Oranges are delicious, but a pain to peel! Check out my simple step-by-step tutorial that will keep you happily eating citrus all winter long!
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It’s the season for citrus fruits! I love oranges, but let’s face it, the orange is a hard fruit to peel!
I used to hate to peel oranges. For many years, I just stopped eating them because I didn’t want the struggle. It wasn’t worth it.
Then, I stumbled on the Easiest Way to Peel Oranges! Now, I’ll peel oranges 3 or 4 at a time and keep them in an Ello reusable food storage baggie (Amazon link) in the fridge. My kids (and husband) can grab fruit anytime!
Step-by-Step Tutorial: How to Peel Oranges
Maybe this peeling tutorial cheats a bit because you’ll need a knife to cut the ends and score the sides. I don’t know about you, but as long as I can easily get to the fruit, I don’t really care how I do it!
Step 1
Cut each end off of the orange. Try not to cut too deeply into the flesh of the fruit. I use a steak knife for these cuts.
Step 2
Use your knife to score the orange into 4 quarters. You don’t have to cut very deeply for this cut, just through the tough outer peel, not through the white pith.
If you have a giant orange, you may want to score 5 lines into the peel.
Step 3
Slide your thumb under the peel at the top of the orange. (Start on the side with extra white pith covering the orange; it’s easier.)
Step 4
Repeat with the other 3 sections.
That’s it! How easy was that? When you score the peel into smaller, more manageable sections, it’s a breeze to peel!
Troubleshooting
I cut my orange too deep on the ends
That’s fine! This process will still work. If you aren’t eating your orange right away, be sure to wrap it up so it doesn’t dry out. I keep my peeled oranges in an Ello Reusable Food Storage Bag (Amazon link) in the fridge so we can grab fruit anytime.
My orange peel is falling apart when I try to peel it
Some oranges have peels that cling for their lives! This is especially true if the peel is thinner than normal. I have had some oranges that wouldn’t peel well no matter what method I use!
If you find that this is one of those oranges, carefully separate the peel just a bit around the top first, then along the sides and the bottom, finally pulling off the peel at the middle of the section.
Uses for Beautifully Sectioned Orange Peels
Recipes
Save those orange peels! You’ll be needing them to make the recipes that I will be posting in December!
- Candied Orange Peels: Tastes like the orange candies from the store, but made with real oranges and sugar instead of whatever goops and gels go into those treats
- Saint Lucy Buns: A delicious bread with citrus flavor, shaped like glasses, in order to celebrate St. Lucy Day (patron saint of people with eye problems)
- Pannetone: A fluffy, rich Italian bread cake flavored with citrus
Natural Air Freshener
Place orange peels in a saucepan, cover with water and bring to a simmer. Your house will smell amazing!!!
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