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 zest is the top layer of 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 determines the beneficial properties of this product.

Top layer of peel:

• strengthens the immune system;
• relieves fear and stress;
• calms the nervous system;
• removes insomnia;
• normalizes the level of cholesterol in the blood;
• stimulates bile formation;
• reduces pressure;
• helps with diseases of the liver and heart;
• eliminates constipation;
• removes toxins and toxins from the body;
• has an antioxidant effect;
• helps with diseases of the throat and gums.

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 the nervous system and improve blood composition. Since it contains a lot of fiber and pectins, it is very useful for overweight people. 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 - a very useful product. First of all, it is necessary to use fresh fruits, since the skin of a stale product will quickly dry out and all the essential oils will evaporate.

And now the cooking process itself:

1. wash the fruits and scald with boiling water;
2. cut off the top layer of the peel with a sharp knife (it is important not to remove the white layer along with it);
3. dry the peel for 4 days, spreading it on paper in one layer;
4. then grind the finished peel and pack it in a container.

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.

Here is a recipe for lemon and orange peel jam.

You will need:

• oranges - 620 g;
• lemons - 140 g;
• sugar - 400 g;
• water - 280 ml;
• ginger root - 50 g.

Cooking:

1. remove the top layer of the skin from the lemon, cut the skin of the oranges as small as possible;
2. cut the fruit into slices, grate the ginger;
3. pour water into the bottom of an enameled pan, put an orange and sprinkle with some sugar;
4. then lay out the lemon zest and ginger;
5. sprinkle everything with some sugar and put the lemon and orange peel;
6. sprinkle with remaining sugar;
7. cook for about an hour, stirring.

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.

If you want to make jam with oranges and zest, try next recipe.

You will need:

• sugar - 350 g;
• oranges - 3 pieces;
• orange liqueur - 50 ml;
• lime juice - 50 g.

How to cook:

1. remove the zest from the oranges;
2. cut the fruit itself into slices;
3. cover them with sugar, add lime juice and leave for 12 hours;
4. then boil for half an hour;
5. leave the jam until the next day and cook again;
6. repeat the procedure 2 times;
7. then add liqueur and stir.

That is, to make jam, you just need to cook the mixture longer.

kerescan - Aug 1st, 2015

Useful properties and amazing aroma of lemon zest explain its popularity and widespread use in cooking. But here's how to remove the zest of a lemon and not every housewife knows correctly and easily. And cooking it at home is very simple. About cooking zest at home will be discussed in this recipe.

And so, healthy and fragrant lemon zest - how to make at home?

We start cooking the zest, of course, with the fact that my lemons are treated with boiling water. Processing with boiling water is needed in order to make it easier to remove the zest.

Next, dry and with a sharp knife cut off a thin top layer of yellow. A zest knife can be an ordinary one, or you can use the so-called universal knife for vegetables and fruits. then the top layer will be removed thinner. Remember that white flesh under a thin yellow layer is no longer considered zest.

Finely cut the cut layer of lemon, lay it out in a single layer on a flat surface and dry it in the air for 2-3 days, turning it over until it dries and becomes brittle.

Then, grind in a mill or crush in a mortar to a state of powder.

But you can remove the zest from a lemon in another way. We start cooking as described earlier, but after we dry the lemons, you just need to rub the thin yellow layer on a grater. In this case, you will have grated zest. Which only needs to be dried and put aside for storage.

We put dry lemon zest in glass jars and tightly close the lids. So it can be stored for a very long time in a closet or pantry.

As you can see, the recipe is very simple, and the preparation of the zest takes very little time.

Even in ancient times, people used lemon as a tool in the fight against colds, because it is a source of vitamin C and an indispensable assistant to immunity. Not everyone knows that this product can also have a beneficial effect on the body, which has been proven by doctors and homeopaths.

What it is?

Lemon peel is the surface layer of the yellow peel, containing a lot of essential oils located in glandular receptacles. It has almost no taste, looks bright and shiny, has a wonderful fresh fruity smell. Lemon zest can be added to baking dough, traditionally used to give a unique flavor to fish dishes, and can be used as a natural flavor for tea and mulled wine.

If lemons were transported and stored in accordance with special GOST 4429-82, the zest should be perfectly preserved, and throwing it away is simply blasphemy.

Benefit and harm

Consider the ratio of BJU per 100 grams of raw product:

• proteins - 1.5 g;
• fats - 0.3 g;
• carbohydrates - 5.4 g.

The calorie content of the product is only 47 kilocalories.

As can be seen from the previously presented information, eating lemon peel will not be able to cause much harm to the figure. And the taste and aroma of dishes becomes amazing when you add a pinch of this product. It helps to lose weight, as diet meals often lack flavor.

Citrus peel contains a substance that fights cancer cells. It's called salvestrol. For the prevention of oncology, it is necessary to take lemon zest regularly.

Vitamin C contained in the product is important for the body not only in terms of maintaining immunity. It is able to participate in the absorption of calcium. Thus, lemon peel, with regular use, helps to strengthen the skeleton and teeth.

The fragrant peel disinfects the mouth by killing pathogenic bacteria and helps eliminate bad breath.

The zest contains pectin. It is a useful polysaccharide. Once in the human body, it serves as an absorbent, absorbing all harmful substances, heavy metals and slags, which are then excreted naturally. Pectin increases the metabolic rate, breaks down fats, removes excess cholesterol, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. But it also has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal microflora and has an anti-inflammatory effect on the digestive tract. The substance is also used to make natural marshmallows and jelly.

The nutritional value of lemon peel is supplemented by the chemical composition: it includes selenium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, copper, sodium and potassium.

Potassium strengthens the heart muscle. Vitamin P contained in the zest can help people suffering from overeating and alcoholism. It removes decay products from the body. If you eat lemon zest after a heavy feast, you can get rid of a hangover and discomfort in the stomach.

If you use zest regularly, you can improve the condition of the skin and hair. Lemon peel contains antioxidants that have a beneficial effect on the tone and elasticity of the face. To prepare a vitamin tonic, you can brew the zest and use it for rubbing. This will get rid of excessive oily skin. The crushed peel is often used for a fragrant body scrub. To do this, the zest crumbs must be mixed with shower gel and applied to the entire body with massaging movements.

If you use lemon peel many times as a facial rub, you will notice another useful property: it whitens the face and is useful in the fight against unwanted freckles. And also lemon peel is used in dermatology. It is used as an antifungal homeopathic remedy.

To get rid of dry elbows and heels, you need to crush a lemon peel in your hand and rub problem areas with this remedy. If you do this regularly, you can forget about the problem in a month.

There are a lot of advantages for human health, but lemon zest is also used on the farm. To get rid of a strong smell from cooking or just to flavor the house, you can spread pieces of lemon peel everywhere. If the refrigerator and trash can smell bad, just place pieces of lemon peel in there. She absorbs the bad smell.

To get rid of limescale in the teapot, you can rub it with a piece of lemon peel. In the same way, it is easy to clean the microwave oven.

It is known that various insects are repelled by the aroma of citrus. You can put pieces of zest on the window so that mosquitoes and flies fly by.

To maintain optimal humidity in the apartment, you can place bowls of water and zest throughout the house.

Now many girls are engaged in making soap at home. By adding fragrant zest to the composition, you can count on an increase in demand for such handmade products.

The disadvantages of lemon peel include the fact that citrus fruits are usually contraindicated for people prone to allergies. And also lemon peel can cause an exacerbation of ulcers and gastritis, as it increases the acidity of the stomach. People who are not prone to these diseases should also be careful when using zest, a large amount of it will cause heartburn.

Lemon peel should not be used in its pure form for sore throat and sore throat, you can burn sensitive mucous membranes. For these reasons, it cannot be used in the event of dental diseases.

How to do?

Lemon peel must be thoroughly washed with hot water, it is advisable to clean it with a brush for washing vegetables. Now the whole lemon must be blotted with a paper towel and left to dry a little.

Zest is a capricious product, there are several ways to get it.

• With a kitchen knife. To do this, remove thin strips with a sharply ground object. After flavoring the dish, these strips are removed.
• Peeler - This method is suitable only for thick-skinned lemons.
• Using an ordinary fine grater: rub a lemon with it and get a crumbly crumb of zest.
• Cocktail zester. It will remove small spirals from the surface of the peel, which can be used to decorate baked goods or drinks.

Tips for peeling fresh zest:

• choose citrus fruits with a thick rind;
• refrigerate the lemon before preparing the zest;
• try to grind pieces of peel as much as possible to increase the evaporation surface of essential oils;
• if you often need lemon zest, store these fruits in the freezer, this will simplify the task of extracting it;
• try to use the zest immediately after removing it for the best result in flavoring dishes.

There is a lot of information about fresh zest. Often there are questions about how to properly prepare a lemon peel for future use.

The algorithm for making dried lemon peel:

• wash and dry the lemon thoroughly;
• cut the zest, trying not to touch the white layer, or grate it;
• spread the zest on parchment paper in a clean, cool room; it will dry out in a couple of days with occasional stirring;
• if there is no time to wait, you can send the chopped lemon peel to the oven for 1-2 hours at a temperature of 60 degrees.

What can be cooked?

Lemon peel can come in handy everywhere. But its use in cooking is especially popular.

There are various recipes for preparing zest as an independent dish.

Lemon peel in sugar

For cooking, you need to take 100 g of zest and 150-200 g of sugar. Lemons should be washed well with a brush and boiled for a minute in water. After that, remove the softened zest with a grater and grind it with sugar. After that, put in jars and cover with another layer of sugar. This mixture can be poured into dough, drinks, ice cream.

There is a popular combination of ginger, lemon and honey that has been helping people fight colds and increase vitality for many years.

More popular are several recipes for the joint preparation of such products.

Lemon candied fruits

This delicious dessert is very easy to make. To do this, you will need to make sugar syrup: boil a few tablespoons of water with sugar in a saucepan. With a decrease in the volume of water, candied fruits come out more crispy. After making the syrup, you need to lower the thinly sliced ​​\u200b\u200bzest of the lemon into it and cook them for about half an hour. After cooling this jam, the pieces must be removed and laid out on a foil or tray and sprinkled with powdered sugar. When the pieces are completely dry, they are best stored in a sealed glass container in the refrigerator.

Lemon curd puffs

For cooking, you will need ready-made puff yeast dough 500 g, cottage cheese 200 g, sugar - 150 g, zest of half a lemon. Cut the puff pastry squares into 4 pieces for a total of eight servings. Mix cottage cheese with sugar and lemon zest, you can add vanillin to taste. Put the curd mass in the middle of each square of dough and pinch along the edge. Place the prepared puffs on a non-stick baking sheet. Bake them according to the recipe on the package. Sprinkle with powdered sugar to decorate when serving.

Pancakes with citrus flavor

To prepare pancakes with a unique smell of lemon, add a little lemon peel to the dough according to your recipe. This will make them taste very spicy. You can also add zest to pancake sauces. For example, mix sour cream with sugar and zest to taste.

Fragrant muffins

Beat 3 eggs with 300 g of sugar with a mixer at medium speed. Prepare the zest of 1 lemon. Add 100 g butter, 200 g zest and sour cream. Sift 400 g flour, put a teaspoon of baking powder and add to the mixture. Pour the finished dough into cupcake molds greased with butter and bake for 20 minutes at a temperature of about 200 degrees.

Flavored zest pie

If guests suddenly come and they have nothing to serve, you can quickly prepare a biscuit cake with a delicious lemon flavor.

You will need: 4 eggs, 250 g of sugar and a glass of flour, butter so that the cake does not stick to the mold, baking powder and a pinch of lemon zest.

To make this quick pie, beat the eggs and sugar until fluffy, gently fold in the flour with a teaspoon of baking powder, then add the lemon zest and mix everything. Pour the mixture into the mold. Bake in the oven for thirty minutes at 200 degrees.

If desired, pineapples and apples can also be added to such a pie, and vanilla will help enhance the flavor of the zest.

lemon cake

For the cake you will need 6 eggs, 1.5-2 cups of sugar, 2 cups of flour. Beat sugar with eggs until thick foam, add flour and mix. Add baking powder for fluffy baking. This amount of finished mass is designed for 4 cakes. Bake them on a pre-greased baking sheet for 15-20 minutes. Once the pastry is cooked, let it cool down properly.

The cream consists of two glasses of sour cream, one glass of sugar and the zest of one lemon. Beat the chilled ingredients until fluffy and spread the cakes with cream. Leave the cake in the refrigerator overnight. Then it will be the most delicious.

Marinade for poultry meat

To make a fragrant marinade, you need to mix a quarter cup of vegetable oil, salt and pepper to taste, a few chopped garlic cloves, Italian herbs, and the zest of one lemon. The meat should be soaked with this composition for about a day at a temperature of about 4 degrees. As a result of this method of pickling, the meat is simply amazing.

Fish lemon marinade

To prepare it, you need to prepare: half a glass of lemon juice, one tablespoon of zest, chopped garlic clove, a pinch of ground black pepper, half a glass of wine. In such a marinade, the fish should be at least three hours. After insisting, the fish is baked in the oven or grilled. Such a marinade can also be useful for shrimp and other seafood.

Sauce for meat

Olive oil in the amount of half a glass is mixed with a glass of crushed sweet dates. Add a bunch of green onions chopped in a blender and a bunch of parsley. For softness of taste, it is desirable to add crushed pine nuts, literally a handful. Piquancy will add lemon zest about 4-5 tablespoons. Chopped hot peppers and favorite seasonings are placed in the total mass. Salt is added there to taste.

Beef Ragout with Lemon Flavor

To prepare this delicious dish, take a kilogram of beef tenderloin, a couple of Bulgarian peppers, two onions, carrots, potatoes - 1.5 kg, garlic - 1 head, lemon zest - 1 tablespoon, vegetable oil- two tablespoons, spices and salt at your discretion, dill and parsley.

Rinse beef and potatoes and cut into cubes convenient for you. Chop the onion, carrot and bell pepper and fry until half cooked. Prepare ceramic pots, put a mixture of cooked ingredients and spices with lemon zest in them. Cook in the oven for about two hours, checking from time to time. After cooking, divide the dish into portions and sprinkle with fresh herbs.

Tea for a surge of strength and vigor

Put in your favorite tea 3 tablespoons of grated ginger and 2 tablespoons of crushed lemon zest, in addition to this, throw in a sprig of mint, cinnamon and a few peas allspice. Pour it all with two liters of boiling water. When the tea is infused, add sugar or honey to it to taste.

Tea to relieve flu and cold symptoms

Ingredients: ginger root - 20 g, lemon peel - 20 g, honey - 30 g.

Cooking:

• peel the ginger and cut it into thin slices;
• grate the lemon zest on a fine grater;
• you need to brew your favorite tea (black or green) along with ginger and zest, then let the drink brew for several minutes;
• add honey to a warm drink (remember that the beneficial properties of honey are reduced to zero when added to boiling water).

Drink the drink three times a day and at night.

Hot tincture with lemon peel

The zest of three lemons is mixed with a crushed bunch of peppermint. This herbal mixture is added to a half-liter bottle of vodka and sealed securely. This mixture is infused for about a week, shaking 4 times a day. After the tincture has been prepared, it is necessary to strain it through a layer of gauze and sterile cotton wool. Store the tincture in a cool dry place.

How to save?

You can store the zest in three ways, which depend on the type of workpiece.

• Store dried zest in an airtight dry jar. After preparing the dry chopped lemon peel, it must be put in a container specially prepared for this. So the lemon zest will retain its unique aroma for a long time.
• The zest in sugar is also stored in a closed glass container, but this mixture is best stored in the refrigerator.
• Storing the zest in lemon juice at sub-zero temperatures. This method will help to prepare an exquisite sauce for meat or fish at any suitable time. You can grate the zest and arrange it in small molds and pour lemon juice on top - this is very convenient for further use.

For information on how to remove and store lemon zest, see the video below.