Citrus zest

The thin, colored outer layer of citrus peel, rich in aromatic oils, grated into baked goods for bright flavor.

Citrus zest: A microplane grater zesting a lemon, fine yellow zest piled on a board with an orange and a lime
  • Baking ingredients and additives

Also called: lemon zest, orange zest, lime zest

Zest carries far more flavor than the juice. Use a fine rasp grater and remove only the colored part; the white pith below is bitter. One medium lemon gives about 1 tablespoon of zest.

Rubbing zest into sugar with your fingers releases its oils and spreads the flavor through cakes, cookies and shortbread.

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