Today is the day to no longer fear the word "zest." Why? It's
simple. To zest a fruit means to scrape off the outer layer of
fruits and use the scrapings to enhance the overall flavor of
the dish. The peels from fruits such as lemons, limes and
oranges contain a very high amount of flavorful oils that, when
used in small amounts, go a long way to add hints of citrus to a
dish or baked good. By only using the colorful part (the zest)
of the peel instead of the white bitter part (the pith), an
intense citrus flavor will be added instead of bitterness. Prior
to zesting a citrus fruit, it is important that you scrub the
fruit with soap and water and then pat it dry with a paper
towel. Once these steps are completed, it's time to choose your
zesting weapon. There are many tools that can be used to achieve
a zest that incorporates beautifully into a dish to add amazing
flavor. Typically, the tools listed below are most often used
when a recipe calls for zest: - Box Grater: When using a box
grater, there are four di