• About
  • Work with Me
    • Contact
  • Food Photography
  • Newsletter

Chef Janet

So good, they'll never know it's gluten-free.

  • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Baked Goods
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Main Course
    • Salads
    • Sauces and Dressings
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
  • Cooking Basics
  • Gluten-Free Diet Tips
Home Β» Cooking Basics Β» How to Zest a Lemon With or Without a Zester

September 22, 2020 (last updated November 29, 2021)

How to Zest a Lemon With or Without a Zester

No ratings yet
Leave a Comment Jump to Recipe

Fancy tools aren’t needed to zest a lemon (but they do make it quick and easy, when available!). Here’s how to zest a lemon with or without a microplane or zester.

What the heck is lemon zest, you ask? The zest of any citrus is the colored outer layer of the peel. It has the oils and bright pop of flavor that you get from the fruit. Knowing how to zest a lemon, or lime, or orange is an easy skill that can take you far.

overhead view of halved blood orange, lemon and lime on weathered blue wood board

Why would you want just the zest you ask? Here’s a couple of reasons: You can get lemon, lime, tangerine or orange flavor into any recipe without adding the liquid. You can add a little pop of bright color to your recipe to make it beautiful.

Here’s my quick tutorial video How to Zest a lemon

close up of whole lemons and microplane zester on gray napkin
Microplane Zester

In addition to using a microplane, which creates a super-finely grated zest. you can use this type of citrus zester (below). This zester creates long strands that look beautiful as a garnish. We eat with our eyes first, so take the extra seconds to add strong pop of color (and flavor) to your dishes that may look blah on the plate,

whole lemons and limes with zester removing outer peel from a lemon

How to Zest without a Microplane or Grater

Certainly a microplane or grater will make this easier, be here’s how it’s done with tools that you have in your kitchen:

  • Use a vegetable peeler to shave off the colored outer layer of the peel. Use gentle pressure so that you do not go down to the white layer. This is called the pith and it is pretty bitter tasting.
  • Cut the pieces into thin strips, then chop finely. That’s it, it’s ready to flavor you cake. sauce, cookies rice . . .

Is your kitchen so basic that you don’t have a vegetable peeler? That’s ok too. A small paring knife can do the job too. Use the paring knife to shave off the outer layer of the peel just as with the peeler. Then finely chop with a larger knife.

See the step by step instructions in the How-to card below.

close up of vegetable peeler shaving zest off an orange on a wood cutting board

How to use Lemon Zest

All the ways I love to use lemon, lime and orange zest I couldn’t list them all. But here are some of my favorite ways.

Baking with Lemon Zest

Zests are great in baking because they doesn’t require any adjustments to the recipe. If you start adding an acidy liquid, a lot can go wrong. Baking is all about math and chemical reactions and I try not to mess with a good recipe. So, without changing a thing, add it to your favorite cake, muffin or cookie recipe.

This gluten-free lemon cake recipe uses lemon zest and and a little extract to give this cake a huge lemon flavor! I know that some people add lemon juice to their cakes, but the acid and liquid was changing the cake texture, so I stuck with the zest and it is one of my favorite cakes of all time.

2 layer gluten-free lemon cake with buttercream frosting on white marble cake stand. slices of lemon on top of cake

Pasta, Rice and Quinoa

white bowl of quinoa with tomato, cilantro and green onion with fork and napkin on left small bowl of chili flakes and cutting boar with tomato in background=g

Want a simple dish? Lemon zest, olive oil, fresh basil, cherry tomatoes and salt. That’s it! Toss with cooked pasta, rice or quinoa for an easy weekday side dish.

Want another simple dish? Heat one can coconut milk with the zest of one lime, salt, a drop of sweetener and lots of grated fresh ginger . . . Done! Pour over noodles, rice or quinoa for a Thai inspired dish.

How about one more simple dish? Sautee the zest of one orange with, chopped garlic, 2 tsps toasted sesame oil, 1 Tbsp soy sauce and fresh grated ginger for 30 seconds. Stir into 1 1/2 c cooked rice or quinoa for an easy Asian inspired dish.

Chicken and Fish

Lemon Chicken or Fish – Combine the zest of one lemon with 1 Tbsp olive oil salt and pepper and pour over cooked chicken.

Orange Teriyaki – Combine the zest & juice of one orange with 2 tsps soy sauce or coconut aminos, 2 tsps toasted sesame oil, a few drops of sweetener (agave, maple syrup, sugar). Brush onto the chicken or fish during the last few minutes of cooking.

Questions? Need help with your cooking skills? Contact me!

close up of vegetable peeler shaving zest off an orange on a wood cutting board

How to Zest a Lemon Without a Zester or Grater

Author: Janet Harlow
Course: Cooking Basics
Servings: 1 Tbsp
Fancy tools aren’t needed to zest a lemon (but they do come make it quick and easy, when available!). Here’s how to zest a lemon if you don’t have a zester, microplane or grater at home.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 mins
Cook Time 5 mins
Total Time 7 mins

Recommended Products

  • vegetable peeler (y-shaped works best)
  • cutting board
  • large chopping knife
  • small paring knife

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lemon lime, orange or tangerine

Instructions
 

  • Zest with a Vegetable Peeler
  • Using the vegetable peeler, shave the outer layer of the citrus peel. Use light pressure so that you do not go down to the white part of the skin. This is called the pith and is quite bitter.[mv_img id="5473"]
    close up of vegetable peeler shaving zest off an orange on a wood cutting board
  • Zest only on left and zest with pith on right.[mv_img id="5474"]
  • Use your large knife to cut the strips of peel into thin long pieces.[mv_img id="5475"]
    orange zest cut into long strips with knife on left on wood board
  • Now rotate the strips 90 Β°and cut across.[mv_img id="5476"]
    orange zest partially minced on wood cutting board
  • Place the tip of the knife on the cutting board and press down on it with your non-dominant hand. Quickly rock the knife up and down to chop finely.[mv_img id="5477"]
    hand on back of knife mincing orange zest on wood board
  • Zest with a Paring Knife
  • Cradle the lemon in you non-dominant hand.
  • Using the paring knife, start at the top of the lemon and use gentle pressure to shave off the outer layer of the peel.
  • Chop the peel as described in steps 3-5 above.
Did you make this recipe?Let me know how it was! Tag @chefjanetk on Instagram.
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

Posted In: Cooking Basics · Tagged: easy recipe, how to, lemon

Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

If you love this recipe, please consider leaving a star rating and review when you post a comment. Star ratings help people discover my recipes online. Your support means a great deal to me.

Thank you!
Janet

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me
Hi, Welcome! I'm Chef Janet and I create gluten-free recipes that everyone will love, gluten-free or not.

Set up a customized lesson with me to learn basic cooking techniques, gluten-free, menu planning and kitchen tips to make your life easier. Follow me on instagram to keep up with my latest and let me know how I can help.

Follow along on Instagram

Thanksgiving prep has started in my kitchen! Wheth Thanksgiving prep has started in my kitchen! Whether you need a gluten-free stuffing recipe, gravy or an easy side, I've got you covered. Need a delicious, decadent dessert? I've got that too. Link in my profile to my Thanksgiving recipes.
πŸ—πŸ₯§πŸ 
You'll find tips for perfect silky, smooth gravy, moist delicious stuffing, perfect pies, simple sided dishes and more.
🍠πŸ₯§πŸ—
#glutenfreethanksgiving #thanksgivingrecipes #thanksgivingdesserts #glutenfreestuffing #glutenfreegravy #losangeleschef #glutenfreeblog #glutenfreepiecrust #glutenfreedessert
Pie and cupcakes are my favorite desserts so I put Pie and cupcakes are my favorite desserts so I put them together in one. These gluten-free apple pie cupcakes make for an awesome autumn dessert. Link to the recipe in my profile.
🍎 πŸ₯§πŸ§
These cupcakes have a fluffy cinnamon spiced cake, traditional apple pie filling and an apple cinnamon buttercream frosting.
🍎πŸ₯§πŸ§
#glutenfreecupcakes #glutenfreedessert #glutenfreeapplepie #losangeleschef #cinnamonbuttercream #glutenfreelosangeles #holidaydessert #glutenfreeholidays #autumndesserts #applepiecupcakes
Nothing says holiday brunch more than cranberry or Nothing says holiday brunch more than cranberry orange muffins. Link to the recipe in my profile.
🎈🍊🎈
#cranberryorangemuffins #glutenfreemuffins #holidaybrunch #glutenfreebaking #losangeleschef #glutenfreechef #glutenfreeblog #cranberryorange
This Sweet Potato Frosting is the perfect holiday This Sweet Potato Frosting is the perfect holiday topping for cupcakes, cakes muffins and anything your heart desires. There's just four ingredients and no cane sugar. Link to the recipe in my profile.
 🍠 🧁🍠
Sweet potato puree, cream cheese, butter and maple syrup are all you need for this amazing frosting. Amazing on carrot cake, spice cake, vanilla cake and so much more.
🧁🍠🧁
#sweetpotatofrosting #cakefrosting #glutenfreeholiday #holidaydesserts #glutenfreeblog #losangeleschef #glutenfreelosangeles #sweetpotatodessert #sweetpotatorecipe #cupcakefrosting #glutenfreecupcakes
Do you like your gluten-free pumpkin bread slather Do you like your gluten-free pumpkin bread slathered in a rum icing or a straight up?? Get the recipe - link my profile.
πŸŽƒπŸŽƒπŸžπŸŽƒπŸŽƒ
This recipe is super easy and makes an incredibly moist and delicious pumpkin bread that is good enough for dessert, brunch or a little autumn snack.
πŸŽƒπŸŽƒπŸžπŸžπŸŽƒπŸŽƒ
#glutenfreepumpkinbread #pumpkinbread #glutenfreebrunch #glutenfreebaking #autumndesserts #glutenfreelosangeles #glutenfreechef #glutenfreeblog #pumpkindessert #fallbaking
I hope you didn't miss it last week! This gluten-f I hope you didn't miss it last week! This gluten-free lemon drizzle cake is too good! Link to the recipe in my profile.
πŸ‹πŸŽ‚πŸ‹
#lemondrizzlecake #glutenfreecake #lemonloaf #glutenfreeblog #glutenfreechef #loasangeleschef #glutenfreelosangeles #glutenfreelemoncake
This Gluten-Free Lemon Drizzle Cake is the cake of This Gluten-Free Lemon Drizzle Cake is the cake of my dreams. Link to the brand new recipe in my profile.
πŸ‹πŸŽ‚πŸ‹
The combination of lemon and butter in a sweet dessert is about as good as it gets, if you ask me. This cake is super moist and somewhere between a pound cake and a fluffy layer cake.
πŸ‹πŸŽ‚πŸ‹
#lemondrizzlecake #lemonloaf #glutenfreelemoncake #glutenfreecake #lemoncake #glutenfreelosangeles #glutenfreeblog #prettycakes #lemondesserts #glutenfreelemondrizzlecake
Add a shot of peanut butter whiskey to your peanut Add a shot of peanut butter whiskey to your peanut butter cookies and you'll be hooked like I am! Link to the recipe in my profile.
πŸ₯œπŸ§ˆπŸͺ
#peanutbutterwhiskey #boozydesserts #glutenfreecookies #whiskeycookies #boozycookies #glutenfreeblog #peanutbutterwhiskeydessert #losangeleschef #glutenfreelosangeles

Copyright © 2023 Chef Janet · Support by Foodie Digital · Privacy Policy · Accessibility Policy · Web Stories