Winter is the season for citrus and while citrus is not at all local to me here in Montana, we do eat some now and then. As in everything we do here at our homestead, we try to have as little waste as possible. Using citrus peels gives us ample opportunity to get creative with what would otherwise be considered waste.
Compost Citrus Peels
Citrus peels can be composted but they can take a very long time to break down in the piles. Citrus peels should not be put in vermicomposting bins, as the citrus as it tends to be too acidic for the red wiggler worms. When composting it in a traditional pile, make sure to cut them into smaller pieces to help it break down faster.
Dehydrate Citrus Peels
Dry those peels. Lay them out on dehydrator trays and dry at 125 degrees until crisp. Alternatively string the peels with a needle and thread and hang somewhere warm and dry (near the wood stove, for example) until they're crispy dry. Careful with this method as they could mold before drying if the air is humid or cool. It's worth trying however.
Once dried, those peels have a multitude of uses:
Dried citrus peels are a flavorful addition to hot tea.
Run the dried peels through a blender or food processor and turn it into a powder. That powder can then be added to baking soda and borax for a homemade scouring cleaner.
Add coarsely ground peels to homemade body sugar & salt scrubs for a little extra exfoliating power.
Make a homemade Vitamin C supplement by mixing dried powder with other herbs for a natural solution.
Rather than running the dehydrator every day – keep peels stored in a container in the refrigerator. Once a week, put all the collected peels in the dehydrator and run until dry. The great thing about grinding it all into a powder is that it's easy to store in a compact place.
Infuse Citrus Peels
Put those peels in a jar with some vinegar and let it sit for a few weeks. After straining use that citrus vinegar for all your household cleaning needs.
Mix the zest with salt or sugar for a delightful citrus flavor for all your savory and sweet cooking needs. Lemon salt is especially good on chicken or fish. Orange sugar is delightful in cookies, even hot chocolate.
Cover the zest with vodka and let it steep. After a few weeks, a citrus flavored extract is born. That extract is perfect for use in cookies, cakes, and other baked goods. It's even delicious mixed with a little sugar syrup as an adult cordial.
Remember, most any citrus peel can be substituted for another, so don't be shy in making tangerine salt or grapefruit extract, simply substitute equal amounts of zest or rind in any recipe calling for citrus peel.
As this winter season moves by us, be sure to save and use every bit of that expensive, organic citrus for use in the home. Use those peels for cleaning, body products, food and much more that will last long beyond this winter season. What's your favorite way to use citrus peels?
Elizabeth Cotten says
My favorite way to use citrus peals is the one where I soak them in vinegar and use that for cleaning. After 2 rounds of vinegar soaking, I’ll put them in ice cube trays topped with more vinegar and freeze them. Every so often, I’ll throw some down the garbage disposal.
Homespun Seasonal Living says
The garbage disposal trick is such a great idea – thanks for sharing!
Annie @ Montana Homesteader says
I’ve been trying to figure out ways to reuse citrus peels since we can’t put them in the worm bin and our chickens don’t like them. I really dislike throwing them out so I LOVED this post with all these ideas- I can’t wait to try them out!!
Homespun Seasonal Living says
I’m so glad that you found it useful!
Lana says
I was just googling the other day on what I can use old shriveled grapefruit & lemons not able to eat. Perfect ideas !!
Btw, I couldn’t locate via Google on anything. So your email & post were a Gos send! I’m trying to become conscious in using all foods for something! Compost bin just started
Homespun Seasonal Living says
Oh I’m so glad to know this proved useful for you!
Meridie says
Dried citrus peels make great firestarters. Their heavenly scent fills the house.
Homespun Seasonal Living says
What a great idea! I’m going to give that a try. Thanks.
Carm says
I can’t wait to try them in the fireplace.
Lolly Lewis says
My lemon tree was very productive this year and I just couldn’t bring myself to throw away the lemon halves after juicing them, now I have some great ideas. Thanks so much for sharing!
Homespun Seasonal Living says
Oh enjoy that homegrown goodness! I’m so glad to know this will come in handy for you.
Katie Johnson says
Do you have to remove the pith off the peels before dehydrating?
Homespun Seasonal Living says
It’s up to you. As I mostly use the dried peels for body & cleaning products, I leave the pith. If you’re going to be using it for a lot of cooking, recipes, etc. You might want to remove the pith so it’s not too bitter.
Gabriel says
Can I put the dry orange peel powder in a bath bomb…
Homespun Seasonal Living says
I think you could, though I haven’t personally tried it. Good luck!
SuzyJCinColorado says
Hi, I am so glad I found your blog. In answer to some of the questions above I thought I might add that to dehydrate, I first take a paring knife and skim off as much of the pith as I can. Then I slices the peel into tiny strips and spread them out on the dehydrator trays. It makes them dry out much faster and I store them in an airtight container. If I know it will be a long time, I always add an oxygenator packet (those little packets you can by on Amazon that removes all the oxygen from the storage containers. I use these whenever a recipe asks for “zest of.” As for citrus that has kind of dried up before you can use it. Try slicing thin and add to a simmering pot on the stove or crockpot with some cinnamon, cloves and star anise, it makes the house smell like heaven. I am getting ready to try the recipe for extract and also the vinegar & witch-hazel recipes. (Vinegar for cleaning & witch-hazel for an air freshener) I love learning how to be more self sufficient and stop wasting money at the grocery store. Please keep all of the wonderful ideas coming. Thank you
Homespun Seasonal Living says
Thank you for these great tips.
Betsy says
My goats love to eat citrus peels…they recycle them into fertilizer much faster than composting does! ;) But I do dehydrate some for home use as well.
Whitney says
Really? I’ll have to see if mine will eat them. So far the only food scraps they like are tortilla chips and pumpkin seeds.
Charlie says
It’s such a waste to throw lemon peels away.. If I am deep cleaning my stainless steel sink, I pour salt on each half and scour away, rinse with cold water. Wipe dry. I polish the sink with lemon pledge when I’m done for a high gloss shine. I throw all peels into a plastic bag , and toss into freezer. Takes seconds to thaw and then reuse to scrub.
P says
Haha .. if we froze all our citrus peels we’d need a separate freezer for them, and would never get them used up!! (we eat a lot of oranges and lemons and seldom clean eek!) Happy new year.
Harrolyn says
Do you think the ground or chopped peels might make moles leave a yard? They are terrible this year but I have to be careful what I use because my sweet old Frenche Bulldog rules the yard and I don’t want him digging up poison. I cannot use the traps – way too many moles in a big yard and my neighbors have moles too.
Homespun Seasonal Living says
I’m not sure about the peels deterring moles. If you know where the holes are try putting some mint (bunches of it) in and around the holes. I’ve even heard of people blending the mint and pouring the puree down the holes. Most rodents don’t like mint.
Carmen says
harrolyn, i don’t think citrus would deter the moles, they are persistent little buggers! but garlic deters lots of insects in my garden, perhaps put a considerable amount of garlic cloves around (and maybe in) the tunnels you might see. let us know if it works!
Terry says
I like making orange peel Candy.
Carm says
I place peels in a mason jar and cover with water for 5 days then drain off the water and use it for cleaning. I sprinkle the oven or food burnt on my pots with baking soda then spray with my citrus water, wait a few minutes and wipe out the grime.
Victor Lysohirka says
Thank you for the wonderful, and safe, solutions, that you provide, using natural products. Citrus peels, also make, ideal potpourri ingredients .
Deeama says
And, don’t forget that you can eat the citrus with the peel. I’ve frozen whole lemons and then grated them (don’t thaw) over salads, into drinks, and over baked chicken, for example. Tastes great!
Kristen says
Candy peels for orange and grapefruit
Sugar and water to make a Syrup
Cool roll them up put tooth pick through them they are great
Barb says
After reading you ideas for using citrus peels, I feel terrible for what we have used them for — fire starters. We dry them by our wood stove and throw a handful in when starting a fire. The oil in the skins always boast starting the fire.
Kathie Lapcevic says
Ooh that’s a great idea!
Min says
Thank you for the awesome tips how to use citrus peels…I can’t wait to try them! I recently made a batch of orange vinegar and wanted to ask if the vinegar-soaked orange peels can be thrown into the compost? Thank you for any advice!
Kathie Lapcevic says
I am not an expert on compost but I don’t usually throw anything with vinegar in my compost pile. Citrus peels take a long time to break down on their own, the vinegar would likely make it take even longer. Plus vinegar could have adverse effects on certain microbes and we know it kills plants so I’d want to make sure it was completely broken down and well before adding it to my garden…
Min says
Got it and thank you for your reply and the tip!
amparo lim says
help – then what to do with the vibegar soaked peel after removing the liquid –
thanks
amps
Kathie Lapcevic says
There’s not much you can do with them. They won’t compost well, or it’ll take a super long time to compost. I just toss them at that point.
nemo says
Since they compost so slowly, why not just keep throwing them back in until they are broken down? The less we throw out, the less that will end up in a landfill. They are a natural product and will eventually become “dirt”.
Daisy says
I break up my orange peels and put them in my sink hog (disposal). I get a burst of orange scent that fills my kitchen. I expect you could do the same with the vinegar peels. Would leave the hog smelling fresh.
Kathie Lapcevic says
Such a great idea!
Angela Vincent says
I save up my citrus peels in the freezer, along with any whole fruits that have become a bit dried out, ones I’ve already squeezed the juice from and grapefruit halves we’ve enjoyed for breakfast, then use them to make delicious marmalade. Basically, substitute all peels for the normal weight of fruit (I use a pressure cooker to soften them) and proceed with your normal recipe. Satsuma, grapefruit and lemon is DEEElicious!
Phil Clint says
Lots of uses, here some new to me. I also make some Indian curry’s. I dehydrate lemons as well. I dont dehydrate bananas but I sometime use them in curry,s.
linda wong garl says
Slice fine or satsumas or mandarin oranges …add to your chicken dishes…lemon chicken, orange chicken…stir fried with veggies too!