Everyone discards orange peel without a thought since it's hard, pithy and bitter. However, it's wrong to say that it has no culinary use at all. Rich fruit cakes and plum cakes are flavoured with preserved orange peel for a deeper, fruitier aroma. "Bitters" a cocktail additive is made of citrus peels is used as a flavouring agent in drinks.
Orange peel is also a home remedy for many digestive disorders. But did you know that the zest of the citrus fruit could also be nutritious?
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Health benefits of orange peel
We don't eat the orange peel because it tastes bitter. But its bitterness is due to the presence of a complex mix of flavonoids in high concentration. Other than that, citrus peels also contain folate,
Anti-ulcer: Orange peel is abundant in the flavonoid hesperidin, which protects against gastric ulcers. It's also consumed as a home remedy for digestive problems.
Good for digestion: Orange peel is fibre rich, which regulates bowel movements by providing bulk.
Boosts immune system: Orange peel has a massive amount of
Anti-inflammatory: High amount of flavonoids in orange peels give it an anti-inflammatory quality, which fights inflammatory conditions and reduces oxidative stress.
Has cancer-fighting properties: Orange peel has been proven to reduce tumour size in mice, according to the findings of a study.
Other benefits of orange peel include:
- Burns fat
- Aids weight loss
- Keeps stomach healthy
- Supports heart health
- Anti-ageing
- Freshens breath
100gm of orange zest has the following nutritional composition.
| Nutritional Fact | Measure%(DV) |
| Calories | 47 |
| Fat | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0% |
| Sodium | 0% |
| Carbohydrates | 6% |
| Fibre | 38% |
| Calcium | 10% |
| Iron | 4% |
| Potassium | 3% |
| Vitamin A | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 143% |
How to cook with orange peel
Before using orange peel to cook, it should be thoroughly cleaned to wash off any pesticide or chemicals. Dried orange peels can be added to cakes and cookie batter for a citrusy fragrance.
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Infusing orange peel or zest in olive oil is also a common culinary practice. The oil can then be drizzled on salads and roasts for a unique flavour.
Candied orange peels can be added to chocolates and truffles for a citrusy fragrance.
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