Homemade Lemon Zest Powder

You will need:
Food Dehydrator, or Oven
Blender, Food Processor, or other appliance for grinding
Lemon peels

Method:

Wash and peel your lemons. If using thin-skinned sweet lemons, peel them whole like an orange. For thicker-skinned lemons, remove the outer part of the rind, leaving behind most of the white bitter pith. Lay out the lemon peel in a single layer on your food dehydrator racks (or on a baking sheet, if drying in the oven). Dry the lemon peel in the dehydrator at 95-105°F, or in the oven on the lowest heat setting possible. The time it takes for them to fully dry will vary depending on your individual machine and the thickness of the peel, which may be several hours.

Dehydrate the lemon peel until they are completely dry. The lemon peel is finished drying when it is easily cracked andsnapped in half, rather than bending. Use a blender, food processor, or coffee grinder to churn the dried lemon peel into powder. This is optional: Pour the ground lemon powder through a fine mesh strainer poised over a bowl and sift it. You can use those pieces or throw them away if you wish. Store the finished lemon powder in an air-tight glass container, such as in a mason jar with tight-fitting lid. Keep the container in a dry, cool place – such as the pantry. When properly dried and stored, your homemade lemon peel powder should last for over a year.