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

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

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

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

Tips & Warnings

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

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[lectio]

on 3/17/2009 If you have an alligator handy, you can use its front teeth to get your peeling started. Unless the alligator eats the orange. And your hand. If that happens, consult a medical professional.

[NYFuzz]

on 7/3/2008 Tossing the rind into your garbage disposal and running warm water as the disposal runs will clean the disposal and give a wonderful scent to the disposal.

[Grizdor]

on 6/7/2007 Squeezing the orange (fairly hard) before you peel it makes the peel come off easier.

on 11/22/2005 If you hit the orange lightly against a wall, it will be easier to peel. (The softer it is, the easier to peel.)

on 11/22/2005 Turn spoon over so you're looking at the bottom of it, break open peel, insert spoon and wiggle away. Go in any direction.