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Oranges smell wonderful and taste delicious. But the orange peels are too good to be thrown away. We’ll tell you how to continue using them.

Oranges are one of the most popular types of fruit, and not just in the cold season when you’re sitting comfortably indoors. No wonder, because they are delicious and contain a lot of vitamin C. But very few people think about the ecological balance of the delicious citrus fruit. For their production alone, 560 liters of water are used per kilogram of oranges in Mediterranean regions. If the citrus fruits come from further away, it is often even more liters. The oranges that you can buy from us mostly come from Spain or Italy. A lot of CO2 is emitted on the long transport routes.

Therefore, you should pay attention to the following when buying:

Only buy organic oranges and make sure they are grown fairly. Many pickers in conventional farms are only paid a pittance.
Pay attention to the country of origin. Opt for fruits that have been grown in Europe rather than those from South America.
Although oranges can be bought all year round, their main season is from November to March, as they are harvested in autumn. So it is better to buy oranges in these months than in summer.
Keep the oranges in a cool, ventilated place and consume them within a few days. Otherwise they can easily spoil.
Since the ecological balance of oranges is rather poor, you should use the citrus fruit completely – including its peel.

Basically, you can use the bowl in different forms:

Fresh: Use the zest immediately after peeling the orange
dried: Place the orange peels on the heater or let them dry at room temperature on a kitchen towel for several days. Once the peels are dry, you can store them for a long time.
If you want to use the orange peel in the kitchen, you should definitely buy unsprayed organic fruit.
By the way: You can also use all of these tips on tangerine peels.

You can find out how you can use orange peel in the following sections.

This is how you continue to use orange peels in the household

Remove limescale: You can use fresh, undried orange peels to combat limescale stains in the bathroom or kitchen, as the peels contain citric acid. You can rub off affected fittings with the inside of fresh orange peel, which will make them look almost like new again.
Neutralize odors: You can use fresh orange peel to remove odors, for example if plastic bowls or lunch boxes smell unpleasant. Rub them with the peels and then wash them out thoroughly.
Against stench in the oven: Orange peels even help against stench in the oven: simply heat them briefly in the oven. Thanks to the essential oils it contains, the bad smell will soon be a thing of the past.
Orange peel instead of fabric softener: You can also use untreated orange peel as an alternative to fabric softener. Simply put the shells in a cotton bag and put them in the wash. They help soften the water. In addition, everything smells wonderfully of oranges afterwards.
Orange peels instead of rinse aid: The same works as a rinse aid substitute for the dishwasher: simply put the fresh orange peels in the cutlery tray.
Orange peels against moths: Dried orange peels help against moths. Just put or hang a few in your closet.
Homemade all-purpose cleaner: You can easily make your own all-purpose cleaner from fresh orange peel and vinegar.

Orange peel: A versatile ingredient in body care

Help with blemishes: With the essential oils from orange peel you can fight age spots and pimples. Rub the white inside of a fresh orange peel over the affected area. If you repeat this a few times, the affected skin should recover.
Bad breath remedies: Chewing on untreated orange peel can help against bad breath. However, you should not do this too often, as the acid it contains can damage your tooth enamel. You should then give yourself some time before brushing your teeth the next time.
Shiny hair: You can also make hair conditioner from orange peels. Put the orange peels in a bowl and cover them with apple cider vinegar. Let the whole thing steep for about two days. Then pour off the orange peel and fill up the vinegar solution with water. It should be about three times as much water as apple cider vinegar. After washing your hair, pour the conditioner over your head without rinsing it out afterwards. The acidic rinse removes residue from your hair and gives it new shine.

Orange peels bring delicious flavors to the kitchen

Orange tea: You can quickly and easily make your own tea from orange peel. To do this, pour hot water on them when they are fresh or dry. The tea should steep for about ten minutes. The peel of an orange is enough for a pot of tea.
Citrus aroma for baking: With dried lemon, tangerine or orange peel you can give your home-baked pastries a fruity note. Plane off part of the peel and let it dry well. After that, you can store the pieces in a jar. Make sure the can is dry and airtight.
Vitamin C powder: Using a blender or food processor, crush dried tangerine or orange peel until pulverized. You can sprinkle the vitamin C powder obtained in this way over your muesli or eat a spoonful every now and then to strengthen your immune system.

Oranges are healthy and full of good ingredients. You can find out more about the refreshing vitamin bombs and their health benefits here.

Round, bright colour, sweet and juicy aroma: this is what distinguishes oranges, also called oranges in some regions. But citrus fruits are not only popular because of their taste, but also because of their large portion of nutrients and vitamins: Oranges are very healthy.

The fruits are divided into summer and winter oranges according to when they were harvested. Winter oranges in particular grow in Spain and Italy. The harvest season extends from autumn to March for early varieties and into May for late varieties. Summer oranges have a longer way to get to us, coming primarily from the USA, Israel and South Africa.

If you want to shop as regionally as possible, oranges are not the best choice. At least you can eat fruits from southern Europe in winter. Their transport routes are significantly shorter than those of summer oranges and therefore cause fewer CO2 emissions.

Healthy Oranges: Calories, Vitamins and Nutrients

Oranges are rich in vitamin C – most of you have heard of that. But the healthy oranges also contain other valuable ingredients.

Nutritional values ​​per 100 grams of orange:

Energy: 47 kcal
Protein: 0.94g
Carbohydrates: 11.75 g
Fat: 0.12g
How many calories does an orange have?

A small orange weighs about 130 grams and has 61 kilocalories. So you can eat them as a light snack in between. Since it is very high in fiber and low in calories, it is good for losing weight. However, this does not apply to orange juice, which often contains a lot of sugar.

Vitamins and minerals per 100 grams of orange:

Vitamin C: 53.2 mg
Magnesium: 10 mg
Calcium: 40 mg
Potassium: 181 mg
With two to three oranges a day, you could already cover the recommended daily requirement of vitamin C. Vitamin C is not only important to strengthen your immune system, but also contributes to the maintenance of healthy bones and connective tissue.

Oranges also contain a good portion of magnesium, as well as some calcium. Both minerals ensure dense and stable bones and teeth.

Oranges are also a good source of potassium. Potassium is involved in the regulation of blood pressure, among other things. The World Health Organization recommends that adults with high blood pressure increase their potassium intake because it improves both systolic blood pressure (the pressure in the blood vessels when it is at its highest) and diastolic blood pressure (the pressure in the blood vessels when it is at its lowest). ) sinks.

Oranges: health effects

The juicy flesh of the orange is surrounded by a thin white skin, also called the mesocarp. It is best to eat these as well, because they contain health-promoting secondary plant substances such as flavonoids. Flavonoids are a group of antioxidants. Studies suggest they may reduce the risk of some cancers and cardiovascular disease. The white skin also contains fiber. These ensure good digestion.

Positive effect on blood values

A study suggests that an antioxidant complex in oranges called hesperidin can lower not only high blood pressure but also cholesterol levels. As part of a healthy diet, the study concludes, eating oranges can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Oranges are healthy, orange juice is healthier?

A 2015 University of Hohenheim study suggests that orange juice may be healthier than an unprocessed orange. The initiator of the study explains that the body can better absorb and utilize certain ingredients in the orange, including carotenoids and vitamin C, if the orange has been pressed beforehand. Although small amounts of these nutrients are lost during pressing, the improved availability apparently more than compensates for this effect.

However, it is important to buy direct juice from oranges and not to use orange nectar. This consists of orange juice diluted with water to which sugar has been added. In addition, you should only drink orange juice in moderation because, in addition to its healthy ingredients, it also contains a lot of sugar (eight to nine grams per 100 grams of juice).

Tip: It is best to press the orange juice yourself. It is particularly fresh and the vitamin C is retained. You also avoid packaging waste. If you still buy orange juice, look out for the Fairtrade seal.

Buy oranges: organic is better

As healthy as oranges are, something spoils their enjoyment. According to Ökotest, pesticides can be detected in every second orange. This is especially true for conventionally grown oranges. One or more particularly dangerous substances were found in almost all examined oranges from conventional cultivation – for example imazalil, an antifungal agent that is suspected of being carcinogenic. You should therefore wash oranges thoroughly before eating them.

It is even more advisable to use organic oranges when shopping. According to the Ökotest, these are not or only slightly contaminated with pesticides. In addition, organic cultivation protects the environment and does not use any chemical-synthetic pesticides in cultivation.

Candied orange peel is a fruity candy that’s easy to make at home. In this way, the peel of the citrus fruits can still be used in a tasty way instead of ending up in the trash.

Candiing fruit is an easy way to make it last longer. The fruits are cut into cubes or strips and then sugared. Candied ginger, candied apples or candied orange slices are popular sweets.

Instead of using whole orange slices, it is also possible to candy just the peel of the citrus fruit. Candied orange peels have the same fruity taste and at the same time the advantage of reducing unnecessary food waste. This way you can still use the peel of the oranges, which is otherwise considered a waste product.

Important: Be sure to use organic oranges for candied orange peels. They are untreated because organic farming does not use synthetic chemical pesticides. So you can be sure that the orange peel does not contain any unwanted pollutants.

Make candied orange peel yourself: this is how it works

Ingredients:

Peel of 4 organic oranges
400 gsugar
200 g water

Directions:

Thoroughly clean the orange peels. Remove any remaining pulp and use a knife to cut out any damaged areas. Wash the shells under plenty of running water and drain well in a colander.
Cut the orange peel into 5mm wide strips.
Put 200 grams of sugar in a saucepan with the water and bring the mixture to a boil. Let the brew simmer until the sugar has completely dissolved. Reduce the temperature until the water is just slightly simmering.
Add the peel strips to the sugar stock and let them simmer for about ten minutes.
Take the pot off the stove and leave the orange peels in the sugar sauce overnight. Use a small saucepan lid or plate to weigh them down so they are completely covered with the liquid.
The following day, stir another 100 grams of sugar into the brew and let the shells simmer for another ten minutes. After that they have to go overnight again.
On the third day, stir in the last 100 grams of sugar. Let the orange peels simmer in the broth for a third time for ten minutes and then steep overnight.
On the fourth day you can strain the candied orange peel. Use a colander and catch the orange syrup. You can still use it in other ways.
Spread the candied shells out on parchment paper (or a parchment substitute) to dry. Make sure they are spaced enough apart and don’t stick to each other.
The candied orange peels are ready when they are no longer sticky. Until then, they usually have to dry for two to three days. You can then fill them into an airtight screw-top jar for storage.

Candied Orange Peels: Tips and Variations

Stored sealed, the candied orange peels can be kept for several months. You can eat them pure or use them to decorate desserts and drinks, for example.

You can vary the simple basic recipe in different ways:

Instead of orange peel, you can also candy the peel of other citrus fruits and thus save them from the garbage. Try the recipe with grapefruit, lemon or tangerine peels, for example, or mix different varieties.
If necessary, you can replace the sugar in the recipe with a sugar alternative such as birch sugar (xylitol). Then make sure to adjust the amount if necessary. You can exchange xylitol for sugar in a ratio of 1:1 – but this is not the case with all common sugar alternatives.
To refine them, roll the candied orange peels in sugar, for example, while they are still sticky. Or you can cover them with homemade chocolate icing after drying. When buying, look out for Fairtrade chocolate.

The bitter orange is a medium-sized evergreen tree, reaching up to 10 m in height. Indoors do not exceed 1 m. The crown is highly branched, spherical, with a spiral arrangement of leaves. The branches have thin, long thorns. Leaves are elliptical, pointed, dense, leathery, alternate. Smooth, shiny, bright green above, light green below with translucent containers of essential oil. Attached to wide-winged, long petioles.

  1. Orange has other names: sour orange, bitter orange, bigaradia, chinotto.
  2. The homeland of this citrus is India, where the plant was cultivated several hundred years ago. Today the orange fruit is grown in many tropical and subtropical countries. In Russia, the distribution of the orange is especially widespread in the southern regions, where it is grown as a houseplant. Not found in the wild.
  3. At home, it grows in the form of a miniature slender tree or a compact spectacular bush. Large, fragrant, white, and pink-orange flowers give it decorativeness, which looks very elegant against the background of bright green foliage.
  4. Fresh orange fruit is not used, it is valued because of its zest. To obtain it, the peel is separated from the pulp and dried for several days in a dry, warm place, spreading out in a thin layer on a flat surface.
  5. The rind is considered finished when it becomes thin and fragile. Now you can get zest from it. The main use of orange fruit is in the manufacture of various desserts and pastries.
  6. From the leaves and flowers of this plant, essential oils are obtained, which are used in aromatherapy and the preparation of marmalade.
  7. Unripe fruits that fall from the tree are used to make essential oil used in the production of alcoholic beverages.
  8. The orange flower is considered a symbol of innocence and is a traditional part of the bride’s wedding bouquet. The scent of the flowers of this tree in Japanese poetry is associated with memories of the past. Earlier, orange petals were used to fill the pockets of wide sleeves.
  9. Another interesting fact about the orange is that you can see its image on the coat of arms of the city of Lomonosov.
  10. Bitter orange fruits are harvested unripe when they reach 1 cm in diameter, then dried in the sun. The peel is removed from ripe fruits, and after drying it is thoroughly peeled from the white inner layer.
  11. The finished raw materials are used in the cosmetic, food industry, and medicine.

Who among us has never tasted an orange at least once in our life? Now it’s time to find out not only its taste but also interesting facts about this amazing berry.

  1. Orange is a type of berry, namely Hesperides (peeled berries).
  2. The sour orange was first introduced to Europe by Portuguese sailors around the 10th century, while the sweet orange was introduced only in the 15th century by Genoese traders.
  3. Around 20 percent of all oranges grown in the world are sold and consumed as fresh fruit. The rest goes to the production of juices, extracts, and canned food.
  4. An orange tree can live up to a hundred years.
  5. Washington Navel oranges are seedless and therefore cannot reproduce by pollination and reproduce only by grafting.
  6. One citrus tree can have up to 60 thousand flowers, but only 1 percent produces fruits.
  7. Valencia oranges are the most common in the world.
  8. Oranges are considered a symbol of fertility – a lushly growing evergreen orange tree simultaneously blooms, fructifies, and dissolves foliage.
  9. You will have to eat 7 bowls of cornflakes to get as much fiber as a single orange.
  10. After the aromas of chocolate and vanilla, the scent of orange is recognized as the most pleasant in the world.
  11. Oranges are the most common citruses in the world.
  12. For the first time, orange trees were grown in China.
  13. The average person eats about 5.5 kg of citrus fruits annually, most of which are oranges.
  14. In the 18th century, British sailors, in addition to sauerkraut, took oranges with them on ships so as not to get scurvy.
  15. One orange contains the daily requirement of vitamin C.
  16. Several trees can grow from one orange seed.
  17. Orange trees and their fruits are considered a symbol of love in many cultures. In Renaissance wedding paintings, artists often depicted a couple in love standing in the middle of orange trees.
  18. Oranges in ancient times were considered the food of the gods. The golden apples that Hercules stole could well have meant oranges.

Oranges are particularly popular in Germany during the winter months, because they provide the body with plenty of vitamin C and other valuable nutrients that strengthen the immune system. But it is not the actual fruit itself that provides a vitamin boost in the body: in fact, it is the pasteurized orange juice, as a study has now shown.

The study

In March 2015, scientists at the University of Hohenheim used an in vitro model in the laboratory to determine that the human body can absorb nutrients from orange juice better than from an orange. These results have now been confirmed in a human study.

In preparation for the randomized study, the twelve subjects had to go without carotenoids for two weeks. Green and red foods such as tomatoes, carrots, or spinach were removed from the menu and were not allowed to be eaten so that the carotenoids stored in the body could be washed out.

After the two weeks, the subjects received one standardized breakfast with oranges and one with pasteurized orange juice. Which test person got which breakfast was decided at random. There were 14 days between the two test phases.

After breakfast, the scientists took eight blood samples from the subjects within just under ten hours and then determined the carotenoid content.

The result

The human study was able to fully confirm the previous assumption from the in vitro study. “Orange juice is a better source of carotenoids than an orange,” says Julian Aschoff. During the investigations it was found that from pasteurized orange juice about twice as many carotenoids can be absorbed as from a commercially available orange, the graduate food engineer continues.

This is due to the production of the juice, as the initiator of the study, Prof. Dr. dr Reinhold Carle explains: “During the production of orange juice, dietary fibers such as pectin or cellulose are partially separated. These substances inhibit the absorption of carotenoids during digestion”.

According to Carle, there is more indigestible fiber in the orange than in the juice, which is why the absorption of the carotenoids from the fruit is greatly reduced.

Orange juice can contribute to a healthy diet

Consistency plays an important role when it comes to food intake: “When you chew the orange, the fruit is never completely broken up. Many cells, therefore, remain intact and enclose the carotenoids. This makes them more difficult to absorb and utilize,” explains Julian Aschoff.

Consumed in moderation, i.e. a glass of 200 milliliters of orange juice per day, the fruity drink can contribute to a healthy diet and provide the human body with the nutrients that the body needs, according to the researchers.

Hot espresso with cold orange juice: It may sound like a crazy combination, but this mix isn’t that absurd and unknown. The drink has long been on the menu at a Phoenix coffee shop and is very popular. In addition to the taste, it also scores with many as the ultimate pick-me-up.

This rarely seen drink mix was created by the cafe “Nami” in Phoenix (Arizona). The pick-me-up drink has been served there since 2011, but nobody really knows how this combination actually came about.

Espresso with orange juice – the ultimate pick-me-up drink?

It’s that easy: Just slowly fill up a glass of cold orange juice with hot espresso. The espresso then settles in such a way that two layers of color are created. Below the orange juice and above the brown espresso – that’s definitely something to be proud of!

When it comes to the taste of the drink, opinions differ. While some describe the taste as interesting and refreshing, critics don’t like the pick-me-up drink at all.

We tried it in the editorial office and in fact, there was nobody who didn’t like it. From “it’s okay” to “I’m sure it’s really good with ice cubes in the summer” to “I’ll make another one” we all had opinions. But does the pick-me-up really give you such an energy boost? Some colleagues felt a tingling sensation in their bodies – but it’s hard to say whether that was just a placebo or a real caffeine kick.

Coffee with lemon – home remedies for headaches?

In fact, combining coffee with citrus is nothing new. In Italy, for example, coffee is often served with a slice of lemon or orange to make the coffee less bitter. However, the espresso-orange juice combination has not yet made it onto the drinks menus of German cafés and bars. Maybe soon?

The well-known home remedy “coffee with lemon” is said to not only serve as a stimulant but even help against headaches and mild migraine attacks (1). An unsweetened cup of espresso with half a squeezed lemon is said to relieve pain because the combination prevents the production of an enzyme that plays a role in pain transmission. This is why many painkillers contain a mixture of caffeine and vitamin C.

For many, it is simply part of the start of the day: orange juice. However, new evidence shows he is not as healthy as many believe.

The nutritional values ​​in a 230ml glass of orange juice:

Calories: 110
Protein: 2 grams
Carbohydrates: 26 grams
Sugar: 22 grams
Vitamin C: 120 percent of the recommended daily amount
Vitamin B1: 15 percent of the recommended daily amount
Potassium: 13 percent of the recommended daily amount
Folates: 10 percent of the recommended daily amount
It’s actually pretty good, isn’t it? The only recognizable weak point: the sugar content. At 22 grams per glass, orange juice is comparable to a glass of cola, which contains roughly the same amount of sugar. That’s the equivalent of almost nine sugar cubes. Apart from that, however, orange juice is rich in vitamins and should actually be good for our body.

Scott Kahan, however, sees things differently. The scientist is certain that the consumption of orange juice is associated with obesity and organ damage. And not just because of the sugar. Orange juice has been squeezed from several oranges. Consuming the juice cannot be compared to consuming a natural orange. When you eat an orange, you not only take in the same vitamins with significantly fewer calories, but also valuable dietary fiber, which slows down digestion and creates a feeling of satiety. This does not happen with orange juice. You don’t feel full even though you’ve consumed more calories.

Fruit juices have a lot of calories, but they don’t fill you up

According to Kahan, the added sugar is just the tip of the iceberg. The high sugar content can be a problem for diabetics in particular. But they are not the only ones at risk: the large amount of sugar can also be harmful for non-diabetics.

Nevertheless, orange juice also has advantages when consumed correctly: The juice is a direct supplier of carotenoids, falvonoids and vitamin C. Carotenoids support the immune system and, as antioxidants, fight harmful substances in the body. Falvonoid is an anti-inflammatory and inflammation can always be a trigger for serious diseases. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for the body. It improves and supports the immune system and also acts as an antioxidant.

“If you really like orange juice, it can be worth including in moderate amounts in a balanced diet,” says Scott Kahan. However, all the good stuff in the juice can also be obtained by consuming a whole orange – and with far fewer calories.

Many natural home remedies for cellulite and annoying orange peel skin. So you can fight the orange peel skin and get smoother skin on your legs and buttocks.

Many women know the problem, the skin on the buttocks, thighs, or upper arms gets dents. This cellulite should be the reason to find old and unattractive because there are small helping home remedies.

1) Contrast shower to tighten the orange skin

There is a lot of good advice on cellulite. Nobody has to sit out treatments for hours because if you pay attention to small things in personal hygiene, a significantly better complexion can develop. With a little effort, you can create contrast showers that effectively stimulate blood circulation. This allows you to reduce the existing accumulation of water in the skin.

2) Declare war on cellulite with coffee grounds

You can also use the simple remedy of coffee grounds to have a high effect in the fight against cellulite. Before you buy expensive creams in the pharmacy, you should simply try these simple remedies. In every household, coffee grounds remain in the filter bag, which does not have to be thrown away. Instead, collect the coffee grounds and use them as a kind of scrub before the daily contrast shower. As soon as you use it twice a week, you will notice improvements in cellulite in just a few weeks. You should always massage gently from the feet up.

3) Raw potatoes increase the effect on orange peel skin

Younger women in particular often become impatient very quickly when they declare war on cellulite. You can also use raw potatoes to support the peeling with coffee grounds and the alternating showers. To do this, the raw potatoes must be peeled normally and then cut into thin slices. Place these thin potato slices on the affected skin and cover with a cloth. About a quarter of an hour is sufficient for the potatoes to release their draining active ingredients into the skin. If you cannot lie down during this exposure time, you can also fix the potato slices with normal cling film. After you remove the cling film, you need to wash the skin thoroughly with cold water.

4) Silica against orange peel

If you sometimes have problems with your skin and feel your connective tissue weakening, you should help yourself with some silica. This is a very old remedy that tightens the connective tissue and supplies the body with silicon, which often also provides a remedy for dull hair, brittle nails, and a wrinkled complexion. With this trace element, of which two-thirds of silica consists, you supply moisture to the body. This gives the tissue significantly more resilience. So silica is considered a small beauty product with a surprisingly large effect.

5) Train away orange peel skin

You can’t train away cellulite completely, but you can support the natural tightening of the skin. Normal weight with a balanced diet helps to improve the complexion. Regular movement and training exercises specifically for the legs and buttocks help to visibly reduce the dents.

Orange juice provides vitamins, has a positive effect on the stomach and is also said to put you in a good mood. Almost everyone likes “OJ” – but nobody wants to hear that: The working conditions on the orange plantations are bad, the fruit often grow in monocultures and with intensive use of pesticides. But consumers can do something.

Like all citrus fruits, oranges thrive best in the tropics, in subtropical regions and in a Mediterranean climate. They need lots of sun and warmth. If it is too hot, intensive watering is necessary, while frost during flowering can damage the crop.

Almost 80 percent of the world’s orange juice exports come from Brazil – including most of the juice offered in Germany. The most important growing region is the area around Sao Paulo, the so-called citrus belt.

The work on the plantations there is hard. Oranges are mostly harvested by hand because they can ripen very differently within the same tree. Blossoms and ripe fruit are often close neighbors. The workers are under high pressure to perform. Many work more than ten hours a day and are often paid less than the legal minimum wage. There is nobody who stands up for their concerns, because trade union organizations are often not allowed on the plantations.