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!

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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

How to dry orange peel for teas? ›

Speed method: If you are short on time, you can also dry them in a 200 F oven. Spread them on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet and dry in the oven for about 25 to 30 minutes. If the peel starts to brown, turn off the oven for a few minutes, and rotate the pan. The peels will curl up and turn stiff when they're dry.

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 use dried oranges for tea? ›

15 Uses for Dried Orange Slices

1) Garnish a drink—from co*cktails, to mocktails to hot or iced tea. 2) Garnish a ham. 3) Add to potpourri or use in a simmer pot for fragrance. 4) Use as a pretty cake or cupcake decoration.

What are the benefits of boiling orange peels and cinnamon? ›

Quite simply. The antioxidants contained in this citrus fruit help cleanse the arteries and lower cholesterol levels, so an orange peel tea with cinnamon is ideal for improving cardiovascular health and combating diseases such as hypertension.

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.

What does orange peel do to the body? ›

Immense volumes of flavonoid hesperidin present in orange peels have shown to maintain blood cholesterol and blood pressure levels. While, being a strong anti-inflammatory agent, orange peel extracts help to mitigate inflammation and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Can I boil orange peels for my face? ›

Can boiled orange peel be used on the skin? A. Yes, but it shouldn't be overboiled. The anecdotal evidence suggests that orange peels' antibacterial, antifungal & anti-inflammatory properties help clear the skin, prevent acne and make you look flawless.

Can you drink orange peel tea at night? ›

▶ Orange peel tea! Pour hot water over some cleaned orange peel sitting in a small mug. Drink 20 minutes before bedtime (of course, just a little – so it doesn't make you wake up and go pee).

What to make with dried orange peel? ›

Simmer dried orange peel in hot tea, mulled wine, or a hot toddy, or add the dried peels to sauces, your Carne Asada Marinade, or your favorite stew! 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.

How long do dried oranges last? ›

If you dry and store your oranges properly, the slices should be good for at least two years, and often much longer and they'll be ready for Christmas porch decor ideas and Christmas patio ideas. To store, place them in a completely dry airtight container until the next holiday season.

What is the point of dried oranges? ›

One of the properties of dried orange fruit is that it is an excellent flavoring for tea and food. The aroma and taste of dried oranges, along with afternoon tea, can eliminate all the tiredness of the day for you. Also, its use in a variety of foods, in addition to making the food taste good, makes it very nutritious.

Does boiling oranges destroy vitamin C? ›

Vitamin C can be destroyed by heat and light. High-heat cooking temperatures or prolonged cook times can break down the vitamin. Because it is water-soluble, the vitamin can also seep into cooking liquid and be lost if the liquids are not eaten.

What does orange peels and vinegar do? ›

Orange peels and vinegar make a great all-purpose, natural cleaner, but did you know it has lots of other great household uses? Orange vinegar also works as a natural ant killer, as a conditioner for hair and even in salad dressing.

How to drink cinnamon to reduce belly fat? ›

Well, this simple drink is nothing but a simple lukewarm cinnamon water, but what boosts the efficacy of this drink is the addition of chia seeds. Chia seeds and cinnamon water offer a wealth of health benefits. This dynamic duo aids weight loss, stabilizes blood sugar levels, and promotes heart health.

How do you preserve orange peels for drinks? ›

You can store citrus peels in the freezer for later use in co*cktails. When thawed, the peels are not crisp and may not spray zest atop co*cktails as they do when they're fresh, but their oils are still present (and release easily).

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