The oil extracted from oranges is widely used in cleaning products and food recipes because of its pleasant fragrance and strong solvent properties. This oil is also known to have many health benefits. You can make orange oil at home for a variety of uses with just a few orange peels. You can also quickly extract citrus oil and infuse it with regular edible oil to create a great-smelling oil for cooking and scenting your home.
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Method 1 of 3: Making Orange Essential Oil in a Jar
Step 1. Gather the ingredients
To extract citrus oil in a jar, you will need a mason jar, zetser (fruit peel) and a little ethanol (grain alcohol). Vodka is best for making citrus oil because it has no flavor. Vodka also won't dilute or overpower the citrus scent in the finished product.
Step 2. Peel the orange peel
Most of the orange essential oil is in the peel. Therefore, you need to peel the orange peel before making the essential oil. You can peel it with a knife or grate it with a zester.
- For best results, do not cut the pith of the orange. This part contains very little limonin and will make the mixture taste bitter.
- If a zester is not available, you can also use a grater, vegetable peeler, or small paring knife.
- The number of oranges used will vary depending on the number of oranges you have and the amount of essential oil you want to make.
Step 3. Dry the orange peel
You need to hang oranges to dry. Place on kitchen paper and dry in direct sunlight until completely dry. Depending on the humidity level in your area, the process may take 2 days. To speed things up, try cutting the orange peel into small (1-2.5 cm) pieces.
Step 4. Grind the orange peel
Once the orange peel is dry, put it in a food processor and crush it until it has a coarse consistency. Do not let the orange peel too dry because some of the limonin content will be lost.
If you use a grater or zester, the orange peel does not need to be ground further
Step 5. Warm the ethanol
Put warm water in a bowl. The temperature should be moderately warm and not too hot (approximately 32 degrees Celsius). Place the ethanol bottle in warm water and soak for 20 minutes.
- Vodka is also ideal for this process.
- You can use cold alcohol. However, warm alcohol will help you get more oil.
Step 6. Soak the orange peel in warm ethanol and beat for a few moments
Place grated or crushed orange peel in Mason jars. Pour in the ethanol until it completely covers the orange peel. Once done, screw the lid on tightly and shake vigorously for a few minutes.
Step 7. Let the mixture sit for 2-3 days
While waiting, you can shake the jar 2-3 times a day. It's also a good idea to let the mixture sit a bit longer for a few days. The stronger the jar is shaken and the longer it is allowed to stand, the more essential oil is obtained.
Step 8. Strain the mixture
Use a coffee filter or cheesecloth to strain the mixture into a shallow container. Make sure you squeeze all the liquid from the mixture into this bowl.
Step 9. Let the alcohol evaporate
Cover the bowl with a cloth or kitchen paper and let it sit for a few days. This allows the remaining alcohol in the mixture to evaporate. When all the alcohol is gone, all that's left is the orange oil.
- Do not let the cloth/tissue fall into the mixture. Your oil will be absorbed later.
- Once the alcohol has completely evaporated, put the remaining oil in a container with a lid.
Method 2 of 3: Infuse Oil with Oranges
Step 1. Select the type of oil
When infusing oil, it's best to choose one that has a medium flavor and is able to accept the flavors of whatever is cooked in it. Olive oil is the most commonly used and easy to infuse, but the flavor on its own can be too strong. Consider using virgin olive, nut, grapeseed, or avocado oil. These oils have a lighter taste.
The desired taste and aroma of the oil can be maintained by using lighter-tasting oils
Step 2. Grate the orange peel
Before starting, make sure you wash and dry the oranges to prevent pesticide contamination in your oil. The number of oranges used will depend on the amount of infused oil you want to make. Typically, you need 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of grated orange peel for each cup of oil.
Do not also grate the white fibers of the orange
Step 3. Heat the oil and grate the skin
Place the grated orange peel in a small saucepan and cover it with oil. Heat a saucepan over medium heat for five minutes or until the oil is bubbling. Don't let the oil and grated orange peel get too hot so they don't burn and spoil the taste and aroma.
Heating the grated orange peel will extract the orange oil which will then be infused with other oils
Step 4. Remove the pan from the stove
Let your pan cool for a few minutes. For a lighter infusion, use a slotted spoon to scoop the grated skin off the oil while it cools. If you want a stronger taste, leave the grated skin in the oil to cool and strain before putting it in the bottle.
If the grated skin is removed during the cooling period, the oil will have a lighter color. If you leave the grated skin on while the oil cools, the color will appear darker
Method 3 of 3: Using Orange Essential Oil
Step 1. Mix with Castile soap
You can make a strong, eco-friendly cleaning solution by mixing citrus oil with Castile soap. Just add a teaspoon of orange extract to a bottle of Castile soap for an all-in-one cleanser. Since Castile soap is made from plant oils (instead of chemical detergents), it is safe for sensitive skin and is biodegradable.
Limonin is a natural oil cleaner and solvent. This material is effective for cleaning pots, pans and other kitchen utensils
Step 2. Use it as an insect repellent
Insects hate limonin, and a little dab of citrus oil can ward off it for hours. Wear it on your neck, arms, and other exposed skin areas to prevent insect bites. You can also put a little limonin oil around the campsite to repel insects.
Do not expose limonin to fire as it is highly flammable. Orange peels are so flammable that they can be used to make fires
Step 3. Refresh the smell of any object
Drop 1-2 drops of orange oil to disguise bad odors. Try rubbing some citrus oil on a smelly trash can. In fact, many commercial fragrance fresheners contain limonin as a cleaning and deodorizing agent. You can make your own room freshener by mixing 30 drops of orange oil with 2 cups of baking soda.
Step 4. Improve your health
The essential oil contained in oranges is believed to be efficacious in curing various types of cancer. Doctors also use limonin to break up gallstones. There is also evidence that orange oil can lower cholesterol levels. However, grapefruit oil or other supplements containing limonin should not replace medical treatment.
