Who Knew You Could Use ORANGE PEELS In So Many Ways!
With orange season fast approaching, I thought you might appreciate some clever information on different ways to use the PEELS. Waste not, want not, right?
Instead of throwing them out, get the most out of them by putting them to work. Check out this list of ways to use orange peels that came to me via Linda Loosli of www.foodstoragemoms.com.
MAKE ORANGE ZEST. We all know how zest of orange makes such a delicious difference in so many recipes. I like to freeze fresh zest for use later on. But Linda suggests we also dehydrate it. And by the way, whenever you dehydrate food, let the food product sit out for 5-7 days (minimum) after removing it from the dehydrator. This practice is called conditioning and it ensures everything is totally dry.
FREEZE OR DEHYDRATE PEELS AND ADD TO MARINADES. Citrus adds a lovely flavor to marinades and orange peels are an exceptional way to do this. They lend that perfect combination of sweet and savory.
FLAVOR YOUR TEA OR COFFEE. It’s a great alternative to sugar, especially if you’re looking for ways to avoid putting too much cream and sugar in these warm beverages.
DIP THEM IN SWEET CHOCOLATE. You’ll need to place the orange peels in the fridge for at least an hour beforehand to get them cold enough so that the chocolate sticks to them well. The chocolate citrus combo tastes magnificent. This recipe is from www.thefoodnetwork.com:
3 large naval oranges
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 ounces dipping chocolate (available at bulk or baking supply stores)
Directions:
Add Recipe to Cook'n
MAKE A CHEMICAL-FREE CLEANING SOLUTION. Just combine vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle with chopped pieces of the orange peel. The cleaning solution will disinfect, get rid of dirt and stains, and leave a fantastic orange scent around the home.
KEEP YOUR GARBAGE DISPOSAL SMELLING FRESH. If your garbage disposal has an odor, add a few orange peels and a handful of ice cubes and let it run. They will get rid of any foul odors and leave it cleaner and smelling fresh again.
SCRUB YOUR POTS AND PANS. Who knew? It’s a well-kept secret that scrubbing a pot or pan with orange peeling will remove gunk without causing damage.
BOIL THEM AND FRESHEN THE AIR. Place them in a pot of water on your stove top; boil for several minutes. Pour the concoction into a spray bottle and then use it as an air freshener to naturally get rid of odors in the home. It’s safer to use than most air freshening products on the market, and it does its job of eliminating odors.
TURN THEM INTO KINDLING FOR YOUR FIREPLACE. If you have a fireplace, you may already know this trick. An orange peel with natural oils is a perfect fire starter or kindling. We Keep some in a box next to your fireplace and use them to help light a fire. Plus, they give off a light citrus smell that is lovely.
Instead of throwing them out, get the most out of them by putting them to work. Check out this list of ways to use orange peels that came to me via Linda Loosli of www.foodstoragemoms.com.
MAKE ORANGE ZEST. We all know how zest of orange makes such a delicious difference in so many recipes. I like to freeze fresh zest for use later on. But Linda suggests we also dehydrate it. And by the way, whenever you dehydrate food, let the food product sit out for 5-7 days (minimum) after removing it from the dehydrator. This practice is called conditioning and it ensures everything is totally dry.
FREEZE OR DEHYDRATE PEELS AND ADD TO MARINADES. Citrus adds a lovely flavor to marinades and orange peels are an exceptional way to do this. They lend that perfect combination of sweet and savory.
FLAVOR YOUR TEA OR COFFEE. It’s a great alternative to sugar, especially if you’re looking for ways to avoid putting too much cream and sugar in these warm beverages.
DIP THEM IN SWEET CHOCOLATE. You’ll need to place the orange peels in the fridge for at least an hour beforehand to get them cold enough so that the chocolate sticks to them well. The chocolate citrus combo tastes magnificent. This recipe is from www.thefoodnetwork.com:
Chocolate Dipped Orange Peels
Ingredients:
3 large naval oranges
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 ounces dipping chocolate (available at bulk or baking supply stores)
Directions:
1. Using a paring knife or orange peeler, score the peel of the orange without cutting through the fruit by making 2 circular scores at the top and bottom of each orange, and then making 4 or 5 scores connecting the top and bottom circles. Peel away the skin of the orange carefully, and then cut these into ¼-inch strips.
2. Bring a pot of water up to a boil and drop in the orange peel. Simmer the peel for 1 minutes, then strain, discarding the water.
3. Refill the pot with 1½ cups of fresh water and add the sugar. Bring this up to a simmer then add the orange peel and simmer gently, uncovered, for about 20 minutes – the peel will look slightly translucent (but not completely). Remove the pot from the heat and cool the peel in the syrup to room temperature. Store the candied peel, refrigerated and in the syrup for up to a month
4. To dip the peel, first arrange slices of peel on a cooling rack over a baking tray to drain and dry for an hour. Melt the chocolate in a metal bowl placed over a pot or barely simmering water, stirring until smooth. Dip each candied peel piece halfway into the chocolate and place on a parchment-lined baking tray until set.
5. The chocolate dipped peel can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
2. Bring a pot of water up to a boil and drop in the orange peel. Simmer the peel for 1 minutes, then strain, discarding the water.
3. Refill the pot with 1½ cups of fresh water and add the sugar. Bring this up to a simmer then add the orange peel and simmer gently, uncovered, for about 20 minutes – the peel will look slightly translucent (but not completely). Remove the pot from the heat and cool the peel in the syrup to room temperature. Store the candied peel, refrigerated and in the syrup for up to a month
4. To dip the peel, first arrange slices of peel on a cooling rack over a baking tray to drain and dry for an hour. Melt the chocolate in a metal bowl placed over a pot or barely simmering water, stirring until smooth. Dip each candied peel piece halfway into the chocolate and place on a parchment-lined baking tray until set.
5. The chocolate dipped peel can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
MAKE A CHEMICAL-FREE CLEANING SOLUTION. Just combine vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle with chopped pieces of the orange peel. The cleaning solution will disinfect, get rid of dirt and stains, and leave a fantastic orange scent around the home.
KEEP YOUR GARBAGE DISPOSAL SMELLING FRESH. If your garbage disposal has an odor, add a few orange peels and a handful of ice cubes and let it run. They will get rid of any foul odors and leave it cleaner and smelling fresh again.
SCRUB YOUR POTS AND PANS. Who knew? It’s a well-kept secret that scrubbing a pot or pan with orange peeling will remove gunk without causing damage.
BOIL THEM AND FRESHEN THE AIR. Place them in a pot of water on your stove top; boil for several minutes. Pour the concoction into a spray bottle and then use it as an air freshener to naturally get rid of odors in the home. It’s safer to use than most air freshening products on the market, and it does its job of eliminating odors.
TURN THEM INTO KINDLING FOR YOUR FIREPLACE. If you have a fireplace, you may already know this trick. An orange peel with natural oils is a perfect fire starter or kindling. We Keep some in a box next to your fireplace and use them to help light a fire. Plus, they give off a light citrus smell that is lovely.
Alice Osborne
Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2006
Email the author! alice@dvo.com
