Buzz
Peeling an orange is not as hard as it seems; with a bit of guidance and some practice, you can easily do it. In fact, after reading this article, you'll be familiar with several popular methods for peeling an orange!
Steps
Using Your Hands
Select a delicious orange. The ripeness of the orange plays a significant role in how easy it is to peel. To pick the perfect orange for practice, look for one that is brightly colored, firm to the touch, and heavy for its size.
- Avoid older oranges with wrinkled and discolored skin, as they are harder to peel and less tasty.
- Oranges that are still slightly green or pale in color may not be fully ripe and can be difficult to peel because the skin clings tightly to the flesh.
Roll the orange. This step is entirely optional, but some people believe rolling the orange before peeling makes it easier to peel and juicier! To roll the orange, place it on a flat surface and press your palm gently on top. Roll it back and forth for about 10-15 seconds. Avoid pressing too hard to prevent bruising the fruit!
Hold the orange in one hand and use your fingernail to pierce the peel. Aim to pierce near the top or bottom rather than the middle. This is because the peel around the middle is thinner and clings tighter to the flesh. The peel at the top is usually thicker and looser, making it easier to remove without breaking.
- Some people prefer using their fingernail for the initial puncture, but this can leave peel residue under the nail.
- Keeping your thumbnail slightly longer than the others can make peeling oranges easier.
Slide your fingernail under the peel. Push your fingernail beneath the peel until you can grip it. Try not to puncture the flesh, as this can cause juice to squirt out and make your hands sticky!
- Hold the orange over a plate in case your nail pierces the flesh. This makes cleanup easier after peeling. You can also use a sheet of paper instead of a plate.
Gently tear off a section of the peel. The larger the initial tear, the faster you can peel the orange. You can peel from top to bottom or around the middle, depending on your preference.
Tear off another section of the peel, starting at the edge. Peeling becomes much easier once a section has already been removed.
- With practice, you can peel the entire orange in one continuous motion. To do this, tear the peel in a spiral around the orange until only the flesh and a coiled strip of peel remain, resembling a snake!
Continue until the entire orange peel is removed.
Discard the orange peel or use it for compost.
Enjoy the orange once it's fully peeled!
Using a Knife
Find a sharp knife. You don’t need a large knife, just one with a pointed tip.
Insert the knife tip into the top of the orange. First, make a horizontal cut across the top, then rotate the orange in your hand while using the knife to peel it in a continuous motion.
Continue peeling the orange in a circular motion. Keep the blade facing toward you as you remove the peel evenly and steadily with gentle sawing motions. The peel will come off in a continuous spiral strip, about 2 cm wide. Don’t worry if you cut into the flesh occasionally, as you’ll improve with practice.
Alternatively, you can make a vertical cut into the orange peel. Once this cut is made, you can use your fingers to peel the skin off easily. Just ensure you don’t cut too deep into the flesh, or the juice will squirt everywhere!
Using a Spoon
Roll the orange. Use your palm to roll the orange on a flat surface for about ten seconds to loosen the peel.
Make a cut. Use a sharp knife to create a vertical incision about 2-4 cm long along one side of the orange. Aim to cut through the entire thickness of the peel without touching the flesh.
Insert the spoon under the peel. Slide a dessert spoon beneath the orange peel at the location of the cut. Continue using the spoon to scrape around the orange, separating the peel from the fruit.
Tips
- Once you’ve mastered peeling, try removing the entire peel in one piece to create a flower-like shape. Start by making a cut at the top of the orange, slicing downward but leaving about 1.5 cm at the base. Repeat this on the opposite side and two perpendicular sides, then peel the sections downward to form a four-petaled flower with the orange flesh at the center.
- While you may not eat an unpeeled orange, don’t discard the peel. You can use it as a decorative garnish or to make candied orange peel.
Warnings
- Orange juice can make your hands sticky, so try to avoid puncturing the flesh while peeling!
