Zest

Zest is the colored portion of only the citrus peel or rind that is grated. The white portion, or pith, should be avoided as it is quite bitter. Fruit should be zested before squeezing, which is why it’s listed in the ingredients lists slightly out of order from where it’s added to the recipe. Be sure to wash the fruit in soap and hot water and rinse it well or it will add a bitter taste to the recipe. If a recipe calls for finely grated zest, after grating it with a Microplane grater, use a chef’s knife to chop it to a fine consistency, or process it with some of the sugar in the recipe.