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. The peel of an orange actually contains more Vitamin C than the orange itself!
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.
Today I’m sharing 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.
Tips from my Test Kitchen
- Careful to trim on the colored part of the orange skin, so you avoid the bitter white pith. The peels will take longer to dry if the pith remains attached to the peel! Use a paring knife with a fine blade, or a sharp vegetable peeler.
- 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.
Uses for Dried Orange Peels
- Make a delicious tea – 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.
- 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.
Dried Orange Peel
Dried orange peel adds a delightful citrus fragrance to a variety of recipes, including drinks, foods, and even homemade cleaning and beauty products.
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 along with the peel as you take it off (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.
Julie’s Tips
- Careful to leave the white pith attached to the fruit (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.
To Make Dried Zest
Zest orange (vs peeling), follow instructions above, reducing bake time.Make Orange 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.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.
Calories: 31kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Potassium: 119mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 147IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
