Peel (fruit)

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Peel, also known as rind, is the outer protective layer of a fruit. Botanically, it is referred to as the exocarp, but this term also includes the hard cases of nuts, which are not considered to be peels.

Uses

Depending on the thickness and taste, fruit peel is sometimes eaten as part of the fruit, such as with apples. In some cases the peel is unpleasant or inedible, in which case it is removed and discarded, such as with bananas or oranges.

The peel of citrus fruits is bitter and generally not eaten raw, but is used in cooking. The outermost, coloured part of the peel is called the zest, which can be scraped off and used for its tangy flavour. The fleshy white part of the peel is bitter when raw, but becomes sweet when candied (boiled with sugar). Candied citrus peel can be eaten as a sweet, often coated in chocolate, or used in baking dishes such as plum pudding and fruitcake.

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