Zesting an Orange!
I have realized over the last couple months of doing this website that we have quite a varied level of cooking ability participating in our monthly cooking menus. That is great! I am excited to hear that those that have been cooking for years, as well as those just getting started, are benefiting from our menu plans. But when you have new cooks (welcome) it is important to make sure that you explain some basic steps. Perhaps some things that us veterans take for granted. So here is another step in our cooking process explained.
The March menu calls for a orange zest. When I first pictured a zested orange, I thought “Hmm, I don’t think I have any of that kind of soap. Wonder if CVS carries it?”
Zest Soap
+
An Orange
= Zested Orange
Nope, that wasn’t the right answer!
Turns out to “zest” an orange you need to remove shreds of the outer skin without getting much of the white “stuff” underneath. You can use several instruments: a zester, peeler, or grater to name a few.
I use an actual zester, pictured here. I take the Zester and pull it along the edge of the orange as if I was peeling the orange. I am careful to not go too deep, grabbing a bunch of the white layer underneath the skin.
You can also use a grater if you have one at hand to zest your orange. Simply run the skin of the orange along the grater being careful not to grate too deeply. Rotate the orange until you have removed the outer skin.
One other method is to use a peeler on the orange. Again, don’t peel deeply enough that you are picking up the white layer underneath the skin. Chop your peeled skin with a knife to make it more course.
Whala! Zested Orange! Now go, impress your friends and family with your new “skeels”!
I didn’t realize you weren’t supposed to go into the white part–oops!
You can, it just is the bitter part!
I had a zester for years..and thought it was the best…UNTIL my really good friend bought me a microplane for my birthday one year..the microplane company makes hand held super sharp tools in various cutting designs..let’s not discuss how many sizes/shapes I have..but there is a fine grater that is perfect for zesting..and works soooo quick..if you are young/planning on being a foodie for life definitely buy these tools..I loved my fine one so much that I bought one is every variety I could find…I found at Williams/Sonoma stores..I can’t remember exactly what they cost but I remember they weren’t cheap..but worth every penny..
yesterday I just laid the microplane across a bowl and whipped the rind off 3 oranges in a sec..no white/pith/bitterness..just perfect peel
I use the small hand held zester when I want perfect thin long pieces for a cocktail..but the microplane for any cooking application
So jealous of your microplane! Especially since I tried using the grater and took part of my thumb with it the other day!
thank you so much for the info. i am glad that i can use tools that i have already in the kitchen rather than buying a zester.
I wanted to cook an orange cake but wasn’t sure what some things were in the recipe…
This really helped!
Thanks a bunch!