What are Some Uses for Orange Peels?
During the earliest days of orange cultivation, orange peels were more prized than the often bitter fruit they protected. The essential oils extracted from orange peels were often used in medicines for indigestion and other maladies. Cooks during the Middle Ages were more likely to use dried orange peels as seasonings than to serve the fruit or the juice. It wasn’t until sweet oranges were introduced in Spain and Italy that the rest of the orange received any recognition. Even today, there are perhaps more uses for orange peels and the oils they contain than there are for the rest of the fruit. One use for orange peels is as a dried seasoning. Orange peels can be scraped across a specialized kitchen grater called a zester. The zester removes only the thin upper layer of orange peels, not the lighter colored pith. The grating action creates a pile of orange zest, which is usually left to dry overnight before being stored in airtight herb bottles. Orange zest is often used to enhance oth
