Orange peel, known to cooks as orange zest, is a versatile seasoning with nearly limitless uses in cooking and baking. Practically any food that supports an orange or citrus flavor can be seasoned with orange zest. The key to cooking with orange peel is to use finely grated rind just from the surface of the orange, and none of the bitter white pith beneath it. Although many companies sell dried orange-peel seasoning, it's more flavorful when it's fresh, and you can easily make your own fresh or dried orange zest at home much more cheaply.
Step 1
Remove any stickers from an orange, rinse it off under cool water and thoroughly dry it with a clean paper towel. Use a citrus zester or a medium-fine grater to shred off the outermost layer of the orange's peel, and you have a pile or fresh orange zest seasoning. Expect about 2 tbsp. of orange zest from one large orange.
Step 2
Add orange zest to red and white wine-based sauces to give them a slight citrus aroma and flavor. Put 1 tsp. of grated peel into your pan while reducing the wine. Include the juice of the zested orange for a more potent orange flavor.
Step 3
Mix the zest from one orange into marinades and dry rubs for beef, pork, poultry or lamb to impart a tangy flavor into the meat. Sprinkle the zest directly onto these foods for the last hour of roasting, or while you are frying them.
Step 4
Finish fish or rice dishes with a light topping of orange zest. Add color and flavor to servings of vegetables the same way.
Step 5
Include 1 to 2 tbsp. of orange peel in the batter or dough of baked goods. Add it to muffins, breads, cakes, cheesecakes, scones, cookies and any other baked items that are complemented by an orange flavor. Put it into baked goods made with other fruits for a particularly good match. Sprinkle orange zest into pie fillings, as well.
Tips and Warnings
- Store leftover orange peel by drying it and keeping it in an airtight container. Spread the zest over a piece of aluminum foil and put it into the oven without preheating it. Set the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the zest after about half an hour and use a spatula to flip it. Return the zest to the oven for another half hour. See if it's completely dry, and keep it in the oven a bit longer as needed. Allow it to cool before putting it away. Another option for storing orange peel is freezing it. Squeeze the juice from your zested orange into an ice-cube tray compartment or two. Put the zest into the juice and freeze it. Toss the frozen orange juice cubes with zest right into a pot or pan as a flavoring agent for cooking.
Things You'll Need
- Paper towel
- Zester or grater
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