How to Zest Without a Zester
Citrus zest offers many practical uses. Zest, usually from lemons and oranges, is a common ingredient in beverage and food recipes. Beauty and cleaning regimens also sometimes incorporate fresh zest, so even if you don't own a dedicated zester, you'll benefit from knowing how to gather zest from citrus fruits. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Slice the zest of the fruit with a sharp paring knife. Slice away from yourself and the fruit, and from the bottom of the fruit and up, being careful to make small, easy strokes so as not to cut into the pith.
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Grate the zest of your citrus fruit using a box-shaped grater. This type of grater includes four sides that each have different size holes and is usually used for grating cheese to your choice of consistency. Stabilize the grater on a cutting board. Choose the side with the smallest holes, and gently rub the fruit against the grater in an upward motion.
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Peel your lemons and oranges to get the zest you need. Make the necessary small and shallow strokes in the fruit with a vegetable peeler to shave the zest. Hold the fruit firmly, and peel it as you would a cucumber or apple, but let the peeler's blade slice more deeply than when working with thin-skinned fruits and vegetables.
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Tips & Warnings
Slicing the fruit in half or in quarters may make it easier to zest.
Wash away any remaining dirt or pesticide that may lie on the peel of your fruit before you begin. This step is important, because you are using only the top layer of the peel, just down to the pith or membrane.
References
- Photo Credit grater with surfina white image by Pontus Edenberg from Fotolia.com
