How to Make and Store Your Own Dried Orange Zest

Have I ever told you about my love for my dehydrator? (Heh, Heh, of course I have.) Well here's yet another task it can handle for you!

How to Make and Store Dried Orange Zest

The zest of an orange is the outermost, colorful part of the peel. It contains concentrated, highly flavorful oils great for baking delicious sweets and breads. You can most certainly use it in savory cooking, as well.

All you need to do to make zest is remove this colorful part from the orange. You can do this by using a knife to cut strips, a simple grater, or a utensil more specifically designed for zesting. (I have a Microplane and wouldn't trade it for the world.) The important thing to remember is not to go into the pith, or white part of the peel. This has an unappealing flavor. Also, don't forget to wash your fruit before zesting.

If you're lucky and find yourself with a lot of oranges, making a large quantity of dried zest is made easier by using a food dehydrator. (I have a dwarf orange tree right outside on the patio. It's producing intoxicatingly fragrant blooms and fruit -- I'm impatiently waiting for those babies to ripen.)

Additional note: I also watch for oranges (or lemons or limes -- you can zest them too, ya know) in the reduced section of my produce department. I can sometimes find 3 lb. bags of oranges for 99¢!

To dry your zest, simply spread it out on a shelf of the dehydrator and set your temperature to 135°. Walk away and let it do its thing until the zest is completely dry. Alternately, you can use your oven if the temperature can be controlled to that low degree, and you have the time. You can also simply let the zest air dry on your counter top (I have no idea how long that would take, though).

BTW, if you end up with too many oranges to eat, run them through a juicer (this is mine). That's what I do. I then freeze the juice in these little stackable Ball freezer containers and pull one out to place in the refrigerator each night before I go to bed. Freshly squeezed juice is ready to drink in the morning.

Your fresh-dried orange zest can simply be stored in a jar with a tight lid in your pantry. I can't say exactly how long it will last. I can say I've had some in my pantry for a few months, and it still has flavor.

How much does it make / save? I got about an ounce out of three large oranges. I've seen this amount go for $3 - $4 in stores...made mine for pennies!

Shared at All Things Thursday, Fabulously Frugal Thursday, Thrifty Thursday, and some of these other fine hops.




I was featured!

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a very small commission if you click the link and buy something. This helps support my mountain homestead dream as well as my blogging activities, and the price you pay will be no different than if you arrived at the same destination through any other link. My opinions are my own, to be sure. If I link to a product and say I like it -- I truly like it! :-) Thanks for reading and following Stephlin's Mountain.

Homemade Orange Julius (Make Your Own!)

I knew it was a winner before I took the first sip. Orange and vanilla combined for an intoxicating scent. I'm not kidding. This simple -- frugal even -- drink is that good. If you love (even like a little!) Orange Julius, then you should give this a try.

I got the recipe from Tawra Kellam's book Dining on a Dime. If you don't own a copy, you might want to consider it. Her drink recipes alone are worth it to me. I'm also fond of her mocha frappuccino recipe. (That's what I call it -- from her "master" smoothies list.) Tawra also has a website, Living on a Dime. I searched it for the "Creamy Orange Shake" recipe, and she has it posted here.

Frozen orange juice concentrate, milk, sugar, water, and pure vanilla (this is how I make my own) are all it takes.  Blend all together with a few ice cubes to get some wonderful frothy action.  Please don't leave them out -- the froth is simply divine.

Homemade Orange Julius

- Slightly adapted from Tawra Kellam's "Creamy Orange Shake" recipe in Dining on a Dime.

- Ingredients

• heaping 1/3 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 5 ice cubes

- Instructions

• Combine in blender (on a high speed) til smooth and frothy!

Yield: 1 tall glass, filled to the rim

Shared at The HomeAcre Hop, Thriving Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, All Things Thursday, Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop, and Show Me What Ya Got.

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a very small commission if you click the link and buy something. This helps support my mountain homestead dream as well as my blogging activities, and the price you pay will be no different than if you arrived at the same destination through any other link. My opinions are my own, to be sure. If I link to a product and say I like it -- I truly like it! :-) Thanks for reading and following Stephlin's Mountain.