Is Lemon Peel The Same As Lemon Zest?
The peel is a part of a fruit that protects them. The peel also helps the fruit safer from the insects, pests, and diseases that might attack the tree. It also helps block sunlight and prevents dehydration and evaporation of water.
The peels are very helpful to all kinds of fruit. But when it comes to lemon, there are terms that are used to call the skin of the fruit like rind, peel, and zest. Are these terms mean the same thing or not?
Is Lemon Peel The Same As Lemon Zest?
No, lemon peel and lemon zest are not the same and they are different from each other. The lemon peel is the covering or the coating of the fruit while the lemon zest is the outer colored part of the peel only. The lemon peels include the zest and the pith (white part) while the lemon zest is only a portion of the peel.
Commonly lemon zest can be get from the peel by using a zester, paring knife, or grater. You can get zest from the colored part of the lemon peel. Zest is the outer layer of the lemon fruit in other words it is called the exocarp.
Zest
Zest is one of the most commonly used parts of the lemon fruit. Yes, people love to make drinks using lemon juice and make other dishes but the zest is also used to make delicious desserts.
The lemon zests are flavorful and make food taste great. Using a zester or tool they get the colored part of the peel and mixed with other ingredients to make an awesome dish.
Rind
The rind and zest are just the same. They are the outer coating of the lemon fruit. Those terms have a similar meanings. Lemons have a bit of thin rind and have more flesh but some varieties have thick rinds.
The Meyer lemon tree produces great fruit that tastes sweeter than other lemons and has a thinner rind. Meyer lemon is also commonly grown tree by growers because they are just small and produce excellent fruits.
Peel
Peel is the covering of the lemon fruit. The peel of the lemon has two parts; one is the zest or rind the colored part and two is the pith which is the white part. The zest has a flavorful taste which most people use to mix in their dishes while the pith tastes bitter and is not included in cooking or baking.
When you include the pith it will add an unpleasant taste to your dish. Both the zest and the pith cover the flesh and protects the fruit from insects and pests outside.
Skin
The skin and the peel are just the same. It is the covering of the lemon fruit. The skin of the lemon is smooth when there is no pest or insect damage. Pests can do some damage to the skin of the fruit and leave scratches.
If you are a lemon tree grower you need to protect your tree from pests. Some other animals also can eat the skin and you need to control them from eating the lemons.
Pith
The pith is the white part of the skin of lemon fruit and other citruses. It is located just beneath the outer colored skin. The pith tastes bitter and is not commonly eaten. They have an unpleasant taste and you will not enjoy consuming them.
