The best way to zest a lime and how to use lime zest in culinary recipes! A small amount of zest can bring a subtle element of brightness and freshness to your meals.

Also check out how to zest a lemon to use in recipes with lemon juice.

What is lime zest?

It’s essentially what the peel of the lime becomes once it has been shredded. It adds a tart brightness to any dish. Lime zest is great for adding a punchy tang to desserts like our key lime pie or as a garnish to cocktails with lime juice, like a Moscow mule. You can also add it to savory recipes like our yogurt tahini dip to add vibrancy in flavor and color.

How to Zest a Lime with a Microplane

Microplane’s are the most efficient tool for lemon-zesting. To use a Microplane, follow these steps:

1. Hold the microplane in one hand, and the lime in the other.
2. Drag the lime across the holes of the microplane, turning the lemon as you go to avoid the bitter pith.
3. Repeat until you’ve produced the desired amount of zest.

How to Zest a Lime with a Vegetable Peeler

Follow these steps when using a vegetable peeler:

1. Using the peeler, carefully remove the outermost layer of yellow rind.
2. Mince the peel into small pieces using a sharp knife.

Ways to Use Lime Zest

Use zest to add fragrance, flavor and color to a dessert, savory dish or cocktails!

Infuse Sugar – Makes the most beautiful flavor!

Add it to Cocktails – Add it to any cocktails that have lime juice like our coconut margarita or our sergeant pepper cocktail.

Garnish Cookies (like our top favorite cookie recipes for occasions) and pies like our old fashioned coconut pie

Add it to Pasta

Add it to Savory Dishes – Our coconut rice is great recipe that uses it!

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