Difference Between Lemon Peel, Zest and Rind

Well, if I will say there is a bit difference between these three in terms of there taste and what each of them stands for.

store lemon zest

Lemon peel

lemon peel

Firstly, lemon peel is the whole skin of the lemon, including the white part, that is everything but the flesh. It is medicinal to some extent because of the vitamins, minerals and fibers which makes it beneficial to one’s health.

Meanwhile, it is rare to use the peel in recipes because of the white portion that tastes bitter and if at all you are going to use it for anything make sure you wash your lemon peel very well because of insecticides and pesticides. Lemon peel can be used as a flavor in teas.

Lemon zest

Lemon zest

Zest refers only to the thin colored part of the peel which is used for seasoning food. it should not contain the white part, as it is bitter. You can zest a lemon by using a lemon zester or grater. Zest is actually the bright flavor of the fruit be it lemon, lime or orange. 

Read Also – How To Preserve Lemon Zest And How Long It Can Last

It is the most widely use out of the three and contains the citrus oil and when you want to get the best result of getting zest out of a lemon is better to use a zesting tool. Zest is used for garnishing, decorating cake, dishes, cocktails and many more.

Lemon rind

lemon rind

Rind refers to the outermost thin, shiny layer of the fruit’s peel that bears the oil glands that add a nice smell to the rind. Sometimes, it is called the skin of a lemon and used for simmering stews.

Must Read – Best Lemon Zester

In conclusion, these three are interwoven and are used interchangeably but the only one that is different from the other two is the zest and what it is used for.

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2 Comments

  1. The explanation I am looking for that explains the difference between lemon peel and lemon zest does not answer my question. “The pee includes the zest but the zest does not include the peel” What does that mean, makes no sense to me. To make a lemon meringue pie, do I add zest or must I chop the peel? See, I do not understand.

    1. Hi Marilou, in recipes, you almost always use the lemon zerst, so only the yellow part. Lemon peel includes also the white part around the flesh and is a bit more bitter. Hope, that clears it up. greetings 🙂