• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Hilda's Kitchen Blog

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Book
  • About
  • Resources
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Book
    • About
    • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    • Recipes
    • Book
    • About
    • Subscribe

    You Are Here Home » Spice and Seasoning Recipes

    Published: Jan 3, 2021 Updated: Aug 7, 2022 by Hilda Sterner | This post may contain affiliate links 3 Comments

    Drying Orange Peels and How to Use Them

    Sharing is caring!

    657 shares
    • Share578
    • Yummly
    • Tweet
    orange peel pin

    Drying Orange Peels has many benefits, so the next time you eat an orange, don't toss out the peel, dry it instead! Simmer them in hot tea, mulled wine, or a hot toddy, or add them to sauces, your Carne Asada Marinade, or your favorite stew!

    orange peel powder in a spoon on a wooden slab with oranges around it

    Orange Peels are loaded with orange flavor, vitamins, and fiber. The peels can be dried and used in the same way you would use orange zest. So

    What else can you do with Dried orange peel?

    • Add dried orange peels to your soups for a nuance of citrus flavor.
    • When making jams, jellies, and preserves, the peels can be simmered with the fruit to enhance the flavor.
    • Mix dried and ground orange peels into cake batter, your morning smoothy, or protein shake.
    • Brew some strips of dried peels in hot water to make a delicious orange peel tea.
    • Grind the dried peels to make orange peel powder. The powder can be used in baking.

    The health benefits of orange peel are numerous! For example, according to this Healthline article, one tablespoon of orange peel has almost 3x the amount of vitamin C as the fruit itself and 4x the fiber! And these days, we're all trying to increase our vitamin C intake, aren't we?

    This same article suggests consuming orange peel in small quantities because it may be difficult to digest and could lead to stomach discomfort.

    Orange peels are rich in fiber, vitamins, and disease-fighting polyphenols. They also contain limonene, a chemical that may protect against skin cancer. — Healthline (Can You Eat Orange Peels, and Should You?)

    What You Need for this recipe

    oranges in a plate with a blue cloth on one side of the plate
    Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash

    The only ingredient you need for this recipe is oranges! You can also use tangelos, tangerines, or your favorite citrus.

    How to Dry Orange Peels

    Pro Tip: Before you begin, make sure to thoroughly wash the oranges, especially if they're store-bought. You'll want to remove any pesticides that may be on the peel. If you can use organic oranges, or homegrown oranges, even better!

    Step 1 | Peel Oranges

    Use a vegetable peeler to peel oranges, tangelos, or tangerines into very thin strips. Avoid cutting into the white pith.

    an orange being peeled
    orange peels on a white plate

    Step 2 | Dehydrate Oranges

    If you have a dehydrator, arrange the orange peels on the trays. Make sure to keep them in a single layer so that the air can circulate around them. Choose the 135 degrees F setting and dehydrate for approximately one hour or until the peels are dry and crispy. The small pieces will start to curl as they dry.

    citrus peels being dried on a dehydrator
    holding dried citrus peels over a dehydrator

    An even easier and faster option is to use the oven. Spread the orange peels on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 30 minutes in a 200-degree F oven. If after 30 minutes the peels are not crispy, turn the oven off and place the tray back in the oven for 15 minutes or so.

    Step 3 | Store Orange Peels

    Make sure the peels are completely cooled before storing them in a spice jar or airtight container.

    dried orange peels
    orange peels in a small jar

    Another option is to grind the peels into an orange powder that can be used when baking cookies, cakes, and more.

    orange powder in a spoon over a jar with other oranges around it

    Recipe FAQs

    What can you do with dried orange peel?

    Add the dried strips to brown sugar to keep it from hardening, or use them to flavor white sugar or salt. Another idea would be to infuse olive oil which can be used to make Citrus Salad Dressings.

    You can also use them in sangria, or flavor simple syrup when making various pastries, including Baklava.

    How long do orange peels last?

    If stored properly, dried orange peels can last for years. If you make a larger quantity, I recommend freezing them in air-tight freezer bags for longer storage.

    Although the dried peels won't go bad, they will lose their potency and flavor over time. Luckily, they're very easy to prepare, so the best option is to dry them in small quantities as needed.

    How do you dry orange peels naturally?

    To dry the peels naturally, spread the orange peels on a plate or tray and place them somewhere where they won't be disturbed.

    It will take approximately 2 days for the orange peels to completely dry and become crisp. At that point, you can store them in a spice jar or ziplock bag or grind them into powder.

    How can I make my house smell good with orange peels?

    Place the peels in a saucepan and cover with water. You can also add cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and cardamom pods.

    Simmer the ingredients over low heat. In no time, your house will smell absolutely delicious and very inviting!

    Pro Tips

    • If the orange peels retain any of their moisture, they will eventually mold.
    • When ready, the dried orange peels should not be pliable. Instead, they should be crispy, brittle, and easily snap when bent.

    If you enjoy making your own spices and seasonings, you may be interested in learning how to make your own Corned Beef Spice Blend, Biryani Spice, Pork Rub, and DIY Shawarma Seasoning Blend.

    Related Recipes

    • Dehydrated Apple Chips Recipe
    • Pineapple Chips
    • Homemade Fruit Leather (Qamardeen)
    • Dehydrated "Sun-Dried" Tomatoes in Oil

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.

    Stay in touch with me through social media @ Instagram, Pinterest, 4294 TikTok, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    More Spice and Seasoning Recipes

    • How To Dry Basil Leaves
    • Flavor Packed Coffee Rub Recipe
    • The Best Sumac Substitute Option
    • Shawarma Spice Recipe

    Sharing is caring!

    657 shares
    • Share578
    • Yummly
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




       

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Terry Smith says

      January 04, 2021 at 5:31 pm

      Just made your vegan Biryani rice Recipe
      It is amazing? I didn’t have egg plant, so I used yellow squash and zucchini, carrots, and green peas, but no potatoes. I also used leftover chicken broth I had in the refrigerator. The spices were mild and delicious. For the two of us, I halved the recipe and have plenty of leftovers. My husband loved it, and I will pass it on to others, and make it for a friendly gathering. Thanks, Terry

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        January 05, 2021 at 3:32 pm

        Hi Terry, I'm so glad you guys enjoy it and sounds like you made some good substitutions. Would love it if you gave it a star rating! ❤️

        Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        January 05, 2021 at 3:34 pm

        I also just noticed you left the review on the orange peels recipe. Maybe copy and paste when you get a chance? 😬

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    profile photo-Hilda

    Hi, I'm Hilda! I'm the creator of Hilda's Kitchen Blog, author of Mom's Authentic Assyrian Recipes, and a recipe contributor to Brian Baumgartner's Seriously Good Chili Cookbook (AKA Kevin Malone, from The Office).

    Are you looking for a little inspiration in the kitchen? Let me show you how to use unique ingredients to make tasty meals for your family! more about me →

    Get My Cookbook!

    cook book on a wooden board

    Healthy Salads

    • Zesty Quinoa Salad with Pomegranate Dressing
    • Tabouli (Tabbouleh) Salad Recipe
    • Green Goddess Salad Recipe
    • Oil and Vinegar Coleslaw
    • Roasted Beetroot Salad With Walnuts And Feta
    • Lebanese Fattoush Salad

    Check Out My Etsy Shop!

    montana healing salves logo

    Game Day Appetizers

    • Smoked Salmon Dip Recipe
    • Traeger Smoked Potatoes (with oven instructions)
    • How To Make An Easy Charcuterie Board
    • Smoked Cream Cheese (2 Ways)
    • Keto Jalapeno Poppers with Bacon
    • Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe

    Featured On

    featured on

    Subscribe to Get my Latest Recipes!

    Privacy Policy

    Stay Connected

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • My Etsy Shop

    Policies

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Photo & Content Sharing Policy

    LET'S CONNECT!

    • Contact Page
    • Work with Me

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage from qualifying Amazon purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 • Hildas Kitchen Blog • All rights reserved