Make Your Own Dried Orange Peel
Dried orange peel makes a delicious, piquant addition to a wide variety of both savory and sweet dishes, and it's really easy to make your own at home.
Just peel an orange or two, (preferably organic) as you normally would for eating, trying to keep the pieces of peel as large as possible.
Lay them skin side down on a cutting board, and with a sharp knife at about a 10° angle to the board, shave away the interior pith until you can see the bright orange of the exterior peel.
It's very important to remove as much of the pith as you can because it imparts a bitter flavor.
Once the pith is gone, you can slice the peel into thin, short strips to prepare for drying.
Spread the strips in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and put them in a 250 F oven until you see them start to curl - 15 to 25 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let them cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This method works with lemon peel too.
Suggestion: Throw a few strips of your dried peel into the coffee grinder with your beans for a deliciously flavored after-dinner coffee (it can't hurt to add a splash of Grand Marnier to go with it either).
From MyGourmetConnection How To Cook ~ Cooking Tips
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I was looking at the recipe for the Hawaiian Oxtail Soup and found one of the ingrediants to be "dried orange peel (zest, not the pith)". I didn't know what they were talking about but now know after reading your excellent explanation. I never thought that some spicies had to be made and not just bought.
Thank you very much.
Cliff
(1)Posted by: Cliff Sasaki | Reply
I just leave my peels on a plate to dry; it usually takes less than 24 hours.
(2)Posted by: Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy | Reply
Great idea, I love using all the parts of the fruit! Will try this on my next citrus peels!
(3)Posted by: Fruit Carving | Reply
I'm a culinary student practicing cutting orange supremes. It seemed like a shame to slice up a dozen oranges and not use the zest. This is exactly what I was looking for :)
(4)Posted by: Ayrek | Reply
I zest all my citrus...before I juice the fruit...then dehydrate the zest in my dehydrator for 4-6 hours at low power...herb setting. Dries completely and can then be 'crushed' into a near powder form and kept in a re-purposed spice bottle...always on hand...
(5)Posted by: track mccreary | Reply