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Citrus peels can be used in myriad ways instead of simply tossing them out or composting them. In a household that consumes many oranges, lemons, grapefruit, tangelo, and other citrus, making use of the peels can save you money and produce some wonderful results. This article presents a few suggestions to get you started.
Steps
Which peel appeals?
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1Know your peel. There are many types of citrus, including orange, mandarin, kumquat, grapefruit, lemon, lime, pomelo, citron (citrus apple), tangerines, etc.
- Always wash the peel extremely well before use. If possible, prefer organic sources rather than those which have been sprayed, especially for any food or internal use. If you can't get organic fruit, use a very good fruit and vegetable scrub to remove chemical traces.
- See "Warnings" below for the possibility of dermatitis and allergic reactions to citrus peel.
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2Use kumquat peel.
- Use the peel of a kumquat to make marmalade. Just cook the chopped peel with sugar-water until it's like a syrup — use your favorite marmalade recipe.
Lemon peel
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1Use lemon peel. There are so many potential lemon peel uses that entire chapters in books have been devoted to it.
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2Here are some great ideas to get you started:
- Peel a lemon and use it to bathe yourself in the shower. It leaves your body and hair smelling fresh and clean.
- Infuse lemon peel in your tea to add a delicious lemony taste.
- Prepare fresh lemon peel
- Make candied lemon peel
- Make lemon brandy
- Citrus peels such as peel of lemon work well for roasting chicken. Put peel into the chicken and roast. You will find a great smelling and good tasting chicken.
- Lemon is often used as a cocktail garnish.
Cooking with peel
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1Use citrus peels for culinary endeavors or in the kitchen generally.There are lots of possibilities no matter the type of citrus peel:
- Use to flavor water. Add any citrus peels to a pitcher of water and put in the refrigerator. Now you can enjoy the taste of water even more.
- Use any type of citrus peel and candy it. It is very sweet and a great snack for the kids.
- Make marmalade, chutney, jam, and savory sauces using citrus peel.[2]
- Add a slice of citrus peel to brown sugar to stop the sugar from going hard.
- Use citrus peels of any kind to freshen up that smelly garbage disposal. All you have to do is cut up the peel and put it in the disposal.
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2Use mandarin peels for tea. Make sure you wash the mandarin before experimenting.
- Peel the skin off the mandarin.
- Pour 100 °C (212 °F) of boiling water into a cup until 3/4 of the cup is filled.
- Add in the mandarin peels and enjoy your lovely tea.
Household uses for peel
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1Use citrus peels in the house.
- Use as kindling. Any type of citrus peel makes a great kindling for your fireplace in the winter.
- Use dried citrus peels to freshen up that smelly sock or underwear drawer. It is best to place the peels inside a sachet first. A sachet is a small perfumed bag used to scent clothes.
- Use citrus peels for your bath. It will create a beautiful scent.
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2Use citrus peel in the garden.
- Compost your peels.
- Citrus peels can aid in cleaning burnt pots when applied with common salt. They can also remove any stains from porcelain pots. These are particularly known to brighten metal pots or any metallic thing for example your metallic staircase.[3] Citrus peel is a great addition to the compost pile. Just be sure to chop them a little to help them to degrade faster. You can use any of the peels to add to a compost pile. It will make the compost pile smell fresh and clean too. Just be aware that some people claim that the anti-bacterial nature of orange oil slows down decomposition,[4] while others don't find it has any impact at all and call this an "urban myth".[5] Be your own judge of whether or not there is an issue by observing!
- Use any of the citrus peels to keep cats from digging or using your garden as a litter box. Just peel the citrus and place around the garden to keep Fluffy away from your petunias.
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3Deodorize with citrus peel.
- Chew the peel. You can use preferably orange or lemon peels to make your breath smell great. Chew the peel for a little bit; you'll find it's a good substitute for mints and gum.
- Place any citrus peels in a pan of low simmering water to freshen up the house.
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4Use orange peels to remove tar from shoes
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5Grind the citrus peel into any smoothie. Enjoy the extra taste and benefits.
Community Q&A
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QuestionWill citrus peels help repel deer?Community AnswerYes, they will help to repel deer.
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QuestionIt is the peel of a lemon or orange bad for you?Community AnswerNo. If it's cleaned properly and not consumed in excess, it's a natural breath-freshener. Also, the white stuff between the skin and the fruit is good for intestinal health. You find it abundantly in grapefruit or pomelos.
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QuestionCan I use oven-dried orange peel as a fertilizer?Community AnswerNo, once you bake them you degrade their nutrients to almost nothing and they take a lot longer to compost.
Warnings
- If the peel has mold on it then throw it away. It's not worth getting you sick!⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Be aware! Some people can develop contact dermatitis from citrus peel. This condition can happen when peeling many oranges or having peel next to the mouth, and symptoms include a dermatitis rash and blisters, or irritation around the mouth, and even respiratory reactions.[13] If this is the case, you could handle the peel wearing gloves but if you know you are going to have respiratory reactions, then don't attempt the use the peels at all. If you notice any problems while cutting or using peel, seek advice from your doctor.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Just be aware that grapefruit can impact some medications. If you're taking medications, talk to your doctor before using the peel or its flesh.[14]⧼thumbs_response⧽
- It takes 1200 lemons to make 0.5kg of oil, so don't get your hopes up too much![15]⧼thumbs_response⧽
- The oil from lime can cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals.[16]⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You'll Need
- Citrus peel
- Peeler or knife
- Vegetable and fruit washing liquid or give non-organic citrus a thorough scrub with water
References
- ↑ Susanna Lyle, Discovering Fruit & Nuts, p. 130, (2006), ISBN 1-86953-621-5
- ↑ Susanna Lyle, Discovering Fruit & Nuts, p. 127, (2006), ISBN 1-86953-621-5
- ↑ http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55726985.tip.html
- ↑ http://www.users.on.net/~arachne/peels.html
- ↑ http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/soil/msg051129095367.html
- ↑ http://gomestic.com/homemaking/10-unique-uses-for-orange-peel/
- ↑ http://gomestic.com/homemaking/10-unique-uses-for-orange-peel/
- ↑ http://gomestic.com/homemaking/10-unique-uses-for-orange-peel/
- ↑ Susanna Lyle, Discovering Fruit & Nuts, p. 139, (2006), ISBN 1-86953-621-5
- ↑ http://www.users.on.net/~arachne/peels.html
- ↑ http://www.users.on.net/~arachne/peels.html
- ↑ http://gomestic.com/homemaking/10-unique-uses-for-orange-peel/
- ↑ Susanna Lyle, Discovering Fruit & Nuts, p. 142, (2006), ISBN 1-86953-621-5
- ↑ Susanna Lyle, Discovering Fruit & Nuts, p. 130, (2006), ISBN 1-86953-621-5
- ↑ Susanna Lyle, Discovering Fruit & Nuts, p. 134, (2006), ISBN 1-86953-621-5
- ↑ Susanna Lyle, Discovering Fruit & Nuts, p. 136, (2006), ISBN 1-86953-621-5