What Can You Do With Citrus Peels?

Do you know which part of the citrus fruit contains the most health properties ? It is citrus peel, which is beneficial in avoiding cancer or cardiovascular disease, which prevents the accumulation of fluid and fat, and which boosts your immune system, to name just a few.

Therefore, we will explain how, by using the peel of lemon, orange, mandarin, lime and grapefruit, you can enjoy their medicinal, culinary and cosmetic properties.

It is important that the fruits are grown at home or are organic, so that you are sure that they are not sprayed or have other toxic substances in the peel.

Citrus peel storage

The first step is to wash the fruit well, peel them and remove the white on the inside of the peel which may have a bitter taste.

First of all, you can use the shell by grating it, because in this way you get a clearer aroma. But if you want to preserve the shell to use it occasionally, you can freeze the grated shell. Another option is to dry the peel naturally  in the sun or in the oven (at low temperature for a few hours), and then crush the peel using a coffee grinder.

Medical use

• Citrus peel has a powerful antioxidant effect  due to its content of flavonoids that naturally prevent and treat cancer, especially skin cancer and breast cancer, as well as reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

• High content of vitamin C contributes to a strong immune system.
• Cleansing effect for your body, both inside and out. Helps against fluid retention.
• Relaxing and somewhat calming effect. Citrus fruits also help with mood.
• Improves the digestive system  (especially when it comes to fat).
• Improves the absorption of nutrients, such as iron, and can therefore be a good help in the treatment of anemia.

Culinary use

Citrus peel, whether fresh or dried, gives a fresh and very aromatic touch to your recipes, while providing medicinal benefits and improving digestion:

• In cakes, desserts and biscuits : Mix grated shell in the dough or use as a garnish.

• In vinaigrettes or other types of sauces.  Or to flavor oils
• As a spice (dried or as a powder) for meat, fish, soups and stews.
• As an original touch for ice cubes : Put fresh lemon peel in the ice cube tray together with water
• You can cover the shell, either whole or parts, with sugar by boiling the shell in sugar as if you had made a syrup. Then dip them in sugar and bake them in the oven.

To make syrup : Boil the peel with honey or sugar until half the amount is gone. Store the syrup in the refrigerator and use it for both children and adults. The syrup will boost the immune system and prevent diseases caused by viruses and bacteria.

Cosmetic use

Thanks to the content of vitamins and minerals, citrus fruits can help you cleanse the skin, but also improve its texture, prevent sagging, better hydration, as well as prevent wrinkles. This is because the  citrus fruits help with cell renewal and contribute to the production of collagen.

• Natural exfoliation : You can create a simple and effective exfoliation that cleanses the skin and contributes to cell renewal by mixing sugar (or sea salt), lemon peel or powder and olive oil / almond oil (if you have dry skin) or aloe vera jelly (if you have oily skin).

• Deodorant : If you have peel from citrus fruits in a blender, you can use the juice from this as a very effective deodorant without any harmful substances. It should be stored in the refrigerator for a few days or in the freezer so that you can use it little by little.
• Soap : We give you the recipe for lavender soap in this article. If you use citrus peel instead of lavender, you get a cleansing and very aromatic soap.