Liquid Applications

• For an aromatic syrup to add to cocktails or sauces, boil strips of grapefruit peel in a combination of equal parts white granulated sugar and water. This is called a heavy simple syrup and is a delicious base for mojitos, sorbets, cake glazes and more.

  To simply enjoy the distinctive flavors and aromatic volatile oils of grapefruit, soak the peels in ice water or hot tea for a few minutes -- just long enough to release the natural oils without any strong, bitter taste.

Sweeter Applications

• Citrus peels provide texture when chopped up and cooked into a sweet and nuanced marmalade or sugared citrus preserve. Try adding grapefruit peel to an orange or lemon marmalade to mix up the flavors, and spread it on all manner of rich breads and pastries.

  Long, thick strips of grapefruit peel can be candied with a few rounds of blanching in sugared water and a light dusting of granulated sugar. Any trace of white pith left on the peel will make your candies extremely bitter, so take care in preparation.

Garnish and Seasoning

• The most popular application for citrus peel is zest, a fine grating of peel used to brighten anything from salad dressings to seafood marinades with flowery, complex aromas. Zest can be created with an appropriately named zester, a microplane or other fine grating tool, or by carefully slicing off sections of peel and mincing with a sharp knife.

  The zest, or larger chopped pieces of peel, can be dried and reserved for later projects, offering an aromatic surprise in colder seasons.

Preparing Peel for Use

• Choose a firm grapefruit that is heavy in relation to its size. Wash quickly in warm water before removing the peel, gently scrubbing the surface to unclog pores and remove blemishes or wax coating. Test the fruit you want to use by gently scratching the peel with your nail and smelling it. You should sense a strong, vibrant aroma as the oils are released.

  Never cut or grate too deeply in the peel, lest you start carving into the bitter white pith that separates fruit flesh from peel. Try to utilize zest when the fruit is whole, before doing any cutting or juicing, when it is easier to remove. Roll the fruit on a flat surface with slight pressure to release more volatile oils in the peel.