How to Dry & Use Lemon Peel

Don't throw away those lemon peels. It's easy to dry them for use in cooking, cleaning and body care (yes, really!)
First, wash your lemons. Please only use fruits that are organic or haven’t been sprayed. Peel them with a vegetable peeler and try to get just the rind, not the bitter white pith.
Place the peels in a single layer in your dehydrator. My giant pile of peels filled three trays in my Nesco dehydrator.
Dry them for 10-12 hours at 95 degrees. You’ll know they’re completely dry when they snap and don’t bend.
Aren’t they beautiful? You could stop right here and add them to potpourri, or as a fragrant centerpiece with some fresh rosemary.
Crush the peels and buzz them in your coffee grinder until you get a fine powder. Store the lemon peel powder in the fridge—it will keep for a year.
Cooking With Dried Lemon Peel
When substituting in a recipe, use 1 teaspoon dried peel for each tablespoon of fresh peel called for in your recipe.
Make your own lemon pepper! Combine 2 Tbsp lemon peel powder and 1 Tbsp pepper; add 1 tsp salt if desired.
Add a pinch to tea or your homemade salad dressing.
Mix with sugar and sprinkle over scones or other baked goods; add to sugar cookies for a pop of flavor.
Put a bit into the crumb topping for apple crisp.
Give your vanilla or lemon pudding extra zing with a dash of lemon peel powder.
Use to brighten the flavor of artichokes–add to the cooking water.


Visit my site for 3 additional DIY recipes using dried lemon peel!
BrownThumbMama
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Midela Midela on Sep 19, 2022

    What a fantastic idea! Thanks for sharing!

  • Meem Kaplan Meem Kaplan on Jul 02, 2023

    YAY! Another food item for my new dehydrator! I'm having so much fun making herbal teas and other stuff. Now I get to do lemon peels! Best $10 I ever spent at a yard sale!!!

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