One of the ways to extract essential oil is from fruit peels. While most people throw away fruit peels, these peels contain a wealth of nutrients, including essential oils. So, what is the procedure for extracting oil from fruit peels?
1. Choose the fruit
The first step in extracting oil from a fruit peel is to choose the fruit. Citrus fruits such as lemon, orange, and grapefruit are excellent choices for this process. You can use the fruit that has just been peeled or leftover lemon, orange, or grapefruit peels that are dry.
2. Wash the peels
Once you have chosen your fruit, wash the peels to ensure they are clean. This step is important because if the peels have dirt or pesticides, they can contaminate the essential oil.
3. Dry the peels
After washing the peels, dry them using a paper towel or a clean cloth. It’s essential to remove excess moisture as water can ruin the quality of the essential oil.
4. Grate or chop the peels
After drying the peels, you can either grate or chop them. When you chop the peels, they need to be as small as possible to allow for maximum exposure to the air. When grating the peels, you should use the smallest size.
5. Extract the oil
The next step is to extract the oil from the fruit peels. There are many ways to do this, but here are two popular methods:
Steam distillation: This method involves using a steam distiller to extract the oil. The fruit peels are placed in the steam distiller, and as the steam is generated, the oil is extracted.
Cold-press method: This method involves placing the grated or chopped fruit peels in a jar and adding a carrier oil such as olive oil or coconut oil. The mixture is then stored in a cool and dark place for several days. After the infusion period, the mixture is strained to remove the peels, leaving only the essential oil.
6. Store the oil
Once you have extracted the essential oil, you need to store it properly to maintain its quality. Store the oil in dark glass bottles away from sunlight in a cool and dry place. Essential oils can last for a long time if they are stored correctly.
In conclusion, extracting essential oil from fruit peels is a simple and straightforward process that can yield a high-quality product. By following these steps, you can extract essential oil from fruit peels, which can be used in a variety of applications. So, don’t throw away your fruit peels, save them and extract their oil for a range of benefits.