want more citrus canning recipes? See our Citrus Canning Recipes blog post for jam, jelly, marmalade & more! Shop our Citrus Canning Label Collection to label all of your lemon, lime, and orange goodie jars. One of the easiest ways to enjoy your citrus peels is to dehydrate them and add them… to everything! Trail mix, oatmeal, cupcakes, pancakes, smoothies, salads, ice cream, chicken or fish… okay, you get it. Preparing your dehydrated peels is easy. Just slice them into bite-sized pieces and leave them out to dry. Easy-peasy! Or, if you want to speed the process up, place peels on a cookie sheet in a 200° oven and let them bake for a couple hours. You’ll know they are done when the edges start to curl up. And I guess I should mention, you want to use organic oranges if you are going to consume the peels. Don’t forget to wash them, too! I run dried citrus peels through my spice grinder to make a wonderful powder. The citrus powder is perfect for adding to dressings, marinades, smoothies, or baked goods. Store the citrus powder in a recycled spice jar and shake away! Health & Beauty Benefits of Citrus Peels Another fantastic use for dried peels is to make your own… wait for it… homemade Vitamin C powder! YASSSS!!! Citrus is high in Vitamin C, but the nutrients are concentrated in the peels. In fact, the peels have nearly twice the Vitamin C as the flesh. Put dehydrated peels in a spice grinder and you have fresh Vitamin C powder. This is better than anything you can buy at a store. That’s because your homemade version will contain live enzymes that the pharmacy varieties lack. Use as a natural supplement by adding to water, smoothies, or foods. And that leads me to the other health benefits of citrus peels. Orange peels are nutrient rich and healthier than the flesh of the fruit. The peel is loaded with flavonoids, which are antioxidant compounds known for assisting in the prevention of chronic health conditions. The flavonoid hesperidin has been shown to benefit those suffering with heart disease. It significantly lowers diastolic blood pressure. And polymethoxylated flavones have been shown to lower cholesterol just as well as prescription drugs, without any possible side effects. Those polymethoxylated flavones are also suspected to be protective against the occurrence of cancers, though research is still in the early stages. Lemon peels are fantastic for skin care. The citric acid in them is a bleaching agent, therefore, they act as a natural skin lightener. They may also enhance the softness and clarity of your skin by removing dead skin cells and stimulating new skin growth. To help with acne, wash and grate the skin of 5-8 lemons and add their juice into a bowl. Mix together, store in a bottle, and shake before using. Apply the mixture to your skin and massage in a circular motion once a day. Leave the solution on for about 5 minutes. You'll feel the tingle as it seeps into your pores. Rinse and dry your face. Citrus Peels Crafts & Jewelry Dried citrus peels look gorgeous formed into roses. It does take patience and a steady hand. Use a knife to strip the peel off in one long piece. Then roll the peel up into a rosette and pin in place with a toothpick until dried. The final citrus flowers are great in potpourri, decorations, or used in jewelry. Get extra crafty and make an orange peel bead necklace. Follow our Citrus Canning Pinterest Board for even more recipes! Sign up for our newsletter to get more gardening tips, product updates, & a 10% off coupon on your first order of canning labels in our shop. We LOVE preventing food waste! What ways have you repurposed leftover citrus peels? Let us know in the comments below.
Make your own cleaners, infuse your foods with orange, or make your home smell fresh. Here are 15 orange peel uses you need to try immediately!
Do you ever wonder what else you could do with your orange peels instead of just tossing them? One way you can put them to good use is to make orange peel powde…
Wondering what uses for orange peels you can put to use? This list includes everything from using in the kitchen to the garden!
A totally foolproof, wonderfully easy Candied Orange Peel recipe that makes sweet and bright orange peel candy - perfect for the holidays!
Description Ingredients Are you chasing a little bit of zest for your application? If you want to add a subtle, yet telltale, punch of orange citrus to your application, get Bickford's orange peel extract oil in your kitchen pronto. To help your application achieve those true-to-source notes of tangy-sweet and juicy, let our all-natural orange peel extract lead the way. Our orange peel extract is: All-natural Derived from the highest quality sources Certified Kosher Free of any added sugar and salt Use our orange peel extract oil in candies, pastries, puddings, smoothies, milkshakes, other beverages - including water - and more. Oils of Natural Flavors
They’re way more useful than you think!
Chocolate covered orange peels are the perfect treat for any occasion! Great for gifting, snacking or as a healthier treat. This recipe is naturally gluten-free.
Chocolate covered orange peels are the perfect treat for any occasion! Great for gifting, snacking or as a healthier treat. This recipe is naturally gluten-free.
Here are 12 Amazing Ways to Use Orange Peels for Home Purpose that I am so glad to
This easy flourless orange cake is soft, moist and absolutely bursting with orange flavour. Almond meal gives the cake a tender crumb and makes this the perfect gluten-free and dairy-free dessert. A sweet orange syrup is the finishing touch to this wonderful cake.
Orange peel benefits are less known. If used correctly, it can reduce cancer risk and improve lung health. Learn more about its benefits and uses here.
Go ahead, eat that juicy orange — but don't toss the peel in the trash! There are plenty of genius uses for peels that will save you money.
Don’t throw your kitchen scraps away, put them to work. The outer skins of fruit and vegetables are filled with flavor and vitamins, and most often have enough matter left in them for another go-round.
Super easy and simple recipe for homemade candied oranges or lemons!
Youve been peeling an orange wrong. Heres how to peel an orange the quick and easy way.
I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand Life is good today. That is what I will be singing tomorrow because vacation mode has officially begun! I don't have to go back to work until May 12th... how amazing is that? We take off tomorrow for San Juan and will be cruising through the Caribbean for seven days. I. Can. Not. Wait. Hopefully I will come back with tons of gorgeous pictures to share with you all! I wanted to leave you all with one last recipe before I leave so I present you this mouth-watering, homemade Crispy Orange Peel Beef. I should just rename this recipe "The Best Thing You Will Ever Stuff In Your Face" because that is basically what it is! Seriously. Adios Chinese take-out. Alright, I have to go finish packing since we have to leave the house at 4:30am tomorrow... eek! I will miss you all but please promise me that you will make this when I'm gone, because it is absolutely delicious. Crispy Orange Peel Beef adapted from fifteen spatulas 1 pound sirloin steak 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 tablespoon soy sauce 3 tablespoons cornstarch 1 navel orange, peeled and julienned 1 jalapeno, julienned 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 teaspoons ginger, grated 1/4 cup orange juice 3 tablespoons molasses 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon oyster sauce 1 tablespoon brandy 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar 1 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 2 scallions, chopped sesame seeds for garnish peanut oil for frying Cut the steak into bite size strips about 1/4 inch thick. Place in bowl and season with garlic, salt, pepper and soy sauce. Add cornstarch to bowl and toss until evenly coated. Lay steak on a wire rack over a sheet pan and place in the freezer for 30-45 minutes. This is a very important step as the freezer helps dry out the coating hence why this is crispy beef! While the steak is freezing, julienne the orange peel and jalapenos. When peeling the orange, try your best just to get the skin of the orange and not the bitter white pith. Cut the orange in half and squeeze until you have 1/4 cup of juice. Mince the garlic and grate the ginger. Set aside. In a bowl, whisk the orange juice, molasses, soy sauce, oyster sauce, brandy, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, cornstarch and red pepper flakes together. Preheat a deep pot with about 3 inches of peanut oil to 375 degrees. Set the oven to 250 degrees. Remove the beef from the freezer. Working in small batches, fry the beef for 2-3 minutes and place on a paper towel lined sheet pan when browned and finished. When done, place pan in preheated oven to keep the beef warm. Add the orange peels, jalapenos, garlic and ginger to a small saute pan, preheated over medium-low heat with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil (vegetable oil is fine too). Cook for about 2-3 minutes then add the soy mixture. Continue to cook for about 3-4 minutes until sauce slightly thickens. Remove from heat. Take beef out of the oven and toss with sauce. Serve on a plate and garnish with scallions and sesame seeds.
Learn to use oranges in witchcraft spells and magic and harness the naturally bright, sunny energy of this joyful fruit.
I'm always looking for natural ways to boost my family’s immunity. This Orange Peel tea is truly the best tea for a cold and does wonders as a decongestant.
Explore judwal's 4084 photos on Flickr!
Peel an orange, make sure to remove the all of the white pith (which is bitter). Slice the peel into strips, and blanch the strips in water 3 times. Boil in a simple syrup until softened, and lay them to dry on parchment. Once dried they can be dipped in melted chocolate, or just eaten straight. Grapefruit works well, too.
Orange Peel Marmalade Recipe
This orangettes recipe features homemade candied orange peel dipped in dark chocolate. Give this tasty treat a try.
Authentic French desserts and fancy French desserts are all in this collection of recipes for you to make fresh at home. Our entirely doable French dessert recipes give you everything you need to pull off the French desserts of your dreams.
This orange chicken recipe uses fresh orange juice, dried chili peppers, star anise, and dried tangerine peel. Try this tasty Chinese recipe out for yourself!
Traditional South African recipe for Melkkos – gluten-free and delicious
Delicious sfogliatelle ricce (sometimes called lobster tail pastry) was originally prepared only for the Italian aristocracy during the Renaissance.
An absolutely delicious orange peel preserve recipe! Bright, colorful, sweet and syrupy, this the perfect way to preserve the essence of this delicious fruit all year round!
Chocolate-Dipped Candied Orange Peel
These Orange Chocolate Mousse Domes are one of the most elegant desserts you can prepare for the upcoming holidays. Not only does it look impressive but the flavor combination is simply amazing, as oranges and chocolate make a special combination perfect for the holiday season. I love the texture the candied orange peel is giving to this heavenly dessert.
Orange Peel Marmalade Recipe
Chocolate covered orange peels are the perfect treat for any occasion! Great for gifting, snacking or as a healthier treat. This recipe is naturally gluten-free.
