Knife Work
Zesting Without the White Pith
Shave off only the thin colored skin of citrus. You get the fragrant oil without the bitterness.
Key Points
Wash and dry the fruit first. Press lightly. Check the back of the strip for white.
Common Failures
Pressing hard takes the pith with the skin. Leaving the peel in for days turns the sauce bitter.
Do this
Hold the fruit in one hand. Run a peeler lightly over the skin. Take only the thin colored layer.
Why it works
The fragrant oil sits right under the colored surface. The white layer below is bitter. A light hand keeps them apart.
When to skip it
Skip it for waxed fruit you cannot wash well. Use juice only, and accept a weaker smell.
