How to Make Dried Orange Peel (and a Tea Recipe) (2024)

Make Your Own

ByMerissaFebruary 12, 2018October 5, 2023

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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!

Table of Contents

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

1/2 cup Hibiscus Petals
1/2 cup Rose Hips
3 tablespoons dried Orange Peel
2 tablespoons Green Tea (optional)
3-4 Tablespoons dried fruit (such as apples)

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.

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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.

How to make dried orange slices for tea? ›

- To bake: Arrange on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake at 200 degrees F for several hours until dry, flipping every 30 minutes to prevent edges from curling. It should take anywhere from 3-5 hours. - To dehydrate: Set your dehydrator to 130 degrees for about 12-14 hours, flipping every hour or so.

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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.

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What does orange peel do to the body? ›

Orange peels contain flavonoids – like poly methoxy flavones (PMFs) and hesperidin – and other phytochemicals that are highly beneficial for your health. Flavonoids are antioxidant compounds that help prevent chronic diseases such as cancer and heart diseases. It also contains higher amounts of certain nutrients.

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.

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How long can you keep dried orange peel? ›

Once the citrus peel is dry to the touch, store the strips in a jar or other resealable container in a cool, dark place for up to 12 months.

How long do homemade dried oranges last? ›

Store them in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. If you are going to use the dried slices for culinary purposes, oranges will last, if properly dried, a year or two years. Slices used to decorate, they will last indefinitely. If you can see or smell mold on your oranges, throw them away.

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How do you know when dried oranges are done? ›

How to tell when dried oranges are done. Dried orange slices will snap when bent once they are completely dried and cooled, and will have no juice left (tear one in half and squeeze—if moisture appears, dry them longer). Take a few pieces out of the dehydrator and let them cool before testing.

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What is dried orange peel called? ›

Chenpi, chen pi, or chimpi is sun-dried mandarin orange peel used as a traditional seasoning in Chinese cooking and traditional medicine. It is aged by storing them dry. The taste is first slightly sweet, but the aftertaste is pungent and bitter.

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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).