The same idea as the small grater side though, just slide it down the rasp and slightly turn the orange with every sweep. By working with a variety of trusted Range Plus Partners, we’re able to offer our customers a wider selection of products.

Now, examine the long ribbon-like peels, and scrape away any white pith that may have come away with the zest. This is my favorite way to enjoy orange zest, a must-try! What’s better than enjoying a good cup of orange-y and cinnamon-y tea while reading your favorite book? Ah, and have I mentioned that it’s so easy to make?If you don’t have a Microplane don’t worry! I am going to show you 2 other ways you can get a good orange zest. One uses a box grater and the other uses a vegetable peeler for when you are really in a bind. A zester, otherwise known as a microplane, is the perfect tool to achieve very fine flakes of orange zest to garnish dishes or incorporate into baking without compromising consistency.

A Microplane is much like a grater except that it shaves much finer than a grater. It is held with a handle on one end and a flat edge on the other end standing on the cutting board. Orange zest is the outermost rind of the orange. It's that thin, orange layer found on every orange skin. It’s arguably the best part of an orange and is where you will find the fragrant and flavorful citrus oil. How to Zest an Orange - 4 Ways There is a metal plate in the middle with small sharp holes which slices the orange perfectly and consistently. The best way to zest your orange is with a Microplane. They are easy to use and help you get just the orange off and not get into the white pith. Continue zesting the orange in continuous strokes from top to bottom around the entirety of the fruit until only the pith is left behind.

I was taught to zest citrus in culinary school with a paring knife because it requires the least amount of tools on hand.

Zesting an orange with a peeler is almost as easy as peeling potatoes. It's also safer and faster compared to zesting an orange with a knife. To peel your orange with a peeler drag the blade down the orange skin, creating strips of orange peel. After making sure that there’s no pith on them, place them nice and flat on your chopping board and dice them into tiny pieces. It’s that simple! How to Zest an Orange with a Peeler How to Zest an Orange with a ZesterTransfer your zest to a measuring cup once you’ve used the entire rind. When you have a large pile of zest on the cutting board, scoop it into a measuring spoon to see how much you have. If you have enough for your recipe, set your zested oranges aside to use the juice or flesh later. [4] X Research source Hold the peeler or knife against the skin and slide it across the rind. Press down hard enough so that you remove the top layer of the rind, using the same motion that you would to peel a potato. Make sure that the peeler or knife is just slightly under the skin, but not touching the pith. [9] X Research source

This is the easiest and most efficient method to zest an orange. A microplane grater produces fine zest instantly.Chop the peel into smaller pieces for use in a recipe. If you’re recipe calls for a finer zest, use a sharp knife to chop or mince the peeled pieces to a smaller size. Be careful when cutting the peeled pieces, as they can be curly and need to be held in place. As you work, measure out the amount needed for your recipe. [11] X Research source Avoid grating too forcefully. Doing so could cause the orange to get hung up on the grater, or cut too deeply down to the pith. The pith tends to have a bitter, unpleasant taste, so you want to avoid letting too much find its way into the dish you're preparing. Using one hand to keep it standing up while you hold the fruit with the other hand gently slide it downward with light pressure. box grater With the cleaned and dried orange in your dominant hand, drag it down the grater, pushing hard enough to retrieve the zest but not hard enough to peel the pith.