Dried orange peel adds a delightful citrus fragrance to a variety of recipes, including drinks, foods, and even homemade cleaning and beauty products.
As much as I love the incredible fragrance and flavor of oranges, I also hate to feel like I am wasting those gorgeous peels. Did you know that the peel of an orange actually contains more Vitamin C than the orange itself?
That’s right! There are so many health benefits to citrus fruits, far beyond simply eating those delicious wedges.
I’ve included fresh and dried oranges in a variety of recipes, including my Homemade Stovetop Potpourri, Cranberry Orange Bread, and even an incredible Mandarin Orange Cake.
You can even learn how to make an Orange Clove Sugar Scrub for the sweetest handmade gift for the holidays! Or check out this charming dried orange garland.
Today I thought it would be fun to discuss the benefits and uses of dried orange peels! It’s the best way to find a secondary use for this incredible citrus!
Why You’ll Love Dried Orange Peels
- No more waste – save your orange peels and find a secondary use for this amazing fruit.
- anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties
- Abundant Vitamin C
- Vibrant citrus flavor and scent
Ingredients
- Oranges – any kind will work but I generally do this with classic Navel oranges.
How to Make Dried Orange Peels
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
- Using a vegetable peel, apply pressure to the orange while rotating to create long strips.
- Slice into thin strips.
- On a parchment lined baking sheet, arrange peels in a single layer.
- Bake 30 minutes or until they slightly curl and harden.
- Remove and allow to cool.
Variations
To Zest
- Zest orange, follow instructions above, reducing bake time.
To Make Orange Peel Powder
- Take it one step further and make an orange peel powder. You’ll simply follow the directions as written, and then pulverize the dried peels in your food processor.
Recipe Tips
- Careful not to remove the white pith (it is bitter in taste).
- Cut into different shapes according to use. For example- smaller pieces of dried orange peels will work better in your tea infuser, but larger curls look lovely in a potpourri blend.
Recipe Short Cuts
- Use a potato peeler for quick and easy evenly sliced sections of peel.
- Line your baking sheets with parchment paper for easy clean up.
It’s so easy to infuse any tea with the flavor of orange peels! I like to use a tea infuser, and add small pieces of dried orange peels into the mesh. Simply infuse into your hot tea alongside your tea bag.
How to Store
- At Room Temperature – Place in a sealed jar or any resealable container in a cool, dark place for up to 12 months.
- Refrigerate – In an airtight container up to three months.
Note: dried orange peel kept at room temperature will not go bad when properly stored, it simply loses potency over time.
Uses for Dried Orange Peels
- Make a delicious tea
- Add it to a sugar scrub like this citrus scrub.
- Add to Bath Soaks
- Use for Stovetop Potpourri
- Add to Mulled Wine
- Mulled Cider
- Add to a marinade like this Crazy Good Carne Asada Recipe
- Infuse olive oil by adding dried orange strips to a bottle of olive oil for a week or two.
- Make an amazing homemade cleaner that is all-natural and works for everything, by simply adding your dried orange peels to a jar of white vinegar for a couple weeks.
- They make an amazing fire starter! Throw dried orange peels into your camp fire for an incredible, fragrant kindling.
- If you create a dried orange peel powder, you can add it to a variety of beauty treatments, including face masks, washes, exfoliating pastes, and more.
Dietary Considerations
- Gluten Free
- Dairy Free
- Nut Free
- Vegan
Love a homemade gift as much as I do? Don’t skip this Homemade Potpourri and my list of 40 Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas!
More Orange Recipes
Dried Orange Peel
Ingredients
- 3 oranges
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
- Using a vegetable peel, apply pressure to the orange while rotating to create long strips. Careful not to remove the white pith (it is bitter in taste).
- Slice into thin strips.
- On a parchment lined baking sheet, arrange peels in a single layer.
- Bake 30 minutes or until they slightly curl and harden.
- Remove and allow to cool.
Tips
To Make Dried Zest
Zest orange, follow instructions above, reducing bake time.To Store
- Room Temperature – In an airtight container in a dark, cool place for up to 12 months.
- Refrigerated – In an airtight container up to 3 months.
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
