Uses For and How to Dry Orange Peel ~ Citrus Series

"Orange peel contains aromatic compounds that are antiseptic, reduce muscles spasms and decrease the thickness while increasing the production of mucosal fluids. It also contains bitter compounds that are anti-inflammatory, reduce muscle spasms, increase the production of digestive fluid and increase blood circulation. Citrus peel has been used to treat coughs, colds, flu, fevers, and bronchitis."

~ Nutritional Herbology: A Reference Guide to Herbs by Mark Pedersen

With so many medicinal benefits and practical uses, I am in awe that we are taught to throw away the orange peel. A few moments later and we repurchase them in prettily packaged products that someone else produces. We are sharing some of our favorite ways to use your peels and instructions on how to dry them. Some of these recipes use the fresh peel while others use dry, so keep that in mind when preparing them. It is quite fun to play in the kitchen and it feels so good to be frugal!

Important Note: Because we are using the actual peel for these products, I highly recommend using an organic (unsprayed) source of oranges.

How to Dry Orange Peel (Two Ways) ~

Simply remove peel from a clean orange with a zester, paring knife or vegetable peeler. If you keep the pith with the peel (and peel it like you are going to eat the orange) that is fine too, but keep in mind that the pith is a bit bitter. 

• Orange pieces (or any other citrus peel) dry for 3 - 6 days (depending on the humidity) on a cookie sheet, single layer, in a warm room. Stir peels every day until dry and brittle. Drying only the zest will take half of the time.

• Although I prefer the slow dry method because I believe it retains more of the beneficial orange oils, you could also dry them quicker if time is limited. Simply place in the oven on cookie sheets (single layer) at 170 degrees for an hour (or more) until completely dry and brittle. 

Store your dried orange peel in an airtight container in a dark, dry and cool place (such as your pantry).

Make Your Own Orange Peel Granules ~

Build up your pantry by preparing your own orange peel granules for cooking, baking and handcrafting needs. Simple grind up your dried orange pieces in a clean coffee grinder. Store in an airtight container. They can be used to enhance flavors in your preserves, desserts, sauces, grilled vegetable and meat dishes. Dried orange peel can also be used as a pretty garnish and many of the projects in this post.

Note: You will find our printable "seasoning and spice" labels for your dried orange peel here.

Sweet $avings: Williams Sonoma sells 2 oz. of blood orange peel for $10. Yours was created from a by-product and can be considered free!

Make an Orange Peel Sugar Scrub ~

Use your dried and coarsely ground peel to make an "orange sugar scrub" for a luxurious bath product. Here is the simple tutorial.

Sweet $avings: Burt's Bees sell an 8 oz. orange sugar scrub for $10. Ours is all natural and cost 90% less to make!

Make Your Own Orange Extract ~ 

Make your own orange extract by using this tutorial but replacing the citrus zest with fresh orange zest. You will find a printable recipe link featuring our label and gift tag at the bottom of this post (simply download and print). You may consider adding it to your herbal.

Sweet $avings: Nielsen-Massey sells 4 oz. of orange extract for $12. Our cost is 50 cents!

Make Your Own Mulling Spices and/or Simmering Potpourri ~

It is easy to make your own simmering potpourri or mulling spices with your dried orange peel. Our tutorial is shared here.

Sweet $avings: Williams Sonoma sells 4.5 oz of mulling spices for $12.95. Ours probably cost $1.

Make Your Own Citrus Grilling Salt ~

Mix together 2 tbsp. fine sea salt, 1/4 cup of dried, ground orange peel and 1 tbsp. freshly ground black pepper. Prior to grilling, add oil and vinegar to some of this rub and spread on vegetables for a distinct flavor. This would also be tasty sprinkled on marinating meat. This recipe was inspired by Kami McBride from her book, the Herbal Kitchen.

Note: Free printable "orange" labels are found here.

Make Your Own Custom Tea Blends ~ 

Use dried orange peel in your own handcrafted tea blends. Health benefits of the peel are shared above and more information is here so consider them in your next brew. They also make a frugal addition to your medicine cabinet. Visit this post for tea blend ideas. 

Make Orange Peel Potpourri ~

For a frugal autumn/winter potpourri blend, follow these three easy steps:

• Place your dried orange peels in a large bowl and add what you can find in your pantry and your backyard. Some ideas are broken cinnamon sticks, dried pods or cones from trees, whole (or coarsely crushed) nutmeg, cloves (whole), allspice (whole), dried leaves, bark, wood chips, sticks and/or an assortment of dried, pretty petals.
• Add in a few drops of your favorite seasonal essential oils such as clove, orange and/or cinnamon.
• Toss well and store this mixture in an airtight container for 3 days to allow the aroma to infuse (shake a few times a day). When the time is up, place your potpourri in a pretty bowl or vase. 

Note: You may want to be creative with your cuts when drying your orange peel for potpourri. In the photo above, however, we just used regular orange peel pieces.

Make an All-Purpose Citrus Cleaner ~

Place fresh orange peels into a clean jar (peels contain d-limonene which is a natural degreaser and excellent cleaning solvent). Cover peels with white household vinegar (make sure they are submerged under the vinegar so that they do not mold). Cap your blend with a plastic lid and let it infuse in a sunny spot for 3 - 4 weeks. Once the time is up, strain the vinegar and discard the peels. Pour through a coffee filter (or fine sieve) to remove any excess solids. You now have an effective and aromatic cleaning solution (our printable cleaning labels are shared here).

Ideas for Use:

• Use a 50/50 mixture of citrus infused vinegar and water for an all purpose cleaner.

• Add a cup of this solution to a bucket of hot water to clean your floors.

• For tough cleaning, use pure without diluting.

Make an Orange Peel Scouring Scrub (Household Cleaning Cleanser) ~ 

Grind up approx. 2 - 4 tablespoons of dried orange peel until powdery (I used a coffee grinder) and add approx. 1 - 2 cups of baking soda (this is flexible). Blend mixture together and pour into your cleanser jar or empty spice shaker (tutorial to make your own cleanser jar is shared here).

Optional: Stir in a few drops of orange essential oil.

Misc. Orange Peel Ideas ~

And this is just the beginning of what can be done! You could also make candied orange peel, add orange zest into your preserves for a flash of flavor, use the peels to keep your brown sugar soft or try this natural ant control remedy. Preparedness Mama shares "24 Uses for Oranges" in case you would like inspiration for the entire orange. We will be sharing more ideas in the future because there is a creative art to being frugal and we seek to develop it in our little home.

“Wealth is certainly a most desirable thing, but poverty has its sunny side, and one of the sweet uses of adversity is the genuine satisfaction which comes from hearty work of head or hand, and to the inspiration of necessity, we owe half the wise, beautiful, and useful blessings of the world.”

~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

HERBAL RECIPE Orange Extract by JES

This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: Modest Mom Monday's, Make it Yourself Mondays, Homestead Barn Hop, Natural Living Tuesday's, Teach Me Tuesday, Raising Homemakers, Make Bake Create, Wise Woman Link Up, Christian Homemaking, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Whatever You Want Wednesday, Welcome Home Wednesdays, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Homemaking Wednesdays, Homemaking Thursdays,  From the Farm Blog Hop, Farmgirl Friday, Clever Chicks Blog Hop and Deep Roots at Home. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. Clip art for the orange extract is courtesy of the Graphics Fairy.