Orange Peel

Orange peel though often discarded has different uses and health benefits. 

Uses of Orange peel;

In the Kitchen:

• The strips of orange peel can be boiled to make tea

•  One use of orange peels is as a dried seasoning. Orange peels can be scraped across with a specialized kitchen grater called a zester. The zester removes only the thin upper layer of the orange peel, not the lighter colored pith. The grating action creates a pile of orange zest, which is usually left to dry overnight before being stored in an airtight herb bottle. Orange zest is often used to enhance other flavors in desserts, gravies, and even some meat dishes. Dried orange peels can also be sprinkled as a garnish.

• Orange peels can be used to make delicious homemade oils. Place some orange peel and cranberries in olive oil and close it with a cork. You can observe a wonderful flavor to the oil after some weeks.

• Placing a piece of orange peel in a container of brown sugar will help keep it from drying out.

• Orange peel can be chopped into smaller pieces, after the orange juice has been squeezed in a bowl. Both can be boiled together to make orange jam.

• Orange peel can be dried, grinded and made into powdery form which can be used for baking as orange peel powder. 

• Yam flour normally known as (Elubo) can be fortified with orange peel.

Around the House:

• Another use for orange peels, is air freshening. Combing dried orange peels, cinnamon sticks, lemon peels and flower petals in a simmering pot of water. As the steam leaves the potpourri, the air should become much more scented. For safety purposes, keep an eye on the pot and do not leave it boiling unattended.

• Orange peels can be tastefully cut and added to dried flower arrangements for extra color, shape, and style.

• Dried orange peels can be stored in a cheesecloth bag and kept in closets, drawers or cupboards to help reduce musty odors.

Outside the House:

• Placing orange peels at the bottom of your garbage can before putting in a garbage bag is said to reduce odor and also help discourage insect infestation.

• Rubbing orange peels directly on the skin can be an effective mosquito repellent. Insects in generally find the odor of orange oil offensive.

• Some experts suggest that a mixture of dried orange peels and coffee grounds will discourage neighborhood cats from using a homeowner’s yard as a litter box. The overpowering smell of orange oil and coffee overrides their usual litter box signals.

• Taking a few orange peels in a cup of warm water and make a puree in a blender. Pour this solution into anthills to prevent ants or anywhere around the house that you do not want ants to be.

To be continued...

Thanks for reading!

Article by:

Iyiola Grace Omowumi

Food, Nutrients & Health

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Reference:

gomestic.com 

wisegeek.com