Wondering how to zest an orange? We’re here to help. You’d think that to make zest…you’d need a zester, right? It’s actually not the best tool for the job. Zesters are hard to use, and are better suited for cocktails, anyway. To get your zest, you’ll need either a microplane or a box grater…and a vegetable peeler will do in a pinch! Here’s how to make a fine zest for using in recipes (not cocktail garnishes).
**Want to zest an orange for a cocktail garnish? Go to How to Make a Lemon Twist (it works for oranges, too!)
What is zest?
Orange zest is the colored outside portion of its peel. It brings a citrusy, tangy flavor to recipes. It’s great in salad dressings like our Citrus Salad Dressing, or baked goods like Orange & Fennel Cake. Here’s the most important part of how to zest an orange: You want the colorful part of the peel only, not the white pith! The pith has a bitter flavor and should be avoided.
Best method: How to zest an orange
The best method for how to zest an orange? Using a microplane. What’s a microplane? It’s a handheld grater that has a metal plate with sharp holes. You’ll find this works much faster than using a box grater, and it results in more consistent grating. You can use it to grate all sorts of things: lemons, limes, garlic, and ginger. Here’s the coarse microplane grater we use. Don’t have a microplane? Don’t worry. You can use the fine holes on a box grater. Here’s how to zest an orange with a microplane (or fine holes on a box grater):
How to zest an orange: in a pinch!
If you don’t have a microplane or a box grater, you can use a vegetable peeler! This method is a little more difficult because it can be hard to remove the peel using a peeler. But it works! Here’s what to do:
Use a vegetable peeler to carefully peel off large pieces of the orange part of the skin only (avoiding the pith). Use a chef’s knife to mince the peel into very small pieces.
How much zest and juice in 1 orange?
We’ve got the magic formula. Keep in mind that this quantity varies slightly if you have very large or very small oranges. Here’s the formula: One medium orange yields about 1 to 2 tablespoons zest and about ¼ cup orange juice. 1 large orange can have up to 3 tablespoons zest.
Recipes with orange zest
We love cooking with this ingredient for the beautiful zing it adds! Here are some of our favorite recipes that incorporate it:
Arugula Beet Salad Citrus Salad Dressing Upside Down Orange & Fennel Cake Margarita Salt Chewy Cookie Cake Baked Brie with Cranberry Sauce
5 from 1 review Note: This method yields fine zest for using in recipes (not cocktail garnishes). **Want to zest an orange for a cocktail garnish? Go to How to Make a Lemon Twist — it works for oranges, too!
