How to Make Dried Orange Peel (and a Tea Recipe) (2024)

Make Your Own

ByMerissa

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Have some extra orange peels and don’t want to make them go to waste? Make your own dried orange peel for recipes, cleaning, and teas!

How to Make Dried Orange Peel (and a Tea Recipe) (1)

Dried Orange Peel

I recently bought a large bulk amount of oranges as I promised my youngest son that we would make orange juice if I found a good sale. Not long after I told him that, I found a great deal on some no-spray oranges! I’ve really gotten into herbal teas lately and I’ve been needing some dried orange peel for the blend that I enjoy. But did you know it’s $18 a pound?? A little out of my budget. Luckily, it’s super easy to make your own!

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Be sure and wash your oranges well. You will want to use no-spray, no wax oranges to make dried orange peels.

When you decide you want to make dried orange peel, don’t forget about the best part of the orange, the inside! I used my simple little Juiceman Citrus Juicer to juice all of my oranges first. I use this simple method for Preserving Orange Juice or I place in jars and freeze.

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Once you’ve juiced your oranges, you should have plenty of peels left! If you’ve decided not to juice your oranges and are just using those that you are eating, just be sure and save the peels.

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Once you’ve juiced your oranges, dig your finger under the leftover pulp and begin to peel the leftovers out of the inside. If you get your finger in just the right place, the insides will come right out.

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Dice up your orange peel. I plan on using mine for tea so I just need it to fit in my tea infuser ball. You will want to cut your peel in the size that you need. I use my Rada Cutleryfor everything in my kitchen! 🙂

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Spread the orange peels out on the dehydrator and dry for at least 5-8 hours or until completely dry.

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Store the dried orange peels in an air-tight container. I like to use half gallon size glass jars for storing teas and things like this.

Uses for Dried Orange Peel

Since this orange peel contains the pith it will have a hint of bitterness and might not be the best for use in certain recipes where you are looking for the sweet orange taste. To get that flavor, you will want to peel your oranges with a veggie peeler so that you don’t have as much “white stuff”.

You can dry this orange peel in the oven if you don’t have a dehydrator. Just place in the oven at the lowest temp it will go (preferably around 150 degrees) and keep a close eye on it until dried.

If you don’t want to dry orange peel, you can use it as a wonderful cleaner. Just place the cleaned peels into a jar of vinegar and let it sit in the cupboard for a few weeks. After that, remove the peels and mix with water to create your cleaner.

You can use your dried orange peel to make an easy body scrub. Just pulse it a few times in the blender (some pieces are ok) and mix with a bit of coconut oil (or your favorite oil) and some scrub until a nice scrub comes together.

You can also make some tasty infusions if you love cooking with orange flavor. Drop some dried orange peels into vinegar or oil and let the mixture sit for several weeks until flavorful.

Making a refreshing bath salt is easy with the dried orange peel. Just pulse in the blender to finer pieces and mix with epsom salts in a 4:1 ratio (ie: 1 cup of epsom salt to 1/4 cup orange peel).

And of course, who can forget about potpourri? Blend your oranges with other dried items and sprinkle with a few drops of sweet orange essential oil to boost the scent. Beautiful and practical!

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Tea Made with Orange Peel

I love herbal teas! I especially love when I can make my own blends. You can try adding dried orange peel to a variety of blends but this simple one is my favorite.

Fruity Tea Blend

Blend the ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl and store in a glass pint jar. Place about a teaspoon of the mixture into a tea infuser and steep in hot water for about 4 minutes.

This tea is high in vitamin C and has a deliciously tangy, fruity flavor. Perfect for mid-morning or a mid-afternoon pick me up!

Have you ever dried orange peels? What do you use them for?

How to Make Dried Orange Peel (and a Tea Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

Can you dry orange peel for tea? ›

you can add a tea bag or drink solo. you can also dry them up and keep in a jar. google for more info and health benefits of citrus peels. Also add to hot water and let it cool down and enjoy a refreshing summer drink.

What can I make with dried orange peel? ›

Dried orange peel or lemon peel can be used to make your own DIY co*cktail bitters or homemade vermouth. Add them to a mulling spices mix for making aromatic hot mulled cider or mulled wine (vin brulé). Homemade mulling spices make a great holiday gift. Add dried citrus peel to a marinade or salad dressing.

How to make orange peels for drinks? ›

Using a paring knife, cut a coin of at least one inch wide and about two inches long into the orange peel. Cut into the fruit's pith just a bit. Rub the peel around the rim of the glass, and drop it into the drink.

Is orange peel tea good for a cold? ›

Oranges are counted amongst the healthiest fruits but as much as the pulp is good, its peel is also beneficial. As per research, orange peels boost immunity and metabolism. As far as treating cold and congestion is concerned, orange helps clear the lungs and phlegm to relieve congestion.

What is dried orange peel tea good for? ›

Orange peel tea is rich in vitamin C and flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties that can strengthen the immune system and help to prevent diseases like cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and the flu. Orange peel tea is also a great weight loss option, as it has excellent amounts of potassium.

Can you boil orange peels and drink it? ›

To make orange peel tea, just combine fresh or dried orange peels and water in a pot with a lid, bring to a boil, and then remove from the heat. Allow the orange peels to steep for an hour or more before straining and discarding the used peels,” she said, sharing another method of making this tea.

Is orange zest the same as dried orange peel? ›

Orange zest is not the same thing as orange peel, which is also known as orange rind or orange skin. Orange zest is only the outer layer of the orange peel, while the orange peel is both the zest and the pith, or the bitter-tasting white part beneath the outer layer.

How do you rehydrate dried orange peels? ›

If using to bake, can use as is or may use re-hydrated Granulated Orange Peel. To re-hydrate this dried fruit, let the product sit for 5-10 minutes in boiling water, covered. Drain well and use according to recipe.

How do you preserve orange peel for tea? ›

Place a sheet of parchment paper on top of a baking sheet. Then, place the peels on the parchment paper in a single layer, without any overlap. Bake the peels for 30 to 60 minutes at 200 °F (93 °C). You want your oven to be at the lowest possible setting, which is usually 200 °F (93 °C).

Does drying orange peel destroy vitamin C? ›

Yes, Vitamin C is sensitive to heat and oxygen so leaving the peels out to dry will deplete the vitamin C content, cooking them in water as in boiling, steaming or baking will also destroy the vitamin content.

Is dried orange peel healthy? ›

Orange peels contain flavonoids – like poly methoxy flavones (PMFs) and hesperidin – and other phytochemicals that are highly beneficial for your health. Flavonoids are antioxidant compounds that help prevent chronic diseases such as cancer and heart diseases. It also contains higher amounts of certain nutrients.

How do you dry citrus for tea? ›

A mandoline is a great tool for making the rounds even, but if you don't have one simply use a sharp knife. Bake the citrus. Place the citrus slices in a single layer on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake them at 170 degrees F (yes, very low) until they're completely dried out. Cool & enjoy.

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