How to make lemon zest at home - a simple recipe for how to remove the zest. Benefits and Benefits of Orange Peel

Zest

Zest is the outer pigmented, ethereal layer of the rind (rind) of the fruits of various citrus plants - orange (Citrus aurantium), lemon (Citrus limonum), orange (Citrus sinensis), tangerine (tangerine) (Citrus nobilis) and grapefruit.
Orange peel.
Pomeranians are native to Northwest India, Sikkim, Indochina. But oranges are bred in all countries of Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean, in the countries of Central and South America, especially on the islands of the Caribbean. On the territory of the CIS countries, oranges are cultivated only in Adjara, where they were brought back in the 15th century.

As a spice, the outer layer of the peel of the fruit is used, which is cut from ripe oranges, cut into 4 parts. The thinner the peel is cut, the better the quality of the orange zest - dried, semi-rolled oval peels, slightly pointed at both ends. The outer surface of the orange peel is rough, orange in color (in some places it is brighter, even dark brown if the quality of the peel is low). The inner surface of the peel is white (or whitish-gray in the worst varieties). Ground orange zest, which is always made in inferior varieties, is yellowish (whitish-cream in color if quality is low). In contact with the wet white surface of the product (rice, cottage cheese), the orange peel instantly turns it into a beautiful, bright light yellow color.
Orange zest is used in confectionery (cakes, babas, muffins), in various sweet dishes (kissels, mousses and especially curd pastes). As a flavoring agent, it is added to meat sauces and various fillings for fish and fish, poultry and poultry. In addition to the orange zest, leaves and flowers are also used as a spice, and each part has a different, only inherent aroma. Essences or essential oils are usually obtained from leaves and flowers - “ptigrain” and “neroli”, respectively, which are used in the production of liqueurs and, to some extent, sweets.
Lemon peel.
Lemon is not known in the wild. This is one of the oldest cultivated plants, cultivated for a long time in the countries of the Mediterranean and distributed throughout the subtropics, including the Transcaucasus and Central Asia.
In ancient times, lemon, and especially lemon peel (that is, that part of the lemon that contains its aroma), did not find use. The ancient Greeks and Romans considered the smell of zest "unbearable", "unpleasant" and used only lemon juice. And only later, in the Middle Ages, the zest was put into use as a spice.
Lemon zest even more than orange, you should try to cut as thin as possible, avoiding the capture of the white subcortical layer. To do this, the lemon is washed with cold water, then scalded and the zest is cut off from it with a very sharp knife. Usually lemon peel, unlike orange, is cut in the form of a spiral ribbon. If the tape is cut thickly, then the color of the dried zest is yellowish-brown, uneven, but if it is removed thinly from a ripe lemon, then there will be no significant changes in the color of the zest as a result of drying - it will remain lemon yellow.

Lemon peel is used more widely than orange peel. It can be added to vegetable, meat and vegetable and fish salads, as well as to all cold sauces for them. Beetroot or spinach soups, cabbage soup and borscht, both hot and cold (beetroot, cold soups) can also be improved with lemon zest: it is introduced half a minute before readiness or immediately after readiness in hot soups and after that they are allowed to “infuse” for 3-4 minutes .
Zest gives a special taste to meat and fish sauces and gravies, as well as dishes from minced meat and fish (aspic, jelly, jellied meat, minced meat, rolls, casseroles, stuffed fish, etc.). In lumpy meat, usually veal, zest is added 1-2 minutes before readiness or immediately after readiness. In this case, ground zest is sprinkled on veal like salt.

Lemon zest is constantly used in a wide variety of confectionery products (cakes, babas, Easter cakes, sweet pies) and sweet dishes (rice and semolina puddings, charlottes, jelly, compotes, jams, mousses, jelly, curd pastes, ice cream, whipped cream).
It should be remembered that the lemon zest completely lacks citric acid, which is so rich in lemon pulp, so the zest gives the dish the aroma of lemon, and not its acid. Orange peel.
The birthplace of the orange is South China. Like the lemon, the orange is cultivated in the subtropical regions of the world. It was brought to Europe by the Portuguese in the 15th century and has since spread to most Mediterranean countries.
However, the practice of using orange peel is relatively small. To this day, most of us throw orange peels in the trash. Meanwhile, harvesting the zest is a simple matter. It must be cut into thin strips, as thin as possible. Dried orange peel hardly changes its orange color if it is cut correctly, no more than 2 millimeters thick. It dries easily at normal room temperature, curling up into narrow tubes.
Orange peel is used only in the confectionery industry and in the preparation of sweet dishes in the same way as lemon peel.
Tangerine peel.
The birthplace of the mandarin is Japan. It is cultivated in many subtropical regions of the world. We use tangerine zest to an even lesser extent than orange zest. Apparently, this is partly due to the fact that it is more difficult to cut, because the tangerine peel is much thinner than the orange. Meanwhile, it has a completely different flavor and can diversify our table.
The scope of tangerine peel is the same as that of orange peel.
Grapefruit peel.
Grapefruit, which is a cultivated garden tree, was created as a result of selection - a hybrid of a lemon and one of the American varieties of orange
(pampelmosis). It became known in Russia only from the 60s of the 20th century as a result of intensive trade exchanges between the USSR and Cuba, and the use of grapefruits was mainly limited to raw fruits and juice. Meanwhile, the whole grapefruit, including its whole peel (13) or a separate zest, can be very successfully consumed in food in the form of culinary and confectionery products.
Grapefruit zest is extremely thin, exquisite in its aroma. It can also be used in the same types of dishes and products as lemon peel, but at the same time give a more subtle and stronger flavor. It is removed in the same way as lemon. It is especially successfully used in compotes, jellies and for infusion of vodkas.

All types of zest should be dried by spreading it in a thin layer on a flat plate, laying a white sheet of paper (and not directly on porcelain or faience) for two to three days at room temperature, turning daily. The zest is considered ready when it becomes brittle.
All types of zest belong to "weak", "soft" spices, so the zest can be used in larger doses than other spices, that is, not fractions of a gram, but grams.
In this case, the measure of the norm should be taste - the appearance of a bitter aftertaste when crossing the border of the permissible volume.
Zest is introduced into all dishes in powdered (ground) form.
Notes:
13. The peel is used to make jam and marmalade.

. V.V. Pokhlebkin. 2005 .

Synonyms:

See what "Zedra" is in other dictionaries:

Cedrat … Russian word stress

The outer thin colored skin of the fruits of citrus plants, peeled from the white, loose underlying layer. The zest is usually removed with a sharp knife in a spiral and then dried in a dry room on open surfaces covered with paper ... ... Culinary Dictionary

The top layer of lemon and orange peel, yellow, containing aromatic. flying oil. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Pavlenkov F., 1907. Lemon or orange peel zest. A complete dictionary of foreign words, ... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

Even in ancient times, people used lemon as a tool in the fight against colds, because it is a source of vitamin C and an indispensable assistant to immunity. Not everyone knows that this product can also have a beneficial effect on the body, which has been proven by doctors and homeopaths.

What it is?

Lemon peel is the surface layer of the yellow peel, containing a lot of essential oils located in glandular receptacles. It has almost no taste, looks bright and shiny, has a wonderful fresh fruity smell. Lemon zest can be added to pastry dough, traditionally used to give a unique flavor to fish dishes, and can be used as a natural flavor for tea and mulled wine.

If lemons were transported and stored in accordance with special GOST 4429-82, the zest should be perfectly preserved, and throwing it away is simply blasphemy.

Benefit and harm

Consider the ratio of BJU per 100 grams of raw product:

proteins - 1.5 g;
fats - 0.3 g;
carbohydrates - 5.4 g.

The calorie content of the product is only 47 kilocalories.

As can be seen from the previously presented information, eating lemon peel will not be able to cause much harm to the figure. And the taste and aroma of dishes becomes amazing when you add a pinch of this product. It helps to lose weight, as diet meals often lack flavor.

Citrus peel contains a substance that fights cancer cells. It's called salvestrol. For the prevention of oncology, it is necessary to take lemon zest regularly.

Vitamin C contained in the product is important for the body not only in terms of maintaining immunity. It is able to participate in the absorption of calcium. Thus, lemon peel, with regular use, helps to strengthen the skeleton and teeth.

The fragrant peel disinfects the mouth by killing pathogenic bacteria and helps eliminate bad breath.

The zest contains pectin. It is a useful polysaccharide. Once in the human body, it serves as an absorbent, absorbing all harmful substances, heavy metals and slags, which are then excreted naturally. Pectin increases the metabolic rate, breaks down fats, removes excess cholesterol, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. But it also has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal microflora and has an anti-inflammatory effect on the digestive tract. The substance is also used to make natural marshmallows and jelly.

The nutritional value of lemon peel is supplemented by the chemical composition: it includes selenium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, copper, sodium and potassium.

Potassium strengthens the heart muscle. Vitamin P contained in the zest can help people suffering from overeating and alcoholism. It removes decay products from the body. If you eat lemon zest after a heavy feast, you can get rid of a hangover and discomfort in the stomach.

If you use zest regularly, you can improve the condition of the skin and hair. Lemon peel contains antioxidants that have a beneficial effect on the tone and elasticity of the face. To prepare a vitamin tonic, you can brew the zest and use it for rubbing. This will get rid of excessive oily skin. The crushed peel is often used for a fragrant body scrub. To do this, the zest crumbs must be mixed with shower gel and applied to the entire body with massaging movements.

If you use lemon peel many times as a face wash, you will notice another useful property: it whitens the face and is useful in the fight against unwanted freckles. And also lemon peel is used in dermatology. It is used as an antifungal homeopathic remedy.

To get rid of dry elbows and heels, you need to crush a lemon peel in your hand and rub problem areas with this remedy. If you do this regularly, you can forget about the problem in a month.

There are a lot of advantages for human health, but lemon zest is also used on the farm. To get rid of a strong smell from cooking or just to flavor the house, you can spread pieces of lemon peel everywhere. If the refrigerator and trash can smell bad, just place pieces of lemon peel in there. She absorbs the bad smell.

To get rid of limescale in the teapot, you can rub it with a piece of lemon peel. In the same way, it is easy to clean the microwave oven.

It is known that various insects are repelled by the aroma of citrus. You can put pieces of zest on the window so that mosquitoes and flies fly by.

To maintain optimal humidity in the apartment, you can place bowls of water and zest throughout the house.

Now many girls are engaged in making soap at home. By adding fragrant zest to the composition, you can count on an increase in demand for such handmade products.

The disadvantages of lemon peel include the fact that citrus fruits are usually contraindicated for people prone to allergies. And also lemon peel can cause an exacerbation of ulcers and gastritis, as it increases the acidity of the stomach. People who are not prone to these diseases should also be careful when using zest, a large amount of it will cause heartburn.

Lemon peel should not be used in its pure form for sore throat and sore throat, you can burn sensitive mucous membranes. For these reasons, it cannot be used in the event of dental diseases.

How to do?

Lemon peel must be thoroughly washed with hot water, it is advisable to clean it with a brush for washing vegetables. Now the whole lemon must be blotted with a paper towel and left to dry a little.

Zest is a capricious product, there are several ways to get it.

With a kitchen knife. To do this, remove thin strips with a sharply ground object. After flavoring the dish, these strips are removed.
Peeler - This method is suitable only for thick-skinned lemons.
Using an ordinary fine grater: rub a lemon with it and get a crumbly crumb of zest.
Cocktail zester. It will remove small spirals from the surface of the peel, which can be used to decorate baked goods or drinks.

Tips for peeling fresh zest:

choose citrus fruits with a thick rind;
refrigerate the lemon before preparing the zest;
try to grind pieces of peel as much as possible to increase the evaporation surface of essential oils;
if you often need lemon zest, store these fruits in the freezer, this will simplify the task of extracting it;
try to use the zest immediately after removing it for the best flavoring results.

There is a lot of information about fresh zest. Often there are questions about how to properly prepare a lemon peel for future use.

The algorithm for making dried lemon peel:

wash and dry the lemon thoroughly;
cut the zest, trying not to touch the white layer, or grate it;
spread the zest on parchment paper in a clean, cool room; it will dry out in a couple of days with occasional stirring;
if there is no time to wait, you can send the chopped lemon peel to the oven for 1-2 hours at a temperature of 60 degrees.

What can be cooked?

Lemon peel can come in handy everywhere. But its use in cooking is especially popular.

There are various recipes for preparing zest as an independent dish.

Lemon peel in sugar

For cooking, you need to take 100 g of zest and 150-200 g of sugar. Lemons should be washed well with a brush and boiled for a minute in water. After that, remove the softened zest with a grater and grind it with sugar. After that, put in jars and cover with another layer of sugar. This mixture can be poured into dough, drinks, ice cream.

There is a popular combination of ginger, lemon and honey that has been helping people fight colds and increase vitality for many years.

More popular are several recipes for the joint preparation of such products.

Lemon candied fruit

This delicious dessert is very easy to make. To do this, you will need to make sugar syrup: boil a few tablespoons of water with sugar in a saucepan. With a decrease in the volume of water, candied fruits come out more crispy. After making the syrup, you need to lower the thinly sliced \u200b\u200bzest of the lemon into it and cook them for about half an hour. After cooling this jam, the pieces must be removed and laid out on a foil or tray and sprinkled with powdered sugar. When the pieces are completely dry, they are best stored in a sealed glass container in the refrigerator.

Lemon curd puffs

For cooking, you will need ready-made puff yeast dough 500 g, cottage cheese 200 g, sugar - 150 g, zest of half a lemon. Cut the puff pastry squares into 4 pieces for a total of eight servings. Mix cottage cheese with sugar and lemon zest, you can add vanillin to taste. Put the curd mass in the middle of each square of dough and pinch along the edge. Place the prepared puffs on a non-stick baking sheet. Bake them according to the recipe on the package. Sprinkle with powdered sugar to decorate when serving.

Pancakes with citrus flavor

To prepare pancakes with a unique smell of lemon, add a little lemon peel to the dough according to your recipe. This will make them taste very spicy. You can also add zest to pancake sauces. For example, mix sour cream with sugar and zest to taste.

Fragrant muffins

Beat 3 eggs with 300 g of sugar with a mixer at medium speed. Prepare the zest of 1 lemon. Add 100 g butter, 200 g zest and sour cream. Sift 400 g flour, put a teaspoon of baking powder and add to the mixture. Pour the finished dough into cupcake molds greased with butter and bake for 20 minutes at a temperature of about 200 degrees.

Flavored zest pie

If guests suddenly come and they have nothing to serve, you can quickly prepare a biscuit cake with a delicious lemon flavor.

You will need: 4 eggs, 250 g of sugar and a glass of flour, butter so that the cake does not stick to the mold, baking powder and a pinch of lemon zest.

To prepare this quick pastry, beat the eggs with sugar until fluffy, gently fold in the flour with a teaspoon of baking powder, then add the lemon zest and mix everything. Pour the mixture into the mold. Bake in the oven for thirty minutes at 200 degrees.

If desired, pineapples and apples can also be added to such a pie, and vanilla will help enhance the flavor of the zest.

lemon cake

For the cake you will need 6 eggs, 1.5-2 cups of sugar, 2 cups of flour. Beat sugar with eggs until thick foam, add flour and mix. Add baking powder for fluffy baking. This amount of finished mass is designed for 4 cakes. Bake them on a pre-greased baking sheet for 15-20 minutes. After the pastry is cooked, let it cool down properly.

The cream consists of two glasses of sour cream, one glass of sugar and the zest of one lemon. Beat the chilled ingredients until fluffy and spread the cakes with cream. Leave the cake in the refrigerator overnight. Then it will be the most delicious.

Marinade for poultry meat

To make a fragrant marinade, you need to mix a quarter cup of vegetable oil, salt and pepper to taste, a few chopped garlic cloves, Italian herbs, and the zest of one lemon. The meat should be soaked with this composition for about a day at a temperature of about 4 degrees. As a result of this method of pickling, the meat is simply amazing.

Fish lemon marinade

To prepare it, you need to prepare: half a glass of lemon juice, one tablespoon of zest, chopped garlic clove, a pinch of ground black pepper, half a glass of wine. In such a marinade, the fish should be at least three hours. After insisting, the fish is baked in the oven or grilled. Such a marinade can also be useful for shrimp and other seafood.

Sauce for meat

Olive oil in the amount of half a glass is mixed with a glass of crushed sweet dates. Add a bunch of green onions chopped in a blender and a bunch of parsley. For softness of taste, it is desirable to add crushed pine nuts, literally a handful. Piquancy will add lemon zest about 4-5 tablespoons. Chopped hot peppers and favorite seasonings are placed in the total mass. Salt is added there to taste.

Beef Ragout with Lemon Flavor

To prepare this delicious dish, take a kilogram of beef tenderloin, a couple of Bulgarian peppers, two onions, carrots, potatoes - 1.5 kg, garlic - 1 head, lemon zest - 1 tablespoon, vegetable oil - two tablespoons, spices and salt for your discretion, dill and parsley.

Rinse beef and potatoes and cut into cubes convenient for you. Chop the onion, carrot and bell pepper and fry until half cooked. Prepare ceramic pots, put a mixture of cooked ingredients and spices with lemon zest in them. Cook in the oven for about two hours, checking from time to time. After cooking, divide the dish into portions and sprinkle with fresh herbs.

Tea for a surge of strength and vigor

Put 3 tablespoons of grated ginger and 2 tablespoons of crushed lemon zest into your favorite tea, in addition, throw a sprig of mint, cinnamon and a few peas of allspice. Pour it all with two liters of boiling water. When the tea is infused, add sugar or honey to it to taste.

Tea to relieve flu and cold symptoms

Ingredients: ginger root - 20 g, lemon peel - 20 g, honey - 30 g.

Cooking:

peel the ginger and cut it into thin slices;
grate the lemon zest on a fine grater;
you need to brew your favorite tea (black or green) along with ginger and zest, then let the drink brew for several minutes;
add honey to a warm drink (remember that the beneficial properties of honey are reduced to zero when added to boiling water).

Drink the drink three times a day and at night.

Hot tincture with lemon peel

The zest of three lemons is mixed with a crushed bunch of peppermint. This herbal mixture is added to a half-liter bottle of vodka and sealed securely. This mixture is infused for about a week, shaking 4 times a day. After the tincture has been prepared, it is necessary to strain it through a layer of gauze and sterile cotton wool. Store the tincture in a cool dry place.

How to save?

You can store the zest in three ways, which depend on the type of workpiece.

Store dried zest in an airtight dry jar. After preparing the dry chopped lemon peel, it must be put in a container specially prepared for this. So the lemon zest will retain its unique aroma for a long time.
The zest in sugar is also stored in a closed glass container, but this mixture is best stored in the refrigerator.
Storing the zest in lemon juice at sub-zero temperatures. This method will help to prepare an exquisite sauce for meat or fish at any suitable time. You can grate the zest and arrange it in small molds and pour lemon juice on top - this is very convenient for further use.

For information on how to remove and store lemon zest, see the video below.

Lemon is a real storehouse of useful components and vitamins. However, its wealth is not only in the healing properties that the juicy pulp carries. A dense, bright peel, called lemon peel, should also be actively used in traditional medicine, cosmetology, and cooking.

Lemon zest - features of preparation and storage

Lemon is a special product, because its upper part - the skin - is saturated with essential oils, which are perfectly preserved when dried.

Important! The zest is only the top layer of the peel that is colored!

To get the lemon peel, the fruit is thoroughly washed (preferably using a brush), after which it is poured with boiling water in order to more reliably disinfect. After that, you will need a kitchen knife or grater.

To cut the lemon peel, you will need a sharp knife, because only a thin layer is removed from the fruit. The zest is obtained by rubbing the cut peel with a grater, and care must be taken to erase only the yellow layer of the peel, otherwise the dish will turn out bitter.

After that, the resulting mass is dried and placed in a glass or metal container under a tight lid. To store the product, it is recommended to choose a place isolated from moisture. The zest can be frozen. To do this, the peel is placed for a couple of hours in the freezer, after which they are taken out and rubbed on a grater.

Health Benefits of Lemon Peel

The chemical composition of lemon peel is quite diverse. Saturation with fiber, fats, vitamins, minerals and flavonoids make the zest extremely useful.

It is allowed to use zest in any form, the main thing is to do it systematically and not overdo it with the quantity. If you approach the issue reasonably, noticeable improvements can be noted soon.

Why is lemon peel so useful?

helps prevent bone disease;
able to prevent the development of thrombosis;
calms the nervous system;
improves appetite;
has an effect on blood vessels, increasing their elasticity;
helps to cleanse the body of toxins and other harmful deposits;
peel components enhance the properties of the immune system;
able to relieve sore throat;
normalize blood flow, cleanse the liver;
has a therapeutic effect on fungal pathologies.

Positively affects the process of digestion. All this is due to the presence of dietary fiber, noted in the composition of the lemon peel. This component enhances intestinal motility, promotes the excretion of waste, relieves gas formation and spasms in the intestinal region.

The healing properties that the zest is endowed with have made it popular in folk medicine for the treatment of gastric disorders, the elimination of colic, vomiting, and dyspepsia. The unique product is able to get rid of putrefactive bacteria in the mouth and intestines, thereby eliminating bad breath and improving digestion.

Lemon peel has anti-cancer properties. Due to the content of flavonoids, the peel is able to block the spread of cancer cells. And the substance limomnen is endowed with antitumor properties. Research scientists have shown that those people who eat slices of lemons without peeling are much less likely to develop malignant tumors in the lungs, large intestine and mammary gland. And a special easily digestible substance pectin has a retarding effect on the development of skin and prostate cancer.

Oral hygiene. In order not to face some pathologies of the gums (gingivitis, bleeding, etc.), you need to enrich your menu with vitamin C, which is found in large quantities in lemon peel. Also, the merit of this vitamin lies in its active fight against bacteria that provoke the appearance of caries and periodontitis.

Lemon peel is also used for weight loss. Lemon peels contain pectin, which slows down the absorption of carbohydrates. Thus, the fight against extra pounds is carried out. This component provides a long-lasting feeling of fullness, and cravings for sweets disappear.

Thanks to the lemon peel, the work of the heart muscle is optimized, and this leads to a decrease in the likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Bioflavonoids present in lemon peel are active antioxidants that can prevent oxidative processes. Under their influence, the body gets rid of free radicals that provoke mutations in cells, resulting in premature aging, cancer and pathology of the cardiovascular system.

In addition to the undeniable advantages, lemon peel can be harmful. First of all, people suffering from peptic ulcer should be careful.

It is important to remember that excessive consumption of citrus fruits can provoke an allergic reaction.

If the throat is very inflamed, then you should refrain from drinking lemon, as you can get a burn of the larynx.

With increased acidity, the consumption of zest must be excluded, otherwise heartburn will torment.

Lemon peel in cosmetics

Lemon peel is widely used in cosmetic procedures.

Those who do not know how to get rid of the yellowed skin of the feet should use the zest, which rubs the feet.

Lemon peel can solve the problem of overdried dermis in the elbow area. It is enough to rub it on the problem area and the issue will be resolved.

An excellent face and body scrub can be made with olive oil, sugar and grated lemon zest. After mixing all the ingredients, the composition is ready for use. This scrub is great for moisturizing.

Anyone who makes soap at home on their own should take note of the fact that lemon zest is a good cosmetic additive.

Lemon peels can help keep your home clean and smell good.

The benefits of lemon peel in everyday life

Lemon peel is actively used in everyday life. With its help, it is possible to eliminate a number of problems.

Eliminate stains and grease. Lemon vinegar perfectly copes with pollution of various nature. The grated peel is placed in a glass vessel and poured with vinegar, the lid is covered on top. After a couple of weeks, the infused mass is filtered, and diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1. As a result, it is possible to obtain a unique composition that can clean almost everything. In addition, vinegar, obtained from the zest, is endowed with excellent disinfectant properties.
Get rid of the bad smell in the refrigerator. If you put the lemon peel in the refrigerator, then you can forget about the unpleasant smell.
Helps to fight insects - pests. Uninvited guests in the apartment - ants, fleas, moths, cockroaches - do not tolerate the citrus smell. To combat them, you can try to place zest at doors, window sills, cracks.
Removal of lime deposits. Taps and other chrome surfaces often suffer from lime deposits, which cause a lot of trouble for housewives. The stone will disappear if rubbed with lemon peel.
To clean brass, copper and stainless steel, sea salt is mixed with zest, the contaminated area is wiped with this composition, after which everything is washed off.
With the help of zest, coffee and tea stains on cups and glasses are easily removed. To eliminate the problem, the crushed peel is applied to the problem area and moistened with water. The cup is left for several hours, after which it is wiped with a cloth. There will be no trace of stains.
Cleaning the microwave with zest is an interesting find. The whole process boils down to the following: the peel is laid out in a bowl of water and placed in the microwave for 5 minutes. While the water is boiling, steam will fill the inside of the appliance. After that, the bowl goes out, and the microwave is wiped.

Lemon zest is a unique product that has found application in cooking and everyday life. A useful component is able to enrich the human body with useful substances, vitamins and trace elements.

Video: 8 ways to use lemon

Lemon peel is widely used in Western countries and Europe during cooking as a flavor enhancer for various cakes, biscuits, pastries, pies and other confectionery. It is also used to flavor various cocktails, in the preparation of jams and marmalade to give a fresh citrus aroma. When adding lemon peel to food, it is important to know what effect it has on our body and its beneficial properties. This outer coating of the lemon is best peeled off with a paring knife, as this will not cut off the white core of the rind, which has an unpleasant bitter taste and can spoil the taste of food.

Useful properties of lemon peel

Despite the widespread use of lemon peel, not many of us are aware of the numerous beneficial properties of this product, including:

Protection against colon cancer

The peel of citrus fruits, such as lemons and oranges, is known for its powerful anti-cancer activity, as it is rich in flavonoids, especially citrus polymethoxyflavones, which are effective in suppressing tumor formation in the intestine. Lemon peel is rich in diosmin and hesperidin, which also prevent colon cancer.

Protection against prostate cancer

Studies show that a mixture containing lemon peel effectively reduces the size of prostate tumors and prevents metastasis (the ability of cancer cells to spread to other parts of the body and develop there, affecting nearby organs and tissues), and also causes apoptosis (self-destruction of cells).

Skin Cancer Protection

The peel of a lemon is rich in a substance such as limonene, a colorless substance present in the peel of citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, etc. Limonene is found in large quantities in lemon essential oil, which is just squeezed out of its peel. It has been found that limonene is able to protect the human body from the development of skin cancer.

Lemon peel for weight loss

Although there are many Indian weight loss products, lemon peel is known to be rich in polyphenols, which help in weight loss. Lemon peel is also known to help curb the accumulation of body fat and prevent hyperlipidemia (excess fat in the liver).

May improve insulin resistance

Insulin resistance (resistance) is a condition in which the body's cells do not respond to the action of the hormone insulin, resulting in an increase in blood sugar levels and a condition called prediabetes (precedes diabetes). Lemon peel is rich in polyphenols, which help in improving this condition by suppressing the accumulation of fat in the abdomen.

Blood sugar control

Lemon peel is rich in flavonol glycosides such as naringin and hesperidin, both of which play an important role in preventing hyperglycemia. Its use helps to effectively control blood sugar levels by breaking down glucose in the liver, increasing glycogen concentration and reducing the formation of new glucose molecules in the liver. Along with lemon zest, there is another product with similar properties that is effective in helping to control blood sugar levels. It is called Amla or Indian gooseberry, which can also be used to control diabetes.

Reduces the risk of developing heart disease

Lemon peel is also high in vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant. Vitamin C helps in eliminating free radicals from the body, thereby preventing damage to the walls of arteries and blood vessels caused by these highly reactive particles, thereby preventing the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.

How to use lemon peel

Lemon peel - candied lemons in sugar

Lemon peel can be added as a flavor-enhancing ingredient in cakes and pies. You can peel some lemon zest and add it to the batter just before baking. You can also add lemon zest to cake icing for a tangy flavor.
Lemon peel can be consumed in a candied form, which will give you the opportunity to enjoy the special taste and aroma of this most useful product. Simply boil the lemon zest in a little hot water to reduce the bitterness and add it to another bowl of hot water and sugar. Cook over low heat until the skin is soft. Sprinkle it with a little sugar and let it dry for a day or two. You can eat these candied lemon peels whenever you have a need to munch on something sweet, or you can add them to curds for a delicious cheese curd.
Add dry lemon peel powder to your spice mix that you usually add to your food. Alternatively, you can use this dry powder as a seasoning for fish and meat. To make lemon peel powder, dry the peel for two days or so, then grind it into a fine powder and store in a clean container.

The peel of a lemon is very beneficial for health, and if you use it regularly, you can prevent the development of some of the diseases described above. It is also known that the use of this product brings great benefits to the hair and skin. The high content of vitamin C in lemon and lemon peel can effectively deal with many skin and hair problems, which you can learn about here -

Surprisingly, many of the foods that we usually throw in the trash can be useful in the household and even provide health benefits. This is orange peel and grapefruit peel and peel, tangerines, kumquats and other citrus fruits. Such cleanings are used in cooking, they are actively used by traditional medicine specialists and even gardeners. Let's talk about what orange peel can give us, what it is in general, consider recipes from orange peel, and also what useful properties and contraindications it has.

What is orange peel?

Orange peel refers to the topmost layer of the peel, which has an attractive bright color. Such a product is a source of a mass of useful substances, including vitamins and essential oils. Remove the zest with a sharp knife or rub the fruit scalded with boiling water on a grater. In the everyday sense, of course, the zest is generally the whole peel, which, as a rule, is thrown away when peeling the fruit. Few people do it now.

Orange peel - benefits and harms

Benefits of orange peel

The top layer of the peel of this fruit contains a lot of vitamin C, it contains, and - B1 and B2. The zest is also a source of essential oil, calcium and phosphorus. It contains quite a lot of pectin and citric acid, as well as natural antibacterial substances - phytoncides.

There is evidence that orange peel is a wonderful cure for atherosclerosis. This substance also cleans the vessels from. Such a product improves mood quite well, which is why it is advised to use it for cooking many dishes.

Orange peel has a positive effect on the course of metabolic processes in the body. Its consumption helps to improve digestive processes and avoid heartburn. The consumption of such a product helps to eliminate nausea and increase vigor.

Powder derived from orange peel helps to dissolve mucus in the airways. It can be used to treat coughs and asthma.

Essential oils of orange peel have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Its consumption allows you to optimize the acidity of gastric juice and normalize the course of processes occurring in the intestines. Also, the use of this product helps to unload and cleanse the liver.

Eating orange peel helps fight obesity. Another such product is not bad and.

The aroma of orange peel has a good calming effect, helps to relax, eliminate insomnia and.

This product is widely used in skin care. It helps eliminate excessive activity of the sebaceous glands, get rid of acne and dead skin particles. Orange peel has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and antifungal effect. She copes with rashes and promotes healing of wounds.

Is orange peel dangerous, is harm possible from it?

Orange peel can cause allergic reactions. You should not get carried away with it if you suffer from excessive acidity of the digestive juice, stomach or duodenal ulcers and intestinal disorders. Do not use such a product in excessive quantities and at reduced pressure.

Recipes with orange peel

Pie with orange zest in a slow cooker

To prepare such a delicious dish, you need to prepare four, a glass, one and a half glasses of flour, a couple of teaspoons of orange zest. In addition, you will need a couple of oranges, half a bag of baking powder (one teaspoon). You can use a couple to decorate the cake.

Mix all the ingredients together. Put them in a slow cooker, greasing its bowl. Cover the container with a lid, set the baking mode for one hour and twenty minutes. Invert the cake onto a plate and garnish with kiwi slices.

Homemade cookies with orange peel

To prepare simple homemade cookies, you need to prepare one hundred grams of cold, one hundred and twenty-five grams of flour (and a little more for boning), one yolk and zest, taken from half.

Cut the butter into cubes, add the yolk with powdered sugar to it. Pour the grated zest into the container. Mix all ingredients with a fork until smooth. Sift the flour and stir into the prepared butter mixture. Knead the elastic dough, wrap it with cling film and put it in the freezer for five to seven minutes or in the refrigerator for half an hour.
Roll out the dough well into a 3 cm thick layer. Cut out the cookies and arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Send the cookies to the oven, preheated to one hundred and eighty degrees, for ten minutes.

How to make jam from oranges with zest?

To prepare such a dish, you need to prepare three medium oranges, one small one, half a liter of water and four hundred and fifty grams of sugar.

Prepare the oranges: wash them, cut the zest thinner from them. Grind it into thin straws. Peel the oranges from the white skin, remove the white membranes so that only the pulp remains. Weigh the pulp and zest, place them in a saucepan.

Treat the lemon in the same way: remove the zest from it and extract the pulp of the lemon. Weigh.

Pour the prepared fruit with water, keeping the ratio 1:1. Leave for a day.
Drain the water, put the citruses on a sieve. Pour an equal amount of sugar into them. Boil over low heat for fifteen to thirty minutes and cool.

Additional Information

Orange peel has a lot of medicinal qualities, it is widely used for therapeutic purposes.

Zest and licorice root for stomach ulcers. So, traditional medicine experts advise using this raw material for the preparation of medicines for peptic ulcer of the gastrointestinal tract. To this end, you need to prepare six grams of orange peel and ten grams of licorice root. Brew this mixture with half a glass of water and put on a small fire. Boil until the volume of the medicine is reduced by half. Cool the finished product, mix sixty grams of honey into it. Take the resulting composition in three doses throughout the day. The duration of such treatment is one month.

Cure for uterine bleeding. To stop uterine bleeding, traditional medicine experts advise taking the following decoction. Peel six or seven oranges, boil the resulting peel with one and a half liters of water and boil until the volume of liquid is reduced by half. Sweeten the finished medicine and take four teaspoons three times a day.

Oranges for sore throat, stomatitis, pharyngitis and laryngitis. Simply chewing on orange peel also provides tremendous health benefits. This procedure will help improve breathing, cure stomatitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, etc. This product helps to stimulate appetite.

Baths to relieve stress. Baths with orange peel have a good tonic effect and help get rid of stress. To carry out such a procedure at home, crush the dried zest from three oranges to a powder state. Mix it with some olive oil and leave for an hour. Then pour the fragrant oil into the prepared bath.

Zest and licorice for heartburn. Traditional medicine experts advise using orange peel to treat heartburn. To achieve a therapeutic effect, you need to combine a teaspoon of such raw materials and mix it with a tablespoon of licorice roots. Brew such raw materials with half a liter of water. Place the container with the product on the fire, evaporate the medicine to half, cool a little and strain. Sweeten with honey, stir. Take in a small amount three times a day a quarter of an hour before a meal. The duration of such therapy is one month.

Orange peel is an amazingly healthy product. It can be used to prepare various delicious dishes and to treat many pathological conditions.