How to Make Dried Lemon Peel

Published: Jun 23, 2020 · Modified: May 10, 2024 by Kelly · This post may contain affiliate links · 49 Comments

Don’t throw away those lemon peels! Dried Lemon Peel is the perfect way to save the zest - for lemons or any other citrus fruit.

So much of the flavor and aroma is contained in the peels. And it’s so easy to make. No dehydrator necessary!

Dried Lemon Peel is easy to make at home without the need for a dehydrator or even an oven.

Before you throw out those lemon peels after squeezing the juice, consider saving and drying the zest. Dried Lemon Zest sells for $7 for a little 1.5 ounce bottle at my local Walmart. If you zest your peels before throwing them away, you’re getting it essentially for free!

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Easy to Make Dried Lemon Zest with no dehydrator

Dried Lemon Peel is easy to make at home without the need for a dehydrator or even an oven. While I sometimes stick mine in the oven if I want it in a hurry, it will also dry out at room temperature.

Organically grown

I prefer to use the zest from organically grown citrus so I don’t get a concentrated dose of whatever pesticides might be on the skins. Also be sure to wash and dry the fruit before zesting.

DIY Dried Citrus Peel

Many different types of citrus zest can be dried in the same way:

Oranges
Tangerines
Mandarins
Lemons
Limes
Grapefruit

How much Dried Lemon Zest equals fresh?

Dried Lemon Zest is about a third of the volume of fresh zest, so 1 teaspoon of dried zest would equal 1 tablespoon of fresh zest.

1 medium lemon yields about 1 tablespoon of fresh zest and 1 teaspoon of dried zest.

How to Make Dried Lemon Peel

Zest or peel the lemons
Dry the peels in the oven or on the counter

How to Zest a Lemon or other Citrus

There are several ways to zest or peel the lemon:

Fine grater or microplane – My favorite for lemon zest. It gets the zest very thin and small so there’s no need for chopping. Zest grated on a fine grater also dries the quickest and can be most easily pulverized into a powder.
Cocktail zester – Peels the rind off in little strips. Super easy to use, but the zest will need some chopping to make it fine.
Vegetable peeler- Takes the peel off in bigger strips. You can chop the peel fine with a knife if desired, or you can leave it in strips.
Small, sharp knife – Trim the peel with the knife. Be careful not to get the white pith underneath the rind. Trim it off it you do.

How to dry the Lemon Peel

In the oven:

For the quickest Dried Lemon Zest, dry the lemon peel in the oven at its lowest setting. My oven’s lowest setting is 170° F. The hotter the oven, the darker the dried peel will get.

Spread the zest on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Let it bake until the peel is dry, shriveled, and crispy. If the zest is very fine, it should be finished in 30 minutes to an hour. It will take longer if the peel is in strips, several hours should do it.

If I’m doing a big batch of lemon zest or want it quickly, I use the oven method.

On the counter:

You can also dry the lemon peel on the counter. Spread the peel on a dish or baking pan and let dry for several days, giving it a toss every day or so. Once again, the smaller the peel, the faster it will dry.

When I use a single lemon, I zest it first, then just let the zest dry on the counter.

Storing

When the peel is completely dry, store it in an airtight container. It can be left as is, or ground into a powder in a spice grinder or blender.

How long does it last

Dried and stored in an airtight container, Dried Lemon Peel will last up to a year.

How to use

Dried Lemon Zest has so many uses:

In seasoning mixes
In teas
In baked goods
Sprinkled on salads
In marinades and salad dressings
Sprinkle on chicken or fish
Sprinkled over sautéed, roasted, or grilled vegetables
Use as a replacement for fresh lemon zest. 1 teaspoon of dried lemon peel equals 1 teaspoon fresh zest.
Use it anywhere you want a bright pop of flavor
Use in homemade cleaners and body care products
Mix them into potpourri

What is Dried Lemon Peel powder

Dried Lemon Peel Powder is Dried Lemon Zest that has been pulverized into a powder in a spice grinder or blender.

To make Dried Lemon Peel Powder:
Dry the peels as instructed, making sure they are very dry.
Grind to a powder in a spice grinder or blender.
Store in an airtight container.

Where to buy Dried Lemon Peel

Dried Lemon Peel can sometimes be hard to find. Walmart carries it and it can be found on Amazon.

Recipe

How to Make Dried Lemon Peel

Kelly

Dried Lemon Peel is easy to make at home without the need for a dehydrator or even an oven.

5 from 9 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 40

Total Time 45

Course Spices and Seasonings

Cuisine American

Servings teaspoon

Calories 1 kcal

Ingredients

Lemons washed and dried. Preferably organic

Instructions

Remove the peel from the lemons using a grater, microplane, zester, vegetable peeler, or knife. Be careful not to get any of the white pith. I zest them before cutting and juicing them.

To dry in the oven:

Heat the oven to its lowest heat setting. (My oven’s lowest setting is 170° F.)
Spread the zest on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Let it bake until the peel is dry, shriveled, and crispy. If the zest is very fine, it should be finished in 30 minutes to an hour. It will take longer if the peel is in strips, several hours should do it.

To dry on the counter:

Spread the peel on a dish or baking pan and let dry for several days, giving it a toss every day or so. The smaller the peel, the faster it will dry.

To store:

When the peel is completely dry, store it in an airtight container.
The dried peel can be left as is, or ground into a powder in a spice grinder or blender.

Notes

1 lemon yields 1 teaspoon zest

Nutrition

Calories: 1kcalCarbohydrates: 0.3gProtein: 0.03gFat: 0.01gSodium: 0.1mgPotassium: 3mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 3mgIron: 0.02mg

Keyword dried lemon peel, dried lemon zest

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Enjoy, friends!

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