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Oranges have amazing health benefits and are super delicious. We buy them by the case this time of year. In fact our house sits on an old orange grove so we are blessed with a tree and there are groves all around us with my most juicy oranges I’ve ever had. But with the increase in orange consumption by my family this time of year leads to lots and lots of leftover orange peels. We do a lot of composting, but I also have 8 uses for leftover orange peels that you are gonna love!
The oils in the peel make it a great addition to natural cleaning methods. Of course it smells great too! I love re-purposing that is typically thrown out in the garbage into something amazing!
What do you do with your orange peels? Which one of these do you think you will try first?
Download by right clicking on the image and saving it to your desktop.
Then open it in a word document, adjust size. then print 8×10 for easy use in your household binder.
Enjoy the above printable to keep all the info close by! It’s pretty enough to keep on the fridge, but the perfect size to keep in your household binder with other recipes, tips, and family info.
Joey Holmes says
Some super useful tips here! Another one you may not know about is using it as firestarter! Yep, once dried it ignites very easily (and smells delicious too!)
Solhim Lohan says
Awesome tips. Thank you Wendy
Another way, I used orange peels to fight mosquitoes in my family camping trip.
Because essential oils in orange peels, tangerines have antibacterial properties, you can cut up and dry them to disinfect indoor rooms and mosquitoes.
Leila says
Hubby has used them in as an air freshener during the holidays when he makes his little holiday concoction and I have put them down the garbage disposal, but never frozen.
I am all about the orange infused cleaning options up there – that’s awesome! I love the smell of orange so those are great ideas!
Wendy O'Neal says
Thanks Leila! I love the smell of fresh oranges so I love using the peels after we eat or juice them! Enjoy! w-
Camping For Foodies Kim Hanna says
Never tried it, always wanted to…now I have to candy my next orange peel. You’ve inspired me, Thanks Wendy!
Wendy O'Neal says
Yeah…so excited! Can’t wait to hear how it turns out for ya Kim! w-
Rosie says
I have a bunch in my freezer now! I had been making candied orange peel with organic orange peels and then dipping them in chocolate. I’ve also powdered the candied peel so nice to add into whipped cream, or yogurt, or sneak a little into your pie filling, or Asian sauces! I want to try these other uses, too!
tammigirl says
I never knew! I had no idea we could put them in brown sugar to keep it fresh. I’m going to try it.
Cooper says
Great information. Lucky me I found your website by accident (stumbleupon).
I book marked it for later!
Xuca Shoes says
Great post! I never thought of this before. Thanks for sharing
Valentina @ The Baking Fairy says
These ideas are great! I never know what to do with my orange peels, I usually either throw them down the garbage disposal or just throw them away. In the winter, my family throws them in the fireplace and they make the house smell wonderful!
Wendy O'Neal says
Valentina….that’s a great idea about throwing them in the fireplace. I had never thought of that one!
Lucy says
What great ideas!! I’ve only heard of a couple of these! Pinning!
Mandy says
OMG.. Wendy I never thought of this before! Seems I have been throwing out the best part of the orange.. Thanks for opening my eyes
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
Such great ideas!!
Wendy O'Neal says
Thanks Dorothy. 🙂
Carrian says
What great ideas!
Wendy O'Neal says
Thanks Carrian! 🙂
Marcel says
Great post!
You can also use orange zest when boiling carrots and making apple sauce.
Two unique additions that can add a lot of freshness and flavour.
Wendy O'Neal says
Great ideas Marcel!