Don’t toss those leftover lemon peels! Use your leftover peels to make dried lemon peel powder quickly and easily using your dehydrator.
Lemons are abundant here in Phoenix from the months of December well into April. If you have a lemon tree in your yard (as most of us do!) you are well aware of the abundant harvest.
A few years ago I remember looking at not one but three 18-gallon plastic Rubbermaid totes of lemons picked from the yard. And it didn’t end there.
My in laws have an even greater harvest with several trees – needless to say we swim in lemons for what seems like forever. But they don’t last forever either. You have to find a way to use them quickly or they will turn on you fairly fast.
You Eat Lemons, Why Not Keep the Peel?
If you are using lemons, why not keep the peel? It’s a great way to use up the entire fruit without throwing the peels in the wastebasket.
Our favorite way to use an abundance of lemons is lemonade (of course..), but sometimes we like to get creative and do fermented lemons (so good!) In this case, the ends are from the lemons we fermented – since we sliced lots of lemons for each quart mason jar we had even more ends.
Lemon peels have considerable moisture content – as a result they can take upwards of 10-12 hours to dry. While you can cut them into smaller pieces, it’s best to allow them ample time to dry. Check on them frequently and add additional time as needed.
Once they are completely dried, gather the peels and grind them into a powder using your spice grinder. It’s best to use a spice grinder you have reserved for grinding spices and peels.
Homemade Dried Lemon Peels (Powder)
Instead of tossing your lemons, use the peels to make dried lemon peel powder quickly and easily using your dehydrator.
- First, wash and dry the lemons – keep the peels (or in some cases, the ends).
- Place the ends on dehydrator trays, allowing ample space between them for air circulation.
- Set the dehydrator for 130 degrees F, and dehydrate the peels for 10 hours. Check on them periodically to determine if they may need more/less time.
- Once the peels are dry, place them in your spice grinder and grind to a fine powder. Store in a cool, dark place until ready to use.
Dried lemon peel powder can be used in smoothies, or combined with salt and pepper for a yummy lemon pepper seasoning for seafood. If you make cold process soap, you can also use it in soap recipes as an additive too.
Keep your dried lemon peel powder in a dark, cool place (cool pantry, or refrigerator works well).
Have you ever thought about keeping your lemon peels to make dried lemon peel powder?
I’ve made all citrus peels into candied peels so I will love making some into powder to use in other things. Sounds great. Thank you for the ideas. 👍
Judy, you bet! I haven’t ever done candied peels.. I need to try that. I usually dry them on the dehydrator and grind into powder. Or.. sometimes I’ll put the peels in a huge glass jar and cover with vinegar for a few weeks. Then use that orange vinegar to clean. Depends what I feel like doing.
Can I dry them in my oven? I don’t havevv a food dryer?
Yes you sure can. You can do them at low heat (200 degrees) for a few hours.
I have always froze the grated peel in ice cube trays 2 Tbl in each, then vacuum seal and freeze. It stays fresh tasting for months!! I’ll try the dried peel though. There are many things this will work on. Thank you for the idea!
Do you get any bitterness from the white of the peel?