The winter season is all about citrus fruits, and oranges in particular, which means that your hands will surely smell of orange rinds, and a lot of peels will be thrown in the trash. Here are some unique uses for orange rinds that you may not have thought of!
1. Orange Zest
This is probably the most self-explanatory of all the uses for orange peels. Zesting an orange peel with a shredder is a great way to add a sweet and tangy taste to your meat marinades or favorite baked goods. Orange zest can even taste great in your morning cup of coffee or afternoon cup of tea!
2. Preserve Brown Sugar
Add your orange peels to brown sugar to help draw the moisture away and keep it from solidifying.
3. Start a Fire
Oranges can also be used to start a fire! Use a dried orange peel as kindling the next time you are on a camping trip, or use it to make your hearth fires fragrant and bright.
4. Make Orange Peels Dipped in Chocolate
A wonderful delicacy, candied orange peels are a popular after-meal snack in a number of European cultures, and they are quite easy to make too! Just melt some chocolate and cover one or all sides in a sugared orange peel.
5. Make Orange Peel Candy
Candied orange peels are made by boiling a dried orange peel in sugar for about an hour. You can then cover them in chocolate as mentioned above, or roll them around in sugar for an even sweeter taste!
6. Orange Peel Infused Olive Oil
If you want to give your salads a kick, place one dried orange peel in your olive oil to make your greens all the more exciting.
7. Make Orange Tea
No need for tea bags here! Dry out a few orange peels and place them in hot water next time you are craving a warm ‘orangey’ beverage. Orange tea is also great for when you are feeling congested – the citrus will open up your sinuses.
8. Create a Natural Sponge
Orange peels can be used as a sponge too! Before the peel completely dries out, it contains a number of essential oils that are helpful in degreasing surfaces as well as pots and pans. If your sink or counter is full of grease, use an orange peel to scrub it down.
9. Deodorizer
It’s no secret that the smell of a freshly peeled orange can clear out a room. Place the peels at the bottom of your garbage bin, or hang them from a string in your bathroom for a constant fresh scent.
10. Garbage Disposal Cleaner
A great way to clean out your garbage disposal is by putting orange peels down the disposal. Place them in the disposal and run it until clear, then run some water down after it. The citrus will get rid of any scents coming from the disposal.
11. Air Freshener
Boil orange peels in hot water to help freshen the air in the kitchen. You can also add a cinnamon stick or mint into the mix if you want to recreate the smell of air fresheners. If you have a fire going at home, place a paper bag filled with dried orange peels into the fire and your house will smell wonderful.
12. Refrigerator Deodorizer
Orange is also an excellent deodorizer for your refrigerator. Cut an orange in half and remove the fruit from inside (eat it!). Then, fill up half the orange with salt and put it in a small bowl in your refrigerator for up to a week or two.
13. Citrus Cleaner
You can make your own citrus cleaner by infusing vinegar with orange peels and a bit of boiling water.
14. Orange Peel Candle
Make a candle at home with orange peels infused inside.
15. Topiary Tree
Make your own topiary tree with orange peels for a fantastic smelling piece of home decor.
16. Body Scrub
Wrap up the orange peels in gauze pads and rub them on your skin while you are in the shower. The scrub will brighten your skin and give it a great smell.
17. Bath Oil
Extract the oil from the orange peels by grinding up the peels and fermenting them with vodka or alcohol for about 3 days. Strain the oil and add a few drops to your bath. Orange oil is known for its anti-inflammatory properties as well as its ability to improve skin tone and texture.
18. Bath Powder
Dry out the orange peels completely and then grind them down to paste in the food processor. Do this until the rinds become a fine powder and then sprinkle only a bit in your bath.
19. Lowers Blood Pressure
Orange rinds can be used to lower blood pressure. They have been a part of Chinese herbal medicines for thousands of years for this purpose.
20. Suppresses Depression and Anxiety
Orange oil can be used to naturally relieve anxiety and depression by taking a bath or rubbing just a bit on the temple and forehead area.
21. Make a Bird Feeder
To make a natural bird feeder that birds will love, cut an orange in half and remove the fruit. Take the orange half and poke 3 evenly spaced holes near the cut section of the peel. There, attach a sturdy piece of string and hang it from a tree. Fill the empty orange peel with bird seed and wait for your flying visitors to pile in!
22. Mosquito Repellant
If you are looking for a natural way to repel mosquitos, take fresh orange peels and rub them all over your skin. The citrusy smell will repel the mosquitos.
23. Slug Repellant
If you have a slug problem in your garden, try spreading some orange peels on top of the soil to keep them at bay.
24. Ant Repellant
Place orange peels in problem areas of your house where you usually experience an ant problem. Orange oil can also be used instead of peels.
25. Keep Stray Cats Away
If you want to keep stray cats away from your home, place orange peels outside. If you have a cat at home that tends to get into things it shouldn’t, you can rub the peels or place them (or rub orange oil) near the dear things in your home (like your sofa).
26. Make Silly Teeth
Orange peels can be used to make funny teeth with kids that they can put in their mouth. Just cut off a slice of an orange, eat the fruit, and then carve out fun designs from the peel. Have the children walk around with the peel covering their teeth – they are sure to have a great time.
27. Orange Peel Boats
Cut an orange in half, remove the fruit and use the halves as little boats in the bathtub or out on the lake!
28. Orange Peel Jewelry
Make fragrant and fun jewelry with the little princesses you know, entirely out of orange peels!
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