3 uses of orange peel. I'm sure you didn't know the last one.

The orange peel is almost 20% of the fruit and it is a part that we usually throw away without knowing all the uses it has.

In the past, it was used for its medicinal benefits in infusions and essential oil extracts, but it has also been used, like other citrus fruits, as a repellent, since it contains a substance (limonene) that insects dislike quite a bit.

Of course, there are other ways to use orange peels, but we want to show you some unique uses.

Remember that it is very important that you use oranges directly from the farmer that are of the best quality without any chemical residue . At Campos Del Abuelo we have the Global GAP certificate and our fruit is completely zero residue . It is a certificate that very few have, as it guarantees very demanding quality standards.

What makes orange peel so good?

The composition of the orange peel is basically 25% pectin, 23% sugar, 22% cellulose and 11% hemicellulose and other low molecular weight compounds such as limonene.

According to the National Library of Medicine ( NIH) , industrially, the main uses of orange peel are : livestock feed, extraction of essential oil and/or limonene, as well as the extraction of pectin (natural thickener).

But we are going to show you other uses that you can give to the orange peel that you have at home to make the most of our fruit.

Let's get to it!

Where can we use orange peel ?

Orange peel, in addition to its usual uses such as in baking, essential oils or as a repellent, can also be used as a cleaner or as a natural lighter.

But there is another little-known use that will surprise you. Stay until the end to find out.

Natural multipurpose cleaner

A very easy way to use orange peels, but also the skin of other citrus fruits, is with this multi-purpose cleaner.

It will help you remove grease and dirt from kitchen taps, although it can also be used to clean the bathroom.

Do you want to know how it's done? It's very easy.

In a glass container, add the citrus peels that you have left at home. You can add them with pulp or clean it and use only the peel. When you have filled the jar, add white vinegar up to half and water to the other half.

You should store this container without covering it completely, in a cool place without direct light for approximately one month. After this time, strain it and you will have your natural multipurpose cleaner.

All that's left to do is put it in a spray bottle and it's ready to use.

Light a barbecue or fireplace

We present you the ideal substitute for barbecue tablets. We will be able to light both the fireplace and the barbecue without chemicals, while making use of the orange peel, which would have ended up in the trash.

Do you want to learn how to do it? You'll see how easy it is.

Let's get started!

First, we need to get the orange peel. To do this, we must peel the oranges, avoiding the white part as much as possible.

You can use a peeler to get the skin in strips and with less albedo (white part of the orange).

Secondly, we need to dry the orange peel. You can do this by leaving them in the sun for 3-7 days depending on the weather, but if you don't have enough sun or you get caught in a storm right now, don't worry, you can also do it in the oven.

Place the orange peels on the tray at the lowest temperature in your oven (90 degrees is typical) for about an hour, but this all depends on your oven. Check them constantly. Let them cool before using.

You can use them now.

You can make “skewers” ​​of shells by putting together 4 or 5 pieces so that the effect lasts longer and the flame lights well. You should make them just when you take them out of the oven, then the shell hardens and they will break.

Natural bird feeder.

And last but not least, we have a little-known option to use orange peels: making a biodegradable bird feeder.

It is very versatile, you can put it on any branch and you will be able to enjoy the visit of different types of birds and it can last up to 2 weeks.

Over time the shell starts to decompose. At that point you can change the shell, using the same skewers and string, thus reusing the materials for quite a long time.

To make the feeder you need:

-An orange from Campos Del Abuelo.

-2 skewer sticks

-Rope

-Bird food

ELABORATION

Cut the orange in half.

Remove the pulp from the fruit and leave only the peel, completely clean.

Insert a skewer through the orange from side to side. Do the same with the other skewer, creating a cross. Make sure it is not too far from the edge to avoid breaking the skin.

Cut two pieces of rope about 30 cm long and tie them to the ends of the same stick.

Add the bird food and you're done.

You can hang it wherever you like.

And that's all for today's ideas. I'm sure you didn't know about this one, right? We hope you found this information useful.

Do you want to buy freshly picked Valencian oranges?

If you know other ways to use orange peel and want to share them with us, you can write to us in the comments.