Don't throw away those peels!

bcabrobin
bcabrobin Posts: 251 ✭✭✭

Before you peel any citrus fruit, wash the peel (the outsides) with soap and rinse well. Look at fruit make sure there are no cuts in the peels.

We really like navel oranges or the little cuties for this but any citrus will work.

You can eat the fruit like an apple, peel and all or as you peel it, save the peels for later.

Eat the peels before they dry or lay them up to dry and chew on the dried peels or cut into smaller pieces before you dry to add to teas, tinsures, oils you are heating. I have added dried pieces to elderberry and to blueberry syrups.

The peels are said to kill the strep viruses. When your eating them if you have a sore throat it burns like heck but the strep was gone without taking antibiotics.

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Comments

  • Obiora E
    Obiora E Posts: 517 ✭✭✭✭

    @bcabrobin I am not a big fan of oranges but when I have organic lemons I eat it like an apple, the peel, and the flesh.

  • judsoncarroll4
    judsoncarroll4 Posts: 5,490 admin

    I like the peels candied.

  • Leediafastje
    Leediafastje Posts: 97 ✭✭✭

    Wow! Thank you everyone for your input. I've been stuck in "lemon zest" mode for too long. I have some experimenting to do.

  • chimboodle04
    chimboodle04 Posts: 286 ✭✭✭

    I've always used them to make cleaning solutions - nice have some other uses now too! Thanks :)

  • solarnoon.aspen
    solarnoon.aspen Posts: 219 ✭✭✭

    I have also made lots of cleaning fluids from orange peels and vinegar. I keep the spray bottle near the tub and sink and it just takes a little bit to dissolve stuff off. It smells ok too and I know there is no deadly chemical besides the vinegar and orange acids. I have read that such an acidic wash is not ideal for EVERYTHING. For example painted things might not accept such a solution. Also read that the finished bottle of vinegar that has eventually soaked up the orange acids is concentrated and should be mixed with water to make it less acidic. I, however, have just been using it full strength. Wait to see if my sinks dissolve away over time.......

  • burekcrew86
    burekcrew86 Posts: 248 ✭✭✭

    I’ve used the orange or lemon peels diffused in vinegar to make my cleaning concentrates. It’s amazing. I also use organic peels which I cut into small pieces and dry in the oven on low for my herbal tea blends. I store them in a mason jar.

  • Torey
    Torey Posts: 5,679 admin

    You can infuse the peels (along with other herbs if you want) in olive oil to make a delicious citrus base for salad dressings.

  • seeker.nancy - Central Texas
    seeker.nancy - Central Texas Posts: 795 ✭✭✭✭

    Putting a few pieces down the garbage disposal cleans it and makes the kitchen smell wonderful!

  • nksunshine27
    nksunshine27 Posts: 343 ✭✭✭

    I've used lemons and oranges (use organic ones) i wash the whole oranges and lemons and limes and slice then put them into water and let sit overnight and drink first thing in the morning before anything else just a small cup

  • bkpelfrey
    bkpelfrey Posts: 23 ✭✭✭

    I may have missed it and sorry if I did, but does anyone have a recipe for candied peels?

  • lmrebert
    lmrebert Posts: 363 ✭✭✭✭
  • Max Riben
    Max Riben Posts: 2 ✭✭✭

    'Mary's Nest' on YouTube recommends preserving citrus (lemons, limes, and tangerines) complete with peels in salt!

    The juice and peels can then be used together or separately.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0NRK7PrrdM

  • I love finding new ways to cut down on my waste. Normally I'd toss these in my compost but I love all these other ideas to try.

  • Desire’
    Desire’ Posts: 31 ✭✭

    Lots of people suggest candied peels but take it to the next level. Dip those bad boys in chocolate!

  • Kelley
    Kelley Posts: 140 ✭✭✭

    I will have to try some of these. Interesting. I use money as cleaners and instead of air fresheners

  • Gail H
    Gail H Posts: 359 ✭✭✭✭

    I dry a lot of peels for tea. I also make the vinegar cleaner that others have mentioned. I am certain we'll be visited by carpenter bees again this spring, so I'm going to try this to deter them:

    Mix strained citrus vinegar, tea tree oil and cedar oil (the recipe I have didn't give amounts). Spray on and in bee holes. Plug holes with steel wool.

  • davidking530
    davidking530 Posts: 14 ✭✭✭

    Organic lemon peels are so valuable, for their health benefits

  • Desiree
    Desiree Posts: 255 ✭✭✭

    I used to throw the peels away but now everyone thinks I am crazy when I grab the peels before they can throw them in my compost bin. I have dried them, infused them in oil, vinegar, vodka, I bake with them, I candied them...the list goes on and on.

    Once our brains reset to thinking of using the scrapes like our ancestors did you begin to look at everything differently. Bones become broth, veggies broth, medicine making, cleaning, room freshening...all aspects of our lives can change.

  • Linda Bittle
    Linda Bittle Posts: 1,518 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Max Riben , I have seen that before. I think I'm going to try it once. Thanks for sharing!

  • 2017pams@gmail.com
    2017pams@gmail.com Posts: 12 ✭✭✭

    I just squeeze the lemon seeds out and get rid of part that attaches to tree. I use the whole lemon minus seeds ground up with cup of water and 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and that gets rid of mucus on an empty stomach. I add some cranberries for flavor. The whole lemon is edible minus the seeds.

  • 2017pams@gmail.com
    2017pams@gmail.com Posts: 12 ✭✭✭

    There is more vitamin C in the white pith part of the orange rind than in the juice. The pith is also good for detoxing the body.

  • Momma Mo
    Momma Mo Posts: 138 ✭✭✭

    We dry them and make zest for our recipes! Very lovely.

  • TiffanyMilner
    TiffanyMilner Posts: 13 ✭✭✭

    I love this post! My husband used to give me a hard time for drying out our citrus peels. I was a budding herbalist trying to find the best ingredients for my apothecary when I saw the cost of buying dried organic orange peel was higher than the cost of buying the whole orange. At that point who wouldn’t do the same?

  • sallyhoward
    sallyhoward Posts: 106 ✭✭✭

    Good suggestions. I want to make some cleanup spray now