Here's how to make dried orange peels. They're deeply flavorful and useful in spice blends, sauces, tea, and cocktails.
Having a stash of dehydrated citrus will serve you well! It's really easy to make - we'll show you how to make dried orange peels in just a few steps, how to store them, and recipes to use them.
Why You Should Make Dried Citrus Peels
Dried citrus peels are really easy to make and they're so useful. They do take a few minutes to dehydrate in the oven, but they keep well - so do a bunch at once and save them to use for several months.
They're also a wonderful DIY hostess or holiday gift. Gift a bunch of them in a jar with a list of ways to use them!
Orange Peel FAQs
When you're making dried orange peels, you want to use oranges that are organic and pesticide-free. Because you'll be eating the peel, which in conventional oranges will have some pesticide build-up, this is one time that organic is important.
Otherwise, you can use any type of oranges to make dried orange peels. We've dried Cara Cara oranges, navel oranges, and all types of mandarines. They're all delicious.
You can use any type of citrus to make dried peels. They'll have different flavors, but the method will be the same for all of them.
Dried orange peel is often used as an ingredient in rubs and spice blends, in tea blends, as a garnish in cocktails, and in baked goods.
Here are some fun ways to use dried orange peels - crush or mince it and add it to rice for a citrusy kick, sprinkle it on top of a bean soup, add it to a roasted vegetable dish, or add it to vodka or gin for an infused liquor.
Recipes with Dried Orange Peels
You can use dried orange peels in a lot of different recipes! Here's what to do with dried orange peels.
- Shichimi Togarashi - a peppery Japanese spice blend, typically made from a mix of chili peppers, orange peel, sesame seeds, ginger, and nori.
- DIY Orange Liqueur Recipe - make your own orange liqueur, also known as curaçao or triple sec.
- Orange Beef - this orange beef dish (chun pi niu in mandarin) is a nice change of pace, with really interesting, complex flavors. One important ingredient is the dried mandarin orange peel.
Dried Orange Peels
Dried orange peels are highly aromatic and useful for spice blends, marinades, and cocktails.
Ingredients
- 1 orange (we used a navel orange)
Instructions
- Preheat an oven to 200 degrees F.
- Using a vegetable peeler, remove strips of the orange peel. Be careful not to bring too much pith with the peel - you want a thin layer of bright orange skin.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay the peels out on the sheet, leaving at least ½ inch in between each peel.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the sides begin to curl up.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before using peels. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Albertina says
I didn't know that orange peels can be used in recipes. I will definitely dry some orange peels and try its recipe. Thanks a lot for sharing this.
Megvalle says
@Albertina,
Francine Rowlette says
Just would like recipes. Also heard they are good to rid ant’s