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Food & Ferment,  Green Living,  Preserve Your Harvest

How to Make Dehydrated Lemon Powder + 13 Ways to Use It

Last Updated on December 28, 2024

Looking for clever ways to use lemon peels and reduce waste? Come learn how to make dried lemon powder! It’s easy to do in either a food dehydrator or the oven, and results in a uniquely delicious, sweet and zesty homemade seasoning powder.

Lemon peel powder is loaded with flavor, vitamin C, and can be used in a wide variety of sweet or savory dishes including baked goods, spice blends, rubs, tea, or even homemade body care products like DIY bath salts. See a full list of ideas at the end of this post!


The understory of a lemon tree is shown, it is loaded with dark golden fruit. Below the tree is a wooden sawhorse and two chickens are resting peacefully on it.

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Citrus grows plentiful here in California, so we’re always looking for ways to use our homegrown lemons. In addition to homemade lemon powder, we also enjoy making preserved lemons, natural lemon vinegar cleaner, and freezing lemon juice cubes. We also love to dry orange slices to make beautiful holiday ornaments, use in tea, or to make a dried orange garland!


Instructions


1) Collect Lemon Peels


It’s best to use organic lemons to make lemon powder, as non-organic lemons have nasty chemicals embedded in the rind. Also, it is best to use fresh lemon peels to make homemade lemon powder. Therefore, the ideal time to make lemon powder is when you’re already using a large quantity of lemons! For example, if you’re juicing lemons to save the juice in ice cube trays, baking lemon bars, making lemonade, or something else deliciously-lemony. 

However, you don’t necessarily need to collect your lemon peels all in one day. One option is to save the rinds for up to a week in the refrigerator in an air-tight container. Better yet, peel a bunch of lemons at once to use throughout the week (stored in the fridge), and then you’ll have all your rinds ready at one time.

Or, instead of collecting and drying a large batch of lemon peels at one time, you could also dehydrate a few in smaller batches – albeit less efficient.

A note on freezing lemon rinds:  Though I haven’t tried it, I assume it’s possible to save collected lemon rinds in the freezer over a longer period of time if needed – and then dehydrate them later after defrosting. However, I have a feeling the color will be a bit off and darker orange to brown. At least that is what happened when I used slightly older softened lemon rinds to make lemon powder one time. If you do try the freezing option, be sure to report back and let us know how it went!


A white ceramic mixing bowl that has a copper colored rim and handles is shown. It is full of bright gold, smooth skinned lemons that are glistening in the light.
A nice little harvest of our homegrown Meyer lemons


2) Prepare Lemon Peels


This step will vary depending on the type of lemon you are using. 

We are fortunate to have a tree full of sweet, thin-skinned Meyer lemons at our disposal. If using Meyer lemons (or similar), you don’t need to fuss with removing the white pith, as it is usually very minimal compared to the sweet tender rind. Therefore, when I want to make homemade lemon powder, I simply peel Meyer lemons whole – as I would an orange!


A half gallon mason jar full of lemon peels is sitting next to a white ceramic bowl full of lemons that have been peeled. A lemon that has been sliced in half along its equator is on display if front of the jar and bowl.
In order to get a decent batch of lemon peels to dehydrate at one time, I peeled a bunch of our Meyer lemons just like oranges, stored the lemons in the fridge, and then used them throughout the week as salad dressing, in water, tea, and more.


For other thicker-skinned lemon varieties, such as Eureka lemons, you will want to remove most of the bitter white pith from the inside of the peel. One way is to peel just the outer layer of the lemon rind using a vegetable peeler – creating thin ribbons of zest. Alternatively, you could peel the lemon whole (like an orange) and then use a spoon or knife to carefully scrape away the white pith.


A lemon sits atop a washed concrete surface, it has been partially peeled with a household peeler and the lemon peels are laying around the perimeter of the lemon and its now mostly pithy white exterior. The lemon peels will be soon turned into lemon powder.
Peel Eureka lemons with a vegetable peeler to leave behind most of the bitter pith.


3) Dehydrate Lemon Peels


How to dry lemon peels using a food dehydrator:

  • Lay out the lemon rinds on your food dehydrator trays. The rinds should be in a single layer and not overlapping, since we want good air flow between and around each piece. 
  • Next, load up your dehydrator and turn it on to a low heat setting (between 95-105°F is good, if your dehydrator has temperature settings).
  • Dehydrate the lemon peels until they are completely dry. The time it takes for them to fully dry will vary depending on your individual machine and the thickness of the peels, which may be several hours to a couple of days. It takes about 24 hours to dry Meyer lemon peels in our current badass Excalibur dehydrator, and 36-48 hours in our previous basic Nesco dehydrator.
  • You know the lemon peels are finished drying when they easily crack and snap in half, rather than bending. 
  • Failing to completely dry your lemon peels before grinding will result in a clumpy lemon powder with a shorter shelf-life!


Lemon peels are covering the surface of stainless steel drying racks. The lemon peels aren't overlapping to allow even drying.
An Excalibur Dehydrator is shown while three of its treys have been pulled out in stair step fashion. The treys are lined with lemon peels that are arranged in a way to maximize airflow for even drying.  In 24 hours they will be dry enough to be turned into lemon powder.
Meyer lemon peels in our Excalibur dehydrator


How to dry lemon peels in the oven:

This method will work best for thin, zest-like peels of lemon rind. Spread the lemon peels out on a cookie sheet or baking pan. Preheat the oven to the lowest temperature setting possible. Because ovens don’t have uber-low temperature options like dehydrators do, the finished lemon rinds will be darker in color and possibly a different flavor (more roasted) than those dried in a dehydrator. 

Bake the lemon rinds on low heat until they are completely dry, crisp, and easily snap in half. This may take several hours to a full day to dry in the oven. If your climate is very arid and warm, you could allow the thin lemon zest ribbons to partially air-dry at room temperature for a couple days before baking, reducing the time needed in the oven.


A clear glass bowl is shown from a birds eye view, it contains many dried lemon peels, dried to a crispy perfection. They are slightly darker in color than when fresh, a bit more of a burnt golden orange in color. The back drop is a dark barn wood surface.
Crispy-dry and ready to grind!


4) Grind into Lemon Powder


Once the lemon peels are totally dry, it is time to turn them into powder! Use a blender, food processor, or coffee grinder to churn the dried lemon peels into powder. Our Vitamix does a stellar job at creating a fine, fluffy lemon powder! 

TIP: Even using a Vitamix, I find that some larger hard bits are left behind after the initial blend. Therefore, I like to pour the ground lemon powder through a fine mesh strainer poised over a bowl and sift it. Then, I take the collected leftover hard bits and run them back through the Vitamix another time to pulverize them into powder. Repeat if necessary. Then use a rubber scraper to gather all of the lemon powder stuck inside your blender or machine. That is valuable stuff!


A four way image collage, the first image shows a blender dumping the lemon powder into a fine mesh metal strainer that is sitting atop a glass bowl. The second image shows a spatula reaching into the blender to scrape away any excess powder that has built up into the crevices of the blender. The bowl is visible just below the blender and it is partially full of sifted lemon powder, some of the powder is still sitting in the strainer that is still atop the bowl. The third image shows the bottom of the blender and the smaller hard bits that have been separated from the powder through the sifting process. These will be re-blended until they reach a fine powder. The fourth image shows the fine lemon powder after it has been sifted into the glass bowl. The powder is reminiscent of golden corn meal.


Storage


Finally, transfer the homemade lemon powder in an air-tight glass container, such as in a mason jar with tight-fitting lid. A canning funnel really comes in handy to transfer the power into a jar without spilling!

Store lemon powder in a dry, dark, cool location. We store ours in the pantry. When properly dried and stored, your homemade dried lemon peel powder should last for over a year. That is, if you don’t use it all up before then!


A hand is holding a pint mason jar up to display the golden orange lemon powder that resides within. The jar is two thirds of the way full and the jar is marked "lemon" with a wine glass marker.


13 Ways to Use Dried Lemon Peel Powder


Dried lemon powder is insanely delicious. To be honest, I was shocked at how good (and versatile!) it was when we made our first batch many years ago. It can be used in meals, beverages, cleaning products, or even in organic body care! Check out the ideas below.

  1. Add it to salad dressing. I’m a big fan of simple combinations like olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and a dash of lemon peel powder. Or, sprinkle it right over the salad instead!
  2. Use it in dips like guacamole, hummus, salsa, or this yogurt dill lemon dipping sauce.
  3. Mix it with salt, pepper, and/or dried herbs to create lemon pepper and other custom seasoning blends.
  4. Sprinkle lemon powder over sautéed vegetables, during or after cooking.
  5. Add it to baked goods like sweet breads, muffins, cookies, or even in frosting or pudding.
  6. Add it into artichoke cooking water for a bright pop of flavor.
  7. Incorporate lemon powder into your loose leaf tea blend, or simply mix it straight into hot water or tea.
  8. Sprinkle it over plain yogurt with granola, nuts and seeds. 
  9. Add it as an ingredient in homemade body care products, such as bath teas, salves, body scrubs, facial masks, or soap. Check out this book for amazing DIY organic body care recipes.
  10. Use dried lemon powder as a replacement for lemon zest in any recipe. Use 1 tsp of lemon powder for every called-for tablespoon of fresh lemon zest (the commonly suggested ratio for all dry-to-fresh herbs substitutions).
  11. Sprinkle dried lemon peel powder over avocado toast with salt and pepper.
  12. Give some away as a gift, if you have any to spare! My mom loves our lemon powder so I give her a little jar every year around the holidays.
  13. Use it as a fish or meat seasoning – if you’re into that.


A close up image of two slices of rustic homemade sourdough bread that are covered in pesto and topped with slices of avocado, sliced radish, and a sprinkle of lemon powder on top of it all.
Oh my lemon. How about some homemade sourdough avocado toast topped with besto pesto, garden radishes and a sprinkle of salt, pepper, and lemon powder? Yes please.


Lemon powder is easy to make, and even easier to find ways to use it! I hope you love your homemade lemon powder as much as we do. Please feel free to ask any questions, report back with a review, and share this article!


If you are into dehydrating food, check out the tutorials below – they’re some of our favorites!


Homemade Dried Lemon Peel Powder

Come learn how to make dried lemon powder! It's easy to do in either a food dehydrator or oven, and results in a uniquely delicious, sweet and zesty homemade seasoning powder. Lemon peel powder is also loaded with vitamin C, and can be used in a wide variety of sweet or savory dishes, spice blends, tea, body care products, more.
4.77 from 55 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Drying Time 1 day
Course Preserved Food, Seasoning

Equipment

  • Food Dehydrator, or Oven
  • Blender, Food Processor, or other appliance for grinding

Ingredients
  

  • Lemon peels

Instructions
 

  • Wash and peel your lemons. If using thin-skinned sweet lemons (like Meyer lemons) peel them whole like an orange. For thicker-skinned lemons (such as Eureka lemons) use a vegetable peeler to remove the outer part of the rind, leaving behind most of the white bitter pith.
  • Lay out the lemon peels in a single layer on your food dehydrator racks (or on a baking sheet, if drying in the oven).
  • Dry the lemon peels 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 peels, which may be several hours to a couple of days.
  • Dehydrate the lemon peels until they are completely dry. The lemon peels are finished drying when they easily crack and snap in half, rather than bending.
  • Use a blender, food processor, or coffee grinder to churn the dried lemon peels into powder.
  • Optional: Pour the ground lemon powder through a fine mesh strainer poised over a bowl and sift it. Take the collected leftover hard bits and run them back through the Vitamix/blender another time to pulverize them into powder.
  • Store the finished lemon powder in a glass air-tight 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.
Keyword Dehyrated Lemons, Dried Lemon Peel Powder, Lemon Peel Powder, Lemon Powder, Preserved Lemons
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!



DeannaCat signature, keep on growing

Deanna Talerico (aka DeannaCat) is a garden educator and writer with over 15 years experience in organic gardening. She is a retired Senior Environmental Health Specialist, and holds a M.A. in Environmental Studies and B.S. in Sustainability and Natural Resources.

96 Comments

  • Stephanie

    Jumping in to say that I have absolutely used frozen lemon peels for this! (Added chopped them into pieces and added them to a freezer bag until I had enough to make it worth my time). And… somewhat controversially… I did not bother removing the pith. I was planning on using it in baking and savoury reciped and I did not notice any especially bitter notes. The results may have been different with more delicate recipes? Do with that information what you will!

  • Sandra

    5 stars
    What a treat to have on hand recipes and sprinkles. So easy to make, and the smell while grinding was heavenly.
    Thanks for the tips and how to.

4.77 from 55 votes (23 ratings without comment)

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