How to Peel an Orange

With this method of peeling an orange, you won't get your hands covered in juice or peel under your fingernails. If your aim is to "section" the orange (remove all the membrane to use chunks in salads or other recipes), you'll find instructions here as well.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Sharp Kitchen Knife
• Oranges

Peeling an Orange to Eat

1. 

   Use a paring knife to carefully cut a circle of rind off of the top and bottom of the orange.

2. Use the knife to score the orange rind and white pith in approximately 1-inch sections, pulling the knife across the rind from the top of the orange to the bottom of the orange. Or, if you have a lot of manual dexterity, cut the rind in a spiral as shown here. Don't cut into the flesh.

3. 

   Peel each orange rind section away from the flesh of the orange.

4. 

   Separate the orange into sections and eat.

Sectioning an Orange

1. Hold the orange over a bowl to catch the juice.

2. Use a paring knife to remove all the peel, white pith, and membrane from outside the orange. The orange flesh should be exposed.

3. For each section, cut between the fruit and membrane on each side. Lift out each segment and drop it into the bowl.

Tips & Warnings

• Thick-skinned oranges (such as navel oranges) are easiest to peel.

• If you intend to juice the orange, it should not be peeled first.

• Orange rind makes a great addition to the compost pile.

• Orange sections are good for salads and cooking, when you don't want the membrane barrier.