How to Zest an Orange (2024)

Here’s how to zest an orange: 3 ways! You’ll need a microplane, box grater, or vegetable peeler to make orange zest to use in all your recipes.

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 co*cktails, 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 co*cktail garnishes).

**Want to zest an orange for a co*cktail garnish?Go toHow to Make a Lemon Twist (it works for oranges, too!)

What is zest?

Orange zest is thecolored 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 .

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):

1. Hold the microplane in one hand, then place one end on a flat surface and hold it at an angle. (For the box grater, simply place it on a flat surface like a cutting board.)
2. Hold the orange in the other hand, and drag it down over the microplane holes.Important: make sure to remove the orange part of the skin only! Avoid the white pith, which can taste bitter.
3. Gradually turn the orange until all orange parts of the peel have been removed.

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
• Margarita Salt
• Chewy Cookie Cake
• Baked Brie with Cranberry Sauce

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