How to Peel an Orange

Reviewed by Marrow Private Chefs

Last Updated: April 2, 2024 Approved

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Peeling an orange really isn't that difficult, it just takes a little instruction and practice. In fact, by the time you finish reading this article, you will be well-versed in several of the most popular orange peeling methods!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using your Hands

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1
Select a good orange. The ripeness of your chosen orange will play a major part in how easy it is to peel. When selecting the perfect orange for peeling, look for one with a bright orange color, which is pretty firm and heavy for its size.^{[1]
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- Try to avoid older fruit with wrinkled or bruised skin, as it will be harder to peel and will not taste as good.
- Oranges which are still slightly green or light orange in color may be slightly unripe and will be harder to peel as the skin will stick tightly to the fruit.
This step is completely optional, but some people claim that rolling the orange before peeling helps to loosen the skin, while also making the fruit extra juicy! To roll the orange, rest it on a flat surface and place an open palmed hand on top. Apply a light pressure and roll the orange for 10-15 seconds. Just don't press too hard - you don't want to squish your orange!

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3
Holding the orange in one hand, puncture the skin with your thumbnail. Try to make the puncture near the top or bottom of the orange, rather than around the sides. This is because the skin along the sides of the orange is thinner and adheres more tightly to the fruit. The looser and thicker skin at the top of the orange will come away more easily and is less prone to breaking.
- Some people advocate using your four fingernails to make the initial puncture, but this is more awkward and gets too much skin under your fingernails!
- Letting the nail of your thumb grow a little longer than the rest of your fingernails may also help with your orange peeling.
4
Work your thumb under the peel. Work the nail of your thumb under the orange skin until you have a good grip on it. Try not to puncture the fruit, as the juice will escape and make your hand sticky!
- Hold the orange over a plate in case you do happen to puncture the skin. This will make cleanup easier after you are finished peeling. Alternatively, a piece of paper towel will do the trick.
The bigger the section you tear off, the quicker all the skin will be removed. You can work from top to bottom or around the sides. It's up to you.
6
Tear off another section, beginning at the edge of the orange peel. It should be much easier now that you have already taken some of the peel off.
- Once you become really skilled at orange peeling, you may be able to peel an orange in one peel. This is achieved by tearing the skin off in a circular motion around the circumference of the orange, until you're left with the fruit in one hand and the twisted, snakelike peel in the other!
Throw away or compost the scraps.
Enjoy your orange!

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using a Knife

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Grab a sharp knife. It doesn't need to be a very big knife, just as long as it has a pointed tip.
Make a slice across the top of the orange to get started, then continue by rotating the orange in your hand while you use the knife to cut off the peel in one continuous motion.
The knife should be facing towards you while you peel in a steady controlled manner, with a slight sawing motion. The orange skin should come off in one continuous, spiraled piece, about 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. Don't worry if a little of the fruit comes away with peel, you'll get better with practice.
Once you have done this, it will be easy to peel the orange with your fingers. Just make sure you don't slice too deeply, or you will cut the fruit and get orange juice everywhere!

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using a Spoon

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Using an open palm, roll the orange on a flat surface for about ten seconds to help loosen the skin.
Use a sharp knife to make a 1 to 1 ¹⁄₂ inch (2.5 to 3.8 cm) vertical cut along the side of the orange. Try to cut all the way through the skin, but avoid cutting the fruit.
Insert a dessert spoon under the skin of the orange, where you made the opening with a knife. Work the spoon around the fruit to loosen and tear off the skin.

Community Q&A

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Question

Can I peel it with a fork?

Jose Galetovic

Community Answer

Yes! Use the pointed edges to make a hole, then follow the instructions in Method 1 Step 4 and the following steps.

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Is there a way I can use the spoon without using a knife?

Community Answer

If you can get the peel up slightly, slide a spoon under the skin and separate the skin from the orange.

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I need to know how to peel an orange without messing up my nails.

Ollieoxenfree

Community Answer

Use the knife method or ask someone to peel your orange for you.

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Tips

Once you get good at peeling oranges try peeling them so that the full skin stays connected and comes off in one piece. A cool way to do this is to start your cut at the stem and slice most of the way to the bottom leaving about 1/2 an inch, then do the same on the opposite side and the two directions perpendicular to it, then peel them all back and it should look like a four petaled flower with the fruit in the middle.

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Though you wouldn't want to consume an orange peel while it's still on the orange, you don't have to throw them out, either. You can eat orange peel by using it as a garnish or making candied orange peel.

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