Thursday, December 6, 2012

Making the Most of Citrus Peels

Master enjoys oranges and lots of 'em when they're in season.  Several years ago, I started looking for ways to use those peels and get the biggest bang for His buck.  That citrus peel really is some versatile stuff.  Being as citrus season is in full swing, I thought I'd share some of my favorite ways to put all that zest to use:

  • Candied Citrus Peel - I've used every type of citrus for this and they've all been wonderful - lemons, oranges, and clementines are favorites around here.
  • Cut the pith from the zest, so you just have the colored part not the white part and cover with vodka.  Allow the zest to infuse with the vodka for two weeks to a month, strain and add a sugar syrup to taste to the strained liquid.  The resulting citrus liqueur is yummy in hot drinks and cold alike.
  • Dry the zest and make a scouring powder.  Again, any old citrus peel would work, here.
  • Put the peels in a jar and cover with vinegar.  Allow the zest to infuse in the vinegar for 2 weeks and strain.  Use the vinegar to clean as you would normally but it'll have a more pleasant citrus scent instead of regular vinegar.
  • Combine the zest with sugar or salt to make a body scrub.
  • Mix the zest with some sugar and let it sit for about a month.  The sugar will take on the flavor of the zest and is perfect for dusting cookies, adding to tea, etc.
Do tell us, please, what are your favorite ways to use up those citrus peels? 

1 comment:

  1. You can put your citrus peels and ice down your garbage disposal. this serves to both sharpen the blades and get rid any lingering smells that may exist in your disposal.

    You can also take the zest, some whole cloves, and cinnamon stick, and put it together in a cheese cloth, tie it up with a ribbon and you have instant sashe to freshen your drawers.

    You can also grate the peel and freeze it for later cooking use. It will hold in the freezer for up to 6 months before it begins to lose its potency.

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