How to Zest a Lemon

Name: How to Zest a Lemon
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 2 Tablespoons
Ingredients: 1 lemon

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Find out how to zest a lemon with these three easy methods! Lemon zest is a quick and easy way to add zesty citrus flavor to any recipe.

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With one hand holding the microplane, use your other hand to run the lemon away from you along the grater. Only remove the yellow part of the lemon, avoiding the pith (the white part undeneath).
Rotate the lemon with each stroke along the grater until the entire lemon has been zested.

Hold the lemon with one hand and the vegetable peeler with the other. Use the peeler to cut the yellow part of the peel off in strips, being careful to avoid the pith (the white part).
Use a knife to finely chop the strips of lemon peel.

If using a box grater, position it over a cutting board. Hold the cheese grater with one hand while pushing the lemon away from you on the grater, using the opposite hand.
Remove only the yellow part of the lemon, avoiding the pith (the white part). Rotate the lemon with each stroke along the box grater until the entire lemon has been zested.

One medium lemon will result in about 2 Tablespoon of lemon zest.
The same process can be used with limes and oranges. Depending upon their sizes, you may have more or less zest.
Store zest in airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Lemon zest can be frozen for up to 3 weeks, but the color will fade. Storing longer will result in a less flavorful zest.