How to Zest a Lemon | 5 Quick & Easy Ways!

Learn How to Zest a Lemon using five different methods with kitchen tools and utensils you already have on hand. From using a microplane or citrus zester, to grating it with a cheese grater, it’s so easy to get that fresh lemon zest for added flavor to your favorite recipes!
Microplane: amzn.to/2QmlAxJ
Citrus Zester: amzn.to/2TgONy4
Boxed Cheese Grater: amzn.to/2NlN7hP
Vegetable Peeler: amzn.to/2HM1lIE
Paring Knife: amzn.to/32L5gxj
Using a Microplane:
Move the lemon back and forth over the grates of the microplane, rotating it as you go. Pay close attention to the placement of your fingers. (A microplane has very sharp edges and can easily cut you!)
Continue zesting the lemon until the lemon peel has been removed.
Using a Citrus Zester:
Place the fine, sharp-edged holes on one end of the citrus, following the curvature of the fruit.
Push slightly into the fruit and pull down to the other end.
Repeat this process until the entire lemon peel is removed and only the pith remains.
Using a Boxed Cheese Grater:
Place the lemon on side of the cheese grater that has the smallest holes.
Move it back and forth, paying close attention to the placement of your fingers.
Continue zesting the lemon until the entire yellow part is removed.
Using a Vegetable Peeler:
Hold the lemon in your non-dominant hand and the peeler in the other.
Place the sharp edges of the peel on one end of the citrus and push slightly into the fruit.
Pull down to the other end, paying close attention not to cut into the fruit too deep. You want to remove as little of the white part as possible.
Repeat this process until the entire peel is removed and only the pith remains.
Using a Knife:
Cut off one end of the lemon. Optional: If you would like to have smaller pieces of peel, finely chop until your desired size is reached.
Place the lemon cut-end down on a cutting board. (Image on left above). Or you can skip this step and just hold the lemon steady on a cutting board. (Image on the right above.)
Carefully cut into the fruit at an angle and remove the bright, yellow peel, avoiding the white pith. Remove any white pith that remains.
Optional: If you would like to have smaller pieces of peel, finely chop until your desired size is reached.
RECIPE NOTES:
One medium-sized lemon will yield roughly 1 tablespoon of zest.
Store extra lemon zest in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Limes and oranges may be zested using this same process.
If using waxed lemons:
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and pour hot water over lemons in a colander.
Immediately scrub lemons with a vegetable brush to remove the wax coating.
Website: evolvingtable.com

[@thrishathisrinivasan6170]

I am 11 and am making a bar of lemon soap for my mom as a surprise and really didnt know how to zest a leamon- This helped

[@evolvingtable9462]

So happy to hear that!! Thanks so much for letting me know - hope your mom loved the soap bar :)

[@thrishathisrinivasan6170]

@@evolvingtable9462 Yup she loved it and thank you for your help :)

[@beerbrewer7372]

Lemon soap? I have to try that!

[@nonikutta6743]

Hi beloved, may u please help me or teach me how to make a lemon soap, I'm also ur same group of your age. I wl appreciate ur help. Thank u.

[@jenniemaclean1448]

This is just so sweet !

[@bmcgowan89]

Instructions start at about 3:00

[@XxitsadryannaxX]

thank you!

[@JeahnLaffitte]

Thank you. God, these overblown videos are obnoxious

[@RhondaCumpsty]

Too perky

[@helenrejnova8060]

Thanks

[@gglydie4242]

Omg thank you

[@lokier]

start at 3:00

[@ashleyyy3290]

oh god thanks! I don't know why she's talking like that and really just wanna get to the actual zesting!

[@samdaman105]

Lmfao right

[@RBlank4evr]

This is EXACTLY what I needed. I've been lost for a while looking for answers about Lemon Zest. Now I'm making Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake!

[@evolvingtable9462]

Yay!! So happy this helped you out. And yum! That cake sounds ah-maaaazing!

[@MsBianca78]

Recipe?

[@robynahad3078]

Thank you Kate Middleton. Very enthusiastic and helpful

[@uppanadam74]

Didn't even think of the cheesegrater!! I'm about to harvest my first lot of lemons ever!! And was dreading standing at the kitchen cupboard for long hours peeling the zest off from the lemons!! My back is not up to that anymore!! So the cheesegrater will make it quick and easy!! Cheers!!

[@orgoniteyahgoniteaustralia6888]

Amazing how much useful stuff I've been throwing away without realizing the value of it. Thanks for the vid, I'll be keeping the zest as a vitamin supplement.

[@evolvingtable9462]

What a great idea!! And you're very welcome :)

[@UnLikeU]

This is a simple video but you don't know how many people you've helped. I came to watch this after being pissed for 48 hours on travelling to 12 different stores and Ice Cream Parlors and NOBOBY having Mother Effing LEMON ICE CREAM!!! I got pissed last night and just made my mother freaking on then I thought after it was absolutely delicious why not add a little texture so I thought about Lemon Zest. People MAKE YOUR OWN LEMON ICE CREAM & NEVER GET ALL THE ADDITIVES AGAIN. Vanilla Ice Cream, Almond or Milk of your choice, and 3 Squeezed Lemons per Pint. OH MY G O O D N E Z Z !!!!!! You'll never worry about searching for it again. Subscribed & Thumbs Up to support you for making this video. Thanks.

[@halfpintrr]

This sounds delicious! I have an ice cream maker, so I’ll make some.

[@denisecurtis8749]

3 June 23 - I'm three years late-- but very thankful for this information! Didn't own a microplane-- so I tried the box grater method-- but the zest just got stuck in the holes😂 Never thought about my trusty vegetable peeler and paring knife combo🙄 Or even just the paring knife and cutting the strips up🤣 However, after watching your cute video-- I'm better informed and a happier camper, now that I have these ingenious ways to zest! Lookout 🍋 lemons, limes and 🍊 oranges!😄 BTW MacGyver was my favorite show to watch!😀

[@lindachancellor7538]

Great tips. Especially being able to freeze the zest. I know the piff is bitter but it is also healthy. Thanks.

[@nyx8894]

4:32 I love the joy that went into saying "a knife 😃"

[@denisecurtis8749]

I know right! Love her bubbly personality😀

[@kvakma]

@@denisecurtis8749 - 😳🙄 - 😂

[@cicihcicih7737]

Tq for sharing dear❤

[@ryanscottnix]

Your energy is awesome, and that special effect at the start was super cool! hehe Thank you for the video! Very helpful!

[@rachealch1446]

I am gonna try out the knife tactic

[@JeffO-]

Hold microplane over the fruit in dominant hand with the forefinger on the metal part of the zester. Hold the fruit under it in your other hand. This way you can: 1. see what you're zesting instead of constantly turning it over 2. not be in danger of your fingers slippingg off the fruit and cutting your fingers 3. look like you went to culinary school with a good instructor.

[@emilio_319]

Great video. Thank you!

[@evolvingtable9462]

You're very welcome, Emilio! Thanks for commenting :)

[@gwangimckinney2557]

Thank you

[@sahelibasu4373]

Thank you so much for the video its helpful.

[@evolvingtable9462]

You're so welcome! Thanks for leaving a comment :)

[@sahelibasu4373]

@@evolvingtable9462 😊😊😊

[@williamneal9733]

Damn girl just get into the methods already. Skip to 2:58 for find out what you came for.

[@denisecurtis8749]

A little. Patience and kindness please-- we rush through life enough! I liked the intro!

[@Rjona0130]

Omg took so long. Thanks to fast forward

[@kvishnuvandana]

Wow so cool

[@Depechez]

with cutting it it looks like you still got a lot of white with it...I prefer the zesteur/citrus zester...using a grater is just too much work and too dangerous for my fingers. A tip to get it off the grater though: use a silicon baking brush to wipe it off. I have found a new love which is a food dehydrator...now I use the zesteur, chop it up and dry them to keep 'm longer

[@fopa13]

There's no reason for the levitating lemon, but I watched 8 minutes of this video because of it.

[@prnfl]

useful info

[@ayszhang]

Wow, someone with both names as geographical locations

[@evolvingtable9462]

Lol yup. Married my husband and got the coolest name ever 😎

[@chhavigupta2802]

@@evolvingtable9462 Lol

[@denisecurtis8749]

Let's not forget to celebrate other's out there with fabulous names! I worked with Merry Christmas and went to school with Polly Parrott! Both wonderful ladies!

[@pir8x]

I was all like, "Oh, good, zesting a lemon is 'quick & easy'!" ...then she uses magic to pluck a floating lemon from the air. Me: "Crap. Advanced wizardry is required."

[@denisecurtis8749]

Lololo 🤣😂

[@little.pixiedoll]

Your NAME IS LONDON BRAZIL???!!!!! 😍😍

[@Farmarlow]

I still can not zest a lemon. I have microplanes, zesters etc. but all I succeed in doing is getting the zest stuck in the grate holes. Then trying to get it out with toothpicks, needles, pounding. 4 lemons and I have less than an 8th of a teaspoon. I have watched dozens of videos. "It's so easy" uhg

[@StevieB1603]

Do you wash lemons before grating and if yes, with what …to get the pesticides and wax off? Or do you strictly use organic lemons? Thanks!

[@melinaspath5482]

watch the video

[@helenrejnova8060]

Baking soda

[@JarateMaster]

used this to get the nuka cola recipie from the fallout cookbook

[@caityoncam]

that lemon was just in frozen in the air lol

[@AlienVale]

the power of simple editing

[@northwest8235]

I was so confused but know I know

[@JoePina0]

How many fingers do you need to count to five? 2:49 Or count to one? 5:05 Lol! :)

[@PeteCarlton]

Is this real?

[@umi-chan8298]

Nope. It's evidence of the matrix we're stuck in. 👍

[@thomasanderson8283]

homie, I literally had the same thought. This cant be real

[@nia-qf2mz]

omg it’s totally not real, it’s all a lie i promise

[@kvakma]

🤣🤣😂😂🤣🤣……👍

[@SorinaHk]

I have the same knife on the same colour :)

[@evolvingtable9462]

Thats so cool! And what a small world :)

[@stevena.2306]

Microplane or citrus zester, please. High risk or cutting your with a knife and actually more likely to cut your with a vegetable peeler (like I did). I have good OXO peeler but vegetable peelers and not made to cut through thick lemon skin. Zest with caution.

[@denisecurtis8749]

Point well taken friend! (No pun intended)! Because I actually cut my finger on my high grade, chef quality vegetable peeler!😑 The blades are very sharp!😲

[@mist4926]

I'm using a fine greater but zest doesn't come off greater

[@melinaspath5482]

use a pastry brush to collect zest works a treat

[@kellegeez]

Use the side with the very small holes for zesting. The grater side won't really give you much zest.

[@mist4926]

Noticed you didn't show the zest coming off greater

[@kellegeez]

Because that's the wrong side to use for zesting. You'll barely get any zest. The zester side on a box grater is the side with the small holes.

[@denisecurtis8749]

I noticed and was a little disappointed-- as mine got stuck in those little holes and never came out🤣😂🤣! I had to bang it on the counter🤣😂🤣

[@animalcookiemonsterTV]

Her name is "London Barzil" ? 🤦‍♂️

[@denisecurtis8749]

MS London's name is unique and beautiful! Love her energy too!

[@mettamodel]

You got so much pith...

[@thomascondon9549]

Information is good…hyper-bubbly a bit not.

[@redshift5050]

Way too long getting started. Intros are 30 seconds max.

[@denisecurtis8749]

Life is rushed enough! Lighten up and enjoy it! Or skip ahead without the negatives.

[@mjcosgrove]

Wow! You are aggressively perky.

[@kvakma]

👍😂🤣

WOW...great tips, but you are WAY too obnoxious...sorry!

[@hombreguerro4767]

Thanks a lot sweet baby