All About Lemon Zest

Lemon Zest

Uses for Lemon Zest

Zest can be added to cookies, cakes, cocktails and all kinds of other recipes. One of the easiest ways to infuse a citrus flavor into your baked goods and recipes is by adding zest.

Other citrus fruits like oranges and limes can also provide flavorful zest.

Unlike lemon or orange juice, zest doesn’t throw off the chemistry of a recipe by adding more acidity or by adding more liquid like juice would. Generally, you can add a teaspoon up to a tablespoon of zest to just about any recipe where you want to add a little citrus flavor.

If your recipe already calls for citrus juice, adding some additional zest can further enhance the citrus flavor.

How To Store Lemon Zest

A zested lemon should be wrapped in plastic wrap to keep it from drying out. A zested lemon can then be left on the counter or kept in the fridge. Zest and a zested lemon are both susceptible to mold formations if not used shortly.

How Long Does Lemon Zest Last?

	Counter or Fridge
Fresh Lemon Zest lasts for	1-2 Days

NOTE: Lemon zest is best when freshly grated. It will keep in the refrigerator for a day or two but will soon become soggy and if it is left out on the counter it will quickly become dry.

Substitute for Lemon Zest

If you don’t have a fresh lemon rind and need to find a substitute for lemon zest, then you can can substitute 1/2 teaspoon of lemon extract OR 2 teaspoons of lemon juice for a teaspoon of lemon zest.

The rule of thumb when substituting for zest: 1) Extracts are stronger than zest, so you use half as much. 2) Juices are less concentrated than zest, so you use twice as much.

You can also use a different citrus, like orange or lime, depending on your recipe. Use another citrus in equal quantities to the lemon that is called for in your recipe. Oranges and Limes can be grated in the same way as lemons to produce orange zest or lime zest.

You could also used dried lemon peel, but it may need to be soaked prior to using (see package directions).

If you don’t have any of the above ingredients, you could also use half as much vinegar or white wine – be careful with this though as it will acid needed in the recipes but could drastically change the resulting flavor!

Lemon Zest	Amount	Substitute
Fresh Lemon Zest Substitute	1 teaspoon	1/2 teaspoon Lemon Extract
		*OR* 2 teaspoons Lemon Juice
		*OR* 2 teaspoons Orange Juice
		*OR* 2 teaspoons Lime Juice

Lemon Zesters – Tools to Zest Lemons

There is also a special kitchen tool called a zester which looks like a tiny fork with curved ends. It produces nice thin short strips of zest. These strips can then be minced or left alone as called for in your recipe. But, most recipes call for grated lemon zest. You can simply grate the lemon, lime or orange as you would any vegetable – using a hand-held grater.

Alternatively, you can purchase dried zest in your grocers spice section. But, it doesn’t really add that same fresh citrus flavor that you get from using fresh lemon zest.