How to Peel an Orange Skin

The peel of an orange is the outermost layer of the fruit. It holds essential oils that add a refreshing citrus flavor to various dishes. You can peel the orange skin with different tools, such as a grater, a zester, a vegetable peeler, or a knife. Follow this guide to learn how to peel fresh orange skin.

Since the aim here is to use only the outermost layer, it is essential to properly wash the fruit before you begin the following steps.

Angle the grater over the cutting board. If you’re using a flat grater, hold it upright at an angle, with the base resting on the cutting board. If you're using a box grater, simply place it directly onto the board.

Rub the orange along the grater. Apply firm pressure to remove the outer layer of peel. Make sure you’re only grating the outer skin and not the white pith beneath it, as that part is bitter.

• Be sure the orange is clean. You might think that since you’ll be discarding the peel, there’s no need to wash it, but since the peel is still part of the fruit, it’s important to wash off any dirt or pesticides first.
• You’ll find it easier to grip the orange if you cut it in half and squeeze out all the juice before grating.

Rotate the orange after grating one part. Don’t try to grate the same area more than once.

Continue rotating and grating the orange peel until the outer layer is fully grated. You’ll now have some peel on the cutting board. Place it into a measuring cup to see how much you’ve grated.

• One orange will typically yield about 1 tablespoon of peel. You can grate more if you need it for a recipe.

Giữ nghiêng khay bào. Phần chân sẽ được giữ cố định trên thớt.

Bào vỏ cam dọc theo khay bào. Nhẹ nhàng ấn quả cam vào khay bào và di chuyển từ trên xuống dưới hoặc từ phần cán đến phần chân. Dùng sức đẩy để lớp vỏ cam được bào ra. Bạn chỉ bào lớp vỏ ngoài cùng của quả cam chứ không chạm vào lớp vỏ trắng có vị đắng ở bên trong.

Xoay nhẹ quả cam sau mỗi lần bào. Tránh bào một phần của quả cam nhiều lần để phần vỏ trắng không bị trộn lẫn với vỏ cam.

Tiếp tục bào và xoay đến khi bạn bào xong lớp vỏ của quả cam. Gom vỏ cam vào cốc đong để biết bạn sẽ cần thêm bao nhiêu vỏ.

Peel the orange just like you would peel a potato. Hold the peeler or knife against the orange peel. Apply pressure with the blade to remove the peel. Be sure not to touch the white pith. This method will give you larger pieces of peel, not small ones, so you may want to use a small grater for this approach as well.

Gently rotate the orange after peeling each section. Avoid peeling the same area multiple times to prevent the white pith from mixing with the orange peel.

Cut the orange peel into small pieces. The knife or peeler will give you large pieces of peel, which you'll need to cut into smaller chunks for use. Use a sharp knife to finely slice the peel. Depending on the size and shape you need, you can also use a small grater for this task. Measure the peel to get the right amount for your recipe.

• You can store orange peel in the freezer for up to 6 months, as long as it's kept in an airtight plastic bag.
• The finer and smaller the peel, the stronger the orange flavor in your dish.
• Using a zester will give you thicker orange peel strands compared to a grater.
• A grater will provide you with smaller and more uniform orange peel strands.
• Be sure to wash the orange thoroughly before peeling. Use soap and water to remove pesticides, wax, or dyes.
• Using a vegetable peeler or knife will give you larger pieces of peel. You can use these pieces in drinks or chop them into smaller strips for other uses.