How to Make and Use Lemon Peel Powder

With the hot weather comes thirst-quenching jugs of homemade lemonade poured over ice. Plump lemons are halved and lovingly squeezed to get every drop of juice. The only snag is that we tend to throw away the rinds. And why not? They taste bitter and gross, right? Well, you might not want to just sink your teeth into an unpeeled lemon, but there are things we can do with the peel that is of enormous benefit to us.

Aside from candying the peel, we can turn that peel into a powder that can be used in several different ways in your kitchen and elsewhere around the home.

Health Benefits of Lemon Peel

Lemons are famed for their incredible vitamin C content and help our bodies to absorb plant-based iron. That is also true of the peel. The peel contains vitamin C and other healthful compounds, such as D-limonene. Both of which act as powerful antioxidants.

Lemon peel is thought to have antimicrobial and antibacterial properties and is especially effective at promoting oral health.

How to Make Lemon Peel Powder

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First, you will need to collect lemon peels. You can simply save lemon peels as you go and keep them in the fridge until you have enough to make a batch of powder with, or you can intentionally peel a bunch of lemons in one go if you intend to use the pulp and juice in another recipe.

Try to use organic lemons if you can, as the peels may carry residual pesticides. If you have lemons with thick pithy rinds, try to reduce this by using a vegetable peeler to take off just the yellow part. A little pith is not a problem, it just tends to be the more bitter part.

Once you have your peels, you will need to dry them out in either a dehydrator or an oven.

• The dehydrator method–  Set your dehydrator to 95-105°F. Spread your peels out on the shelves evenly and without overlapping them. The time it will take for them to dry out will depend on how thick your peels are, the climate you live in, and the type of machine you have. It may take a few hours to a full day for them to completely dry, but what you are looking for is a peel that is completely crisp and will cleanly snap in half.
• The oven method– Set your oven to the lowest setting possible. Spread your peels out on a baking sheet and pop them in the oven. As with the dehydrator method, the time it takes for your peels to dry will depend on a few variables. You are still looking at a few hours to a day. Keep an eye on these peels, and don’t let them burn. You are looking for that same crisp snap.

Failing to dry your peels completely will result in a damp powder that is more likely to spoil and will not last nearly as long.

Once you have your dried peels, you need to whizz them up into a powder in a blender, food processor, or coffee grinder. Store your powder in a clean, dry glass jar.

How to Use Lemon Peel Powder in the Kitchen

• Baking– add lemon powder to all kinds of baked treats, from cakes to cookies. Use the lemon powder as you would any other cooking spice.
• Salad dressing– sprinkle a generous dash of lemon power into your favorite salad dressing for an extra zingy kick.
• Seasoning– mix up a batch of your own seasoning. Use lemon powder, salt, pepper, and dried herbs to make your blends.
• Dips and hummus– add lemon peel powder to guacamole, dips, and hummus for extra zest and extra nutrition.
• Yogurt and ice cream– use lemon peel powder as a zingy topping for your plant-based yogurts and ice creams.
• Substitute for lemon zest– if a recipe calls for lemon zest and you are out of lemons, reach in the cupboard for your jar of lemon peel powder instead.
• Tea– add lemon peel powder to your favorite tea blends.

How to Use Lemon Peel Powder Around the Home

• Carpet deodorizer– mix lemon powder with baking soda and sprinkle generously over your carpets and rugs. Leave it for at least 15 minutes but really for as long as you can, then vacuum it up. It will leave your carpets smelling lemony fresh.
• Abrasive cleaner– add lemon peel powder to salt and use it as an abrasive cleaner for bathtubs and sinks.
• Fridge deodorizer– combine lemon peel powder and baking soda in a jar and keep it at the back of your fridge. This will help to absorb foul smells.

Related Content:

• Lemons: How They Make You Healthy and Happy!
• Homemade Vitamin C Powder
• How to Get Vitamin C from Different Sources
• How to Grow Your Own Lemons at Home