In winter, and in other seasons, we often eat citrus fruits. And having cleaned the pulp, carelessly throw away the peel. And in vain! After all, many cooking recipes- not only desserts, but also sauces, meat dishes, - include the use of lemon or orange zest. And she's not always available. In this article I will talk about five possibilities for using this product.
But first you need to learn how to make dried orange peel at home. There is nothing difficult in this, the whole process will take you a maximum of 5 minutes. There are two ways to do this, and both are extremely simple.
How is orange peel used?
For biscuits, citrus flavoring is often put, which normalizes the sweetness of the dessert with its acid. And this orange zest should be finely crushed. You can do this in a coffee grinder, but there is an easy way to prepare a product from a fresh fruit. What is the advantage of such an option? The fact that fresh zest retains a rich taste and aroma, while drying some of these useful qualities simply disappears. What to do in this case?
- Take one orange and wash it thoroughly. Farmers spray citrus orchards for pests, and vendors treat the fruits to keep them from spoiling. Therefore, wash thoroughly and under hot water.
- We take a grater with a fine grate and begin to cut the orange peel, cutting off its orange part.
- White, bitter, leave. That's it - you got a small portion of fresh orange zest.
Second way
I also wash my orange. But we arm ourselves not with a grater, but with a knife.
- Carefully, so as not to hurt the white part of the fruit, cut off the orange peel. You can do this with one continuous tape. By the way, such a spiral can be hung up and it will serve you for some time as ... an air freshener.
- But if you have other culinary views on the orange peel, we will continue to cook it. Line a baking sheet with cooking paper.
- We place the peel so that the pieces do not touch each other.
- Turn on the oven on the smallest fire, and also slightly open the door. The oven should be warm, but not hot. Put the tray in the oven.
- Keep an eye on the zest as often as possible. It should be dried, not baked.
- After 20 minutes or half an hour, the pieces will harden, and if they are large, then they will curl.
- They need to be cooled down gradually. room temperature and transfer to an airtight container for storage.
- Before using in dough or cream, the pieces can be ground in a coffee grinder into a powder.
Where to Use Orange Peel
In addition to desserts, this product can be put in marinades. Orange will impart sourness and sweetness to meat and fish. In this case, the zest must be crushed to the size of a rice grain. A whole strip can be poured with slightly warm olive oil and put in a dark place. After a week, you will have a flavored citrus dressing for salads.
Powdered zest can be mixed with herbs and seasonings such as rosemary or thyme. Such a collection will give an unusual taste to your dishes. Small pieces of zest can simply be thrown into tea - black or green.
In winter, in the midst of the citrus harvest, prepare yourself fragrant mulled wine. To do this, mix orange peel pieces, a cinnamon stick, a few clove buds and sugar. Pour hot wine over these Christmas spices and boil a little.
These fragrant sunny fruits are loved by many of us. We know that oranges are high in vitamin C and are therefore good for preventing colds and flu. But we know less about the zest of this fruit. It turns out that it is also very useful.
Health Benefits of Orange Peel
The peel is upper layer citrus fruits. That is, orange, tangerine, lemon, lime and others. In addition to vitamin C, the zest also contains A, P, B1 and B2, as well as the minerals phosphorus and calcium. This product is a source of flavonoids, solid fibers, photochemicals. This composition makes beneficial features this product.
Top layer of peel:
Due to the presence of phytoncides, orange peel has an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect. That is, it kills germs and relieves inflammation, relieves fever. Magnesium and calcium contained in this product, combined with B vitamins, strengthen nervous system and improve blood composition. Since it contains a lot of fiber and pectins, it is very useful for people with overweight. Flavonoids have a beneficial effect on blood vessels and the heart, improve the functioning of the heart muscle.
Essential oil, which is also obtained from the peels, has not only disinfectant, but also soothing properties. It should be used for neurosis, nervous tension and depression. And in cosmetology, oil is used for skin care. It nourishes and moisturizes, prevents the formation of wrinkles.
How to make orange peel
You can easily make zest from orange peels - very useful product. First of all, you need to use fresh fruits, since the skin of a stale product will dry out quickly and that's it. essential oils evaporate.
A very important question is how to remove the zest from an orange. We must approach this moment very carefully.
If you remove it along with the white film, it will have a bitter and unpleasant taste. It is for this that it is first recommended to scald the fruit with boiling water, then the upper layer will lag behind the lower one and it will be easy to remove it.
You can remove the top layer with a grater immediately after scalding. And after this procedure, already dry.
Rules for long-term storage
The best storage containers are glass jars, and the lids should close very well. Sealable foil-lined bags are also suitable. In such packages, essential oils are stored for a long time and do not fade. Therefore, a fragrant product will retain its smell for a long time.
It can also be stored in a tin can. The most important thing is that it is well corked. Otherwise, moisture will get into the container and the zest will deteriorate.
Where can it be applied?
It can be used to make delicious jams, fragrant pies, compotes, various teas and sauces, as well as various desserts and salads.
Lemon and orange peel jam
- oranges - 620 g;
- lemons - 140 g;
- sugar - 400 g;
- water - 280 ml;
- ginger root - 50 g.
You can make jam from some oranges and the top layer of their peel, you can add nuts, cinnamon, pears, apples. In any case, the jam will be delicious and very fragrant.
Jam from oranges and zest
- sugar - 350 g;
- oranges - 3 pieces;
- orange liqueur - 50 ml;
- lime juice - 50 g.
That is, to make jam, you just need to cook the mixture longer.
Do not throw away fragrant peels, do not deprive your body of the benefits that the substances contained in them can bring!
Add them to baked goods, desserts and drinks for a wonderful flavor.
Fragrant and sunny, orange peel is a magical natural spice that literally transforms many home cooking dishes. Pastries, desserts, ice cream, drinks - orange peel adds a characteristic aroma and appetizing color to them.
Undoubtedly, you can say, they say, why harvest orange zest for future use, if fresh citrus fruits are almost always on sale. Of course, you are right, my dears. But it is in this form that this fragrant spice will always be at your fingertips. It is stored for a long time and does not take up much space.
If you are still interested, I will tell you how to make orange zest in reserve. This is not even a recipe, but a little hint that will come in handy. In any case, I hope so. By the way, for this spice we need only the topmost layer of oranges. But from the pulp I advise you to definitely try to make a fragrant and very tasty orange jam. Just lick your fingers!
Ingredients:
Cooking step by step:
To make orange zest in reserve, we need fresh oranges.
Our fruits are always imported, so they are treated with all sorts of chemicals. Let's try to get rid of it. To do this, wash the fruit very carefully under hot water with the hard side of the sponge.
Then boil water, turn off the heat and put clean oranges in boiling water for a couple of minutes.
We dry the fruit with a napkin and remove the topmost layer to a white layer - this is the zest. The most convenient way is a vegetable peeler.
Now choose for yourself how you will dry the zest. At first I wanted to use a special dryer, but then I changed my mind and used the oven. We spread the zest on the parchment in one layer. Dry in a warm oven at 50 degrees for about 4 hours. You can dry the orange peel at room temperature, but it will take several days.
The zest will be ready when the pieces are brittle and completely dry.
Now grind the finished zest. To do this, use a coffee grinder. Choose the degree of grinding yourself.
In total, from 4 oranges, I got exactly 20 grams of dry chopped zest. This is about 2.5-3 tablespoons. Store it in an airtight container in a dry place.
Delicious homemade orange-flavoured meals!
Not every person knows how to make orange zest. Meanwhile, this desired product, and it is desirable to have some of it in the kitchen bins. If you need to use it, the zest will be within reach.
What it is?
Surely everyone knows what a bright sunny color an orange has, a cold yellow in a lemon and a languid green in a lime. The very top layer with a porous surface is called citrus peel. Let us clarify that the spice is precisely a thin colored layer. Many, not knowing how to make orange zest, may try to make it simply from the skin of the fruit. But this decision will be wrong. The zest of such a plan is of little use for consumption.
Where is this spice used?
Before making orange zest, let's find out the moments when it can be very useful. So, where is this citrus product needed:
- Orange zest can also be useful for dough. How to make a fragrant additive - we will definitely find out in today's article. The zest is well manifested in buns, rich pies. It is added during the preparation of cookies and muffins. This spice is used very often for cakes. Not only in the cakes can there be fragrant orange zest, but the cream for this dessert is flavored with it.
- Meat and fish dishes can also be prepared using aromatic additives.
- Wine and vodka products. Flavors based on the top layer of orange peel are used in liqueurs and not only. How to make orange zest, it will not be superfluous to know for lovers of self-made homemade tincture.
- Tea or coffee turns out delicious if you add a certain amount of fragrant peel, well-prepared, to the drink.
- The use of the product occurs not only in the culinary field. Home cosmetology - ample opportunities for preparing orange peel for future use. Also for momentary use in order to aromatize soap, scrub or caring emulsion containing a citrus component.
And now the instructions for making orange zest and a photo.
Express Supplement
This method is especially good when suddenly the recipe for creating a dish says: "add lemon or orange zest." We just take a fresh fruit and, after washing it, we try to take the thinnest top orange layer from it. It is logical to do this with the help of a special item that helps to qualitatively peel off the top layer from an orange. But what if suddenly you didn’t have such a knife, and the spice is needed this very minute? How to quickly make orange zest in this case? Use a regular grater. You need medium or small. Rub the washed fruit with an orange layer on the grater - and you're done. fragrant spice. You can add it to food.
Pure oranges are the key to a healthy product
It's easy to say that citrus fruits need to be washed before removing the thin top layer of the peel. But today the surface of fruits is often not processed very well. necessary for the body substances. Therefore, before taking the zest as a food additive or using it in the preparation of cosmetic care products, it must be completely freed from the applied substances.
First, thoroughly wash the fruit in very warm water. We use a hard washcloth at this point. Rubbing the surface of the fruits to be washed must be persistent, but without excessive fanaticism. Thus, dirt and possible technical pollution will come off the orange well.
Second important point in washing an orange will be - douse it with boiling water. One or two seconds is enough for the top layer of the orange fragrant skin to become more pliable for removal.
We complete the sanitization by blotting the orange with a thick paper towel or a clean kitchen towel.
Harvesting for the future
Fresh natural flavoring is, of course, wonderful. However, it is not always possible to use just such a seasoning. Here, a product prepared for the future is in a hurry to help. There are several ways to prepare orange peel for home use.
Powder
This zest is good if you need a natural dye. Often used in home soap making. In cooking, especially confectionery, the powder also showed itself well. It can be topped up during the preparation of cream for the cake. For the test, this method is simply gorgeous: the resulting orange pollen will harmoniously enter the general composition of buns or muffins.
Recipe for zest
You will hardly find the exact ratio of components in such instructions. Oranges are taken in any quantity. One or ten doesn't matter.
We wash the fruits according to the recipe described above in this article. In this case, you can remove the zest in any way. A grater, a special tool or an ordinary sharp knife - these devices will cope with the task.
We remove the peel very delicately. We capture the colored layer, the white layer of the skin remains on the fruit. If your orange peel has slightly captured the white subcutaneous layer, do not panic. A small amount of white skin will not bring tangible discomfort when using orange fragrant pollen.
So, before us appeared strips of orange color with a great fresh aroma. Dry these strips in any convenient way. For this purpose, a special dryer for fruits and vegetables is suitable, or you can use the oven. Temperature 50 degrees. Drying time 4 hours. We have a semi-finished product.
May not be used at all fast track and dry at room temperature. In this case, 4-5 days - and the semi-finished product is ready.
The final step will be grinding the dried peel. Here you can operate the coffee grinder. The powder is ready. We store it in a tightly screwed dark container in a dry place. Dishes with zest should be in the dark.
Peel in the form of shavings
This option is good for making drinks. You can add orange peel from the zest while brewing tea. Can be introduced as a flavoring agent for homemade tinctures.
My oranges. We clean the zest. Again, a grater or a knife - at your discretion. Now grind to the desired fraction. Dry as described above. We store dry zest in a glass container with a tightly closed lid. As soon as it is needed, we easily use the required amount.
Shelf life
It is better to use the resulting natural flavor and aroma additive within two to four months. This is the optimal shelf life. Too old zest loses color, aroma, taste and benefits, no matter how hard you try to prevent it. But, to be honest, before this time, there is a high probability that you will have to stock up on homemade orange zest again for future use.
Say what you like, but in winter oranges, tangerines and other citrus fruits are the most delicious and most fragrant. Juicy pulp can be eaten just like that, make a refreshing fresh juice and endlessly used in first and second courses. But what to do with the peel? I will say one thing, it is definitely not worth throwing it away.
orange peel
I remember when I was a child, my mother always cooked for New Year"Fantu" from orange peels. The taste, of course, the drink was bitter, but what a flavor! Citrus fruits were not sold in stores all year round, so we stocked up on peels for future use and dried them on a radiator.
But my mother did things differently. Carefully removed the zest from tangerines, oranges, lemons and dried in a towel. Then I ground it into powder and put it in a glass jar. And all year long she surprised us with fragrant pastries!
©DepositPhotos
Today " So simple!" will tell you why citrus zest is the best flavoring. It's magical natural spice that transforms any dish. To verify this, use citrus powder for desserts and hot drinks. How to cook it correctly - read our article. And at the end of the article, see the recipe for a sweet preparation for liqueurs.
Recipe for zest for dry spice simple. You will need quality fruit and a little patience. Wash fruit thoroughly before use, preferably with a brush. Mandarin peels can be dried whole. From oranges, lemons, limes - it is better to remove a thin layer with a vegetable peeler, trying not to touch the white part, otherwise the spice will be bitter.
©DepositPhotos
How to make citrus powder
In the orange season, try to prepare a blank for long-term storage. Peel the zest from the fruit with a fine grater, mix with powdered sugar or sugar in a ratio of 1: 2 and refrigerate for 48 hours. Use as needed for desserts, tea, coffee or liquor.
orange liqueur
Cooking
We, without hesitation, completely undeservedly send the peel of an orange to the trash can. But, starting from a cleaning agent and ending with a body scrub.
2019-12-11 6 Print
What is it
How to cook
How to store
Is it good for health?
Where is used
cooking
Turkish tea
Candied fruit
Cosmetics
milk scrub
Hair conditioner
honey mask
Bath product
Treatment
Other uses
Summary
We are accustomed to eating oranges and throwing away their peel. However, they make a very useful ingredient - orange peel. We will tell you what it is and how to use it in the household.
What is it
Orange peel is the bright orange top layer of the fruit's rind. It has a characteristic citrus smell due to the high content of essential oils. The taste of zest can be described as sweet and tart with slight bitter nuances. The white part of the peel, located under the orange, is no longer considered zest and has no practical value due to an unpleasant bitter taste.
How to cook
Wash the fruit thoroughly before making orange zest. The skin of citrus fruits is porous and easily gets dirty because of this. Therefore, it is recommended not only to rinse the fruits under water, but to rub them well with a sponge or brush of medium hardness.
To make it easier to get orange peels, you need to pour boiling water over the fruits. You can remove the zest with a special or ordinary sharp knife made of metal or ceramic, as well as with a fine grater.
You can eat orange peel fresh, and if necessary, it can be stored for a long time in one of the following ways:
- Drying. On average, it takes 5-7 days, but the exact period depends on the temperature and humidity in the room.
- Candied. One part of the zest is mixed with two parts of sugar.
We will answer frequently asked question: Are children allowed to eat citrus peel? Yes, but in small amounts to avoid allergies.
How to store
Dry orange zest can be kept in jars with well-fitting lids or in tight foil-lined bags. It is allowed to store them in any dark and dry place, a refrigerator is not required at all.
But if you decide to make zest with sugar, then it is advisable to keep it in the cold. As an alternative to a refrigerator, a cellar or pantry on an unheated balcony in winter is suitable.
Is it good for health?
The benefits and harms of orange peel depend on the volume of its consumption and the state of human health. In general, citrus peel has a beneficial effect on the body, both for internal and external use.
- Cosmetologists recommend using it as part of homemade masks and scrubs to combat fine wrinkles and other age-related changes, as well as brighten the skin of the face and remove pigmentation.
- The use of orange peel in food allows you to unload the liver, increase immunity and help in the treatment of colds, normalize digestion and acidity of the gastrointestinal tract, and maintain the water-salt balance in order. Dishes with lemon peel can improve the overall emotional state of a person, cheer up and help relieve stress and fatigue.
How great the benefits of orange peel are, so great is its harm to people with individual citrus intolerance. In them, its use can lead to a runny nose, sneezing, rashes, and other allergy symptoms.
People without orange peel intolerance have nothing to fear, for them the benefits far exceed possible harm. If you use citrus peels and dishes containing them in moderation, no unpleasant reactions of the body will follow. It is worth overeating the zest, and rashes on the skin are not excluded, but they quickly pass without consequences.
Where is used
Consider the main areas where orange peel is used most often.
cooking
One of the most common uses for zest is cooking. The unique taste and aroma of this ingredient blends perfectly with a large number of the most different products. They pleasantly complement meat or fish, are perfect for desserts and pastries, enhance the tonic effect of tea or coffee.
The use of zest is not limited to this. They make a delicious filling for cakes from it, mixing it in crushed form with cream, moonshine, liqueurs, cookies and jams are made on its basis ... It is difficult to find a field of cooking where citrus zest would not be used.
Here are a couple of examples of recipes that are based on it.
Turkish tea
Do you want to give the usual tea flavor of the East? There is nothing easier - you will need an orange peel and a few simple ingredients.
- Pour a liter of water into a saucepan or small saucepan.
- Add the prepared orange zest to taste, as well as a little pepper, cloves and a cinnamon stick.
- Cover and bring to a boil over medium heat.
- When everything starts to boil, toss some ginger and dried apples into the mixture. Continue to cook, covered with a lid, but already on low heat. Approximately five minutes is enough.
- Throw in some mint to your liking, then turn off the heat, cover the saucepan or saucepan with a lid, and let it steep for a few minutes.
Candied fruit
One of the simple but popular dishes. Delicious, bright, flavorful. Here's how to make candied orange peel or other citrus peels:
- Take 300 grams of zest and place it in a saucepan.
- Pour in water so that it covers the entire zest, then add a little salt and put on fire. Bring to a boil and simmer for approximately 10 minutes.
- After that, drain the water, rinse the zest under cool running water, then refill with water with a little salt added and repeat the boiling and rinsing procedure. Then all this will need to be repeated at least one more time.
- After that, fold the zest into a colander and let the liquid drain.
- We take a small saucepan and combine a glass of sugar with a glass of water. Heat until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- We place the zest in the boiling syrup and cook until the liquid has completely evaporated. Note that this should take about half an hour.
- After that add some lemon juice for taste.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and then spread the zest evenly on it. After that, you need to dry it. You can just leave it for a couple of days at room temperature, or you can dry it for three hours in a warm oven. But do not overdry, so that the candied fruits do not harden.
After that, be sure to store the candied orange peels in a dark and dry place in an airtight container.
Cosmetics
Orange peel makes excellent products for whitening and rejuvenating the skin, improving hair at home. Here are some recipes.
milk scrub
This scrub has a mild exfoliating effect and does not injure the skin. To prepare it, finely chopped zest is mixed with fatty sour cream or thick natural yogurt. Next, the resulting substance is applied to the pre-steamed skin of the face and body with massage movements, left for 10-15 minutes and washed off. After a shower, it is advisable to use a nourishing cream.
Hair conditioner
The conditioner gives hair shine and shine, facilitates combing. The recipe is simple: fresh or dried citrus peel is poured with boiling water in the proportion of 1-2 tablespoons per glass of water. The mixture is allowed to infuse and cool for 3-5 hours, then filtered and rinsed with hair after shampoo and conditioner.
honey mask
Useful properties of the product: alignment of complexion and effective cleaning of pores. Honey and zest are mixed in equal proportions and applied to the face with gentle massaging movements. Wait 8-10 minutes, then wash off the product with warm water, then apply a light moisturizer.
Bath product
Fresh or dried orange peel is poured with boiling water in the proportion of 1-2 cups of zest per liter of water. Then the mixture is cooled and filtered, half a glass of sea salt and honey or olive oil are added, plus, if desired, a few drops of your favorite essential oil. The resulting liquid is poured into the bath.
Treatment
Zest is part of many traditional medicine recipes. Here is what is useful for a person orange peel specifically:
- A potion from the zest will relieve heartburn. How to cook it: mix a tablespoon of orange peel and licorice root with a liter of water, boil, cool and add honey to taste. It should be taken 2-3 times a day shortly before meals for a month.
- Candied orange peel is an excellent remedy for dry cough. The product soothes the mucous membranes and promotes the separation of sputum
- A decoction of the peel will help improve appetite and normalize digestion. Zest is also useful for rinsing in the treatment and prevention of oral diseases. Recipe: 2-3 tablespoons per liter of boiling water.
- Inhalations with a hot decoction of zest, orange leaves and eucalyptus will help with colds to relieve nasal congestion and alleviate the general condition.
Other uses
The list of things you can do at home with orange peel is not limited to medicines, cosmetics and food. What does it mean? And the fact that it is applicable even as an alternative to household chemicals. It contributes to the effective removal of plaque, rust stains, scale in the kettle and other utensils.
To prepare a cleaning agent, carefully crushed or ground citrus peel is mixed with water to a thick slurry, optionally salt and / or soda are added and applied to the contamination. Then wait 5-10 minutes and remove the dried paste with a cloth, then rinse the treated area with running water.
Summary
Now you know what orange peel is, and also what orange peel benefit and harm. Remember that this useful household ingredient is quick and easy to prepare, and then it will come in handy for cooking, face and body skin care, and even for treatment.
You can hear a lot about the beneficial and harmful properties of orange peel. interesting information. It is used as an aid in folk medicine in the treatment of certain diseases, as well as in cooking - as a spice in the preparation of various dishes. However, eating a large number zest can cause serious harm to the human body.
What does it represent?
Zest is commonly referred to as the bright orange peel of an orange, which has a pleasant, slightly tart aroma. The structure of the skin contains small pores with a large amount of essential oils, which provide an unforgettable citrus smell. The taste of orange peel is bittersweet, sometimes slightly sugary.
Under a bright orange layer is a thin white skin. This layer is practically not used in cooking and traditional medicine, as it has a bitter taste.
Benefit and harm
There are many useful properties of orange peel and you can talk about them for a long time, but there is nothing special to say about the harmful ones. Since the harm is allergic reaction body when eating the zest. In addition, orange peel should not be consumed in unlimited quantities. Perhaps, harmful properties zest on this and ended.
Now let's look at the beneficial properties of orange peel.
- Many people use orange peel as an aid in the treatment of certain diseases. The peel contains great amount useful substances that help the body to mobilize hidden possibilities and promote rapid recovery.
- Orange peel is often recommended to lower blood cholesterol levels. It contains very effective substances - flavonoids and antioxidants. Due to the content of a large amount of these elements, the zest perfectly cleanses the blood of various harmful substances, helps to reduce the risk of exacerbation of hypertension, the likelihood of a heart attack and stroke.
- Due to certain alkaline compounds, orange peel is excellent for heartburn by lowering the acidity level in a person's stomach. The best option for using zest in this case is to add it to tea or smoothies. This will help maintain the acid-base balance at the proper level. If you have problems with the digestive system, you should pay special attention to the orange peel. By using it regularly, you can significantly alleviate the symptoms, and in the future, cure the disease.
- Orange zest is great for a variety of bowel problems. According to scientists, the peel of an orange contains the necessary and useful for digestive system fiber, which helps the work of not only the stomach, but also the intestines. The systematic use of zest will ensure proper absorption of food, help to improve the functioning of the intestines.
- It is no secret that citrus fruits contain a large amount of vitamin C, but most of all it is in the peel. In the treatment of various colds, orange peel is a reliable and proven assistant. The systematic use of orange peel in food will help strengthen the immune system. Various beneficial substances contained in the peel help to slow down the reproduction of various viruses and bacteria in the human body, strengthen protection and increase resistance to diseases. Peel is especially useful in autumn and winter, as a prevention of various diseases.
- Orange peel helps to significantly improve the condition of a person's teeth. This is due to the presence of essential oils in the composition of the peel, due to which resistance to the harmful effects of plaque increases. Many dentists advise people with tooth sensitivity to chew orange peel regularly. This helps to eliminate pain symptoms, reduces hypersensitivity of the teeth, provides fresh breath, significantly reduces the number of bacteria, and helps to get rid of yellow plaque.
- Regular consumption of orange peel helps cleanse the body, and this leads to weight loss. This is due to the content of fiber in the peel. The zest should be consumed in the form of infusions, as well as adding it to various dishes.
- Careful skin care. Regularly rubbing the skin with a properly prepared infusion of orange peel, you can significantly reduce the number of acne, sun spots, various burns, and so on. This is due to the high content of vitamin C in the peel. In addition, orange peel will help eliminate some of the signs of skin aging.
- With respiratory infectious diseases be sure to eat an orange, and also inhale the aroma of its skin. Orange peel spread throughout the room absorbs unpleasant odors for you, and also fights germs.
- The essential oil squeezed from the skin of an orange not only actively stimulates the immune system, but also has a calming effect on a person, helping to fight insomnia and stress.
How to cook?
Orange peel is a valuable universal component that is used not only in traditional medicine, but also in cooking when preparing various dishes, such as chocolate, cakes, rolls, ice cream, and so on. Any housewife who practices baking and various desserts knows perfectly well how to properly prepare orange zest, remove natural bitterness and stock up on this most useful product.
First, wash the citruses thoroughly. This is very important, as fruits are often treated with special chemicals for longer storage, which must be thoroughly washed off. Therefore, first you should rinse the fruits under running water. Then, in warm water with a sponge, carefully rub each fruit. This will help remove dirt and harmful substances from the peel.
To remove the peel, you will need an ordinary kitchen knife, only a very sharp or fine grater or a vegetable peeler. It is necessary to remove the upper bright orange layer of the peel from the fruit. Gently rub the citrus or cut off the peel with a knife. The resulting large pieces of peel must be carefully crushed.
A very simple way to store orange peel in reserve is dried peel. The most suitable for this harvesting method are large pieces of peel, cut with a knife or vegetable peeler. When rubbed on a fine grater, most of the essential oils contained in the peel are lost. Therefore, in order to preserve the bright orange flavor, you should use the first method of peeling citrus.
Next, the pieces of peel must be placed in an even layer on a clean, dry cloth or paper napkin, covered with a cloth and left to dry for several days. Every day you need to gently turn the peel. This is necessary for uniform drying of the zest.
After the peel becomes dry and brittle, it must be ground with a regular coffee grinder into a fine powder. Then carefully pour the crushed zest into a clean, dry container and tightly cork with a lid. If necessary, remove the desired amount of zest from the jar and close it again tightly with a lid.
An excellent option for harvesting orange peel for future use is candied. To do this, you need granulated sugar and orange peel grated on a fine grater in a ratio of two to one. In a clean, dry container, the necessary ingredients are thoroughly mixed in these proportions. Next, the resulting mixture should be carefully transferred to a jar, shake well again and tightly cork. Keep the container with candied zest in a cool place, for example, in the refrigerator.
This option for preparing orange peel is especially popular with children. The delicacy is tasty, sweet and very healthy.
Use in cooking
It is hard to imagine the process of preparing numerous dishes without the addition of fragrant orange zest, especially desserts and chocolate. Cakes and rolls, cakes and muffins, pies and cookies - you can endlessly continue the list of delicate, delicious pastries with the addition of zest. It gives dishes a special refined and original taste, favorably emphasizes the taste qualities of the products used for cooking.
Many cooks use the peel of fragrant citruses as a spice when preparing not only pastries and desserts, but also adding it to fish and meat dishes. In addition, this fragrant spice is also successfully used to prepare various alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Experienced chefs and housewives cook fragrant, delicious preserves, jams and marmalades from citrus peel.
In the early morning, a cup of fragrant tea or coffee with the addition of a small amount of orange peel will help you get a charge of vivacity and strength. It gives drinks a special subtle and unique flavor, significantly enhances their tonic properties. This drink can also surprise your guests.
Cosmetology
The peel of oranges is also successfully used in cosmetology. It is used as an additional component in the manufacture of various masks, face and body scrubs. The beneficial substances contained in the citrus peel have a beneficial effect on the skin, help smooth out fine wrinkles, refresh the color, and significantly improve the condition of the skin. cook cosmetical tools with the addition of orange zest, you can do it yourself, at home, or purchase it at specialized outlets.
Regular bathing with citrus zest will not only help relieve stress, but also have a beneficial, tonic effect on the skin. To do this, you need to dry and powder the peel of citrus fruits, then add a little olive oil and leave the mixture to stand for a while. After about an hour, the resulting oil should be poured into water and you can take a bath. For a one-time procedure, you need the zest from three oranges.
It is necessary to note other, no less useful properties of citrus peel. Experienced and diligent housewives have found other uses for orange peel in everyday life: they use the peel to repel various insects. In addition, citrus peel will help get rid of plaque on metal products and parts, as well as prevent the appearance of foreign odors in household appliances.
The taste and useful properties of orange peel are undeniable, while preparing a healthy product that will take care of the health and beauty of the body with your own hands at home is not so difficult, any, even an inexperienced hostess, can handle it. From all of the above, the conclusion suggests itself - before throwing an orange peel in the trash, you need to think a thousand times.
See below for tips on using orange peel.
Kira Stoletova
Orange peel has numerous beneficial properties, due to which it is widely used in traditional medicine and cooking, but when consumed in unlimited quantities, it can harm the body.
What is zest
Orange peel is an orange citrus peel that has a rich aroma. It has small pores containing essential oils that give the citrus its scent. Orange peel has a bitter-sweet taste, in some cases sugary.
For the first time, citrus peel was used as food in France.
The composition of the zest and its benefits
Calorie content of orange peel - 97 kcal.
Energy value per 100 g of product:
- 1.5 g proteins,
- 0.2 g fat,
- 14.4 g of carbohydrates.
Nutritional value per 100 g of product:
- 0.024 g saturated fatty acids,
- up to 72.5 g of water,
- 0.8 g ash,
- up to 40.6 g of dietary fiber.
Vitamins:
- 0.9 mg niacin equivalent
- 0.25 mg tocopherol,
- 136 mg ascorbic acid,
- 30 mcg folic acid,
- 0.17 6 mg pyridoxine,
- 0.49 mg pantothenic acid,
- 0.09 mg riboflavin,
- 0.12 mg thiamine,
- 21 mcg retinol equivalent.
Minerals:
- 1 mcg selenium,
- 92 mg copper
- 0.25 mg zinc,
- 0.8 mg iron,
- 21 mg phosphorus,
- 212 mg potassium,
- 3 mg sodium
- 22 mg magnesium
- 161 mg calcium.
Useful properties of orange peel are associated with its rich chemical composition:
- pectin helps to improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract,
- phytoncides act as natural antibiotics,
- hesperidin is a lipid-absorbing substance that leads to an acceleration of fat burning processes and allows you to regulate weight,
- ascorbic acid in an increased amount helps prevent the risk of developing arthritis and arthrosis, provides the body with calcium and strengthens the skeletal system,
- antioxidants prevent the formation of cancer cells,
- essential oils have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
Dried citrus peel is beneficial when consumed regularly. It provides a normal level of sugar for the body and has a slight choleretic effect. It facilitates the work of the liver, has cleansing properties, regulates the water-salt balance and prevents swelling.
Harm from orange peel
When exceeding the recommended consumption rates, citrus peel is harmful to health, especially with an allergic reaction to oranges. The product is prohibited for people with a history of intestinal disorders, stomach ulcers or gastritis.
How to get zest
For self-preparation of zest at home, washed oranges are required. It is received like this:
- removed from the fetus with a special knife for peeling vegetables,
- rubbed on a grater
- cut with a simple kitchen knife.
The peel is cut to the white layer located under it, which has a bitter aftertaste. It must not be allowed to fall into the seasoning.
The peel removed from the citrus, if necessary, is additionally crushed and used immediately or dried for subsequent use. For this:
- Line a baking sheet or tray with parchment paper
- spread the cut crust in a thin layer, evenly distributing,
- for 2-3 days leave in a dry place with good ventilation.
The peel removed from a ripe orange, after drying, retains bright color, and the aroma from it becomes more saturated. When a white, bitter layer remains on the zest, it turns brown after drying.
Practical use
Orange peel has found wide domestic use.
cooking
In culinary business, orange peel is used as a spice that gives desserts and pastries an original taste. It is also used in the preparation of dishes from meat, chicken and fish, in the production of alcoholic beverages. Also confitures and jams are cooked from it.
Orange peel is added as one of the additional ingredients when brewing tea and coffee, giving drinks a delicate aroma and enhancing their tonic properties.
ethnoscience
Traditional medicine widely uses citrus peels.
- The oils contained in the peel are effective tool against diseases of the oral cavity, therefore infusions with it are used for preventive and therapeutic rinses.
- Orange peel is used against a cold cough, dissolving the mucus formed in the respiratory tract.
- For ARVI diseases, dried peels are laid out indoors as an aromatherapy agent. This helps to boost immunity.
- Citrus has sedative properties and is beneficial for insomnia and depression.
- The use of citrus peel helps to get rid of attacks of heartburn and nausea.
- Orange peel, brewed in boiling water and infused for 10-15 minutes, promotes weight loss, activates metabolic processes in organism.
Cosmetology
Orange peel is an active ingredient in masks and scrubs in the fight against fine wrinkles, gives the skin of the face and neck a fresh look.
Conclusion
Orange zest has a delicate aftertaste, rich aroma and rich chemical composition, thanks to which it has found wide application in cooking, traditional medicine and cosmetology. Making the product is easy at home. When used within allowable norms orange peel benefits health.