Zest

This is the thin, colored, outer layer of citrus fruit peels. It can either be removed in strips with a vegetable peeler or grated off with a fine-holed grater, depending on how it is being used. When zest is called for, first wash off the fruit in warm water and wipe it dry. If grating the zest, be careful to grate off only the colored part of the peel; the white, spongy part of the peel, just under the zest, has a very strong, bitter taste. Whenever possible, use fruits that have not been sprayed with chemicals.