How to Preserve Citrus Zest by Freezing

Have a recipe that calls for citrus juice, but not the zest? Save it by using this tip, and you'll always have a supply on hand.

How to Preserve Citrus Zest by Freezing

A good practice to get in the habit of: always peel the rind off citrus before juicing or using the fruit, and store the rind in a resealable plastic bag in the refrigerator, or even better, preserve citrus zest by storing it in the freezer.

First, to prevent it from being watery once it's thawed, microwave it before freezing for 30 seconds on waxed paper, then let it sit for an hour, or until it's dry. Freeze it in a freezer-safe container. This way, you'll always have zest on hand even if you don’t have the fruit.

Tags: storage, Fruit

Product Recommendations

Interested in cooking? Need some supplies?

Check out some of the tools we like. All products featured on Cuisine at Home are independently selected by our editors; we may earn an affiliate commission from qualifying purchases through our links.