To peel a lemon, you can either zest it first and then peel away the remaining skin, or peel the entire lemon at once. The method you choose depends on what you intend to do with the lemon peel and the rest of the lemon.
Here's one approach, favored by bartenders, to peel lemon zest:
- Zest the Lemon: Use a zester, vegetable peeler, or sharp knife to carefully remove the outer layer (zest) of the lemon. Be sure to only remove the colored part and avoid the white pith underneath, as it's bitter.
- Make an Initial Cut: With the zesting complete or as a first step, make a small cut through the lemon skin, down to the flesh.
- Peel the Lemon: Start peeling the lemon zest away from the fruit.
- Final Cut: After going around the lemon, make your final cut to detach the peel.
This method allows for a clean peel and separates the zest effectively. The video reference highlights a technique to peel a lemon for its zest. Other general approaches include using a paring knife to remove strips or the entire rind, then removing the pith if desired.
