Some uses of Orange Peel

During the earliest days of orange cultivation, orange peels were more prized than the fruit they protected. The essential oils extracted from orange peels were often used in medicines for indigestion and other maladies. Cooks during the Middle Ages were more likely to use dried orange peels as seasonings than to serve the fruit or the juice. It wasn't until sweet oranges were introduced in Spain and Italy that the rest of the orange received any recognition. Even today, there are perhaps more uses for orange peels and the oils they contain than there are for the rest of the fruit.

One use for orange peels is as a dried seasoning. Orange peels can be scraped across a specialized kitchen grater called a zester. The zester removes only the thin upper layer oforange peels, not the lighter colored pith. The grating action creates a pile of orange zest, which is usually left to dry overnight before being stored in airtight herb bottles. Orange zest is often used to enhance other flavors in desserts, gravies, sauces, and even some meat dishes. Dried orange peels can also be sprinkled as a garnish.

Another use for orange peels is as a candied dessert or accent. Orange peels can be boiled in sugar water until they become nearly translucent. Once allowed to dry, or placed in a food dehydrator, the candied orange peels can be eaten as a snack or combined with other dried fruits as an unusual salad. Different recipes for candied orange peels are available, but generally they involve the entire peel and pith, with several boiling sessions and a drying stage.

Outside of the kitchen, there are a surprising number of uses for orange peels. One unusual use for dried orange peels is as kindling for fires. The orange oils found in the peels are indeed flammable, but they burn more slowly and steadily than common kindling material such as newspaper. Orange peels also have the advantage of creating a pleasant odor as they burn. It may be convenient to keep a heat-resistant bucket near the fireplace as a collection point for discarded orange peels.

Another use for orange peels is air freshening. Combine dried orange peels, cinnamon sticks, lemon peels, and flower petals in a simmering pot of water. As the steam leaves thepotpourri, the air should become much more fragrant. Orange oil, derived from orange peels, is often used in commercial air fresheners and furniture polishes. Dried orange peels can also be stored in a cheesecloth bag and kept in closets to reduce musty odors.

The essential oils found in orange peels are also used as insect repellents. To discourage ants from entering your home, experts suggest using a blended puree of orange peels and water directly on anthills and favored pathways. Rubbing orange peels directly on the skin is also said to be an effective mosquito repellent. Insects in general find the odor of orange oil offensive, which may be a natural means of protecting the fruit from would-be predators.

Small insects aren't the only living things affected by the smell of orange peels. Some experts suggest that a mixture of dried orange peels and coffee grounds will discourage neighborhood cats from using a homeowner's yard as a litter box. Animals such as cats and dogs are territorial, using scent cues to orient themselves. The overpowering smell of orangeoil and coffee overrides their usual litter box signals.

There are dozens of uses for the ingredients found in orange peels. One promising use involves the combination of carbon dioxide gas and orange peels to create a form of plastic. Other research involving citrus plants and their amazing chemical structure is still ongoing