• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sunday Supper Movement logo
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Sunday Supper Pledge
    • Family Foodie TV
  • Browse Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dinner Ideas
    • Side Dishes
    • Best Dessert Recipes
  • Grilling Recipes
  • Cooking Chart
  • Newsletter
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Browse Recipes
  • Holiday Recipes
  • Newsletter
  • Cookbooks
  • Media
  • Contact Us
  • The Sunday Supper Pledge
  • Follow us on social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » How-to's & Guides » How to Zest a Lime

    How to Zest a Lime

    Published: Jul 16, 2021 Modified: Dec 6, 2022 by Isabel Laessig

    Share
    Pin
    Share

    Sunday Supper is an Amazon Associate and may receive compensation for purchases made through affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    Limes make everything better! My How to Zest a Lime guide will show you the best way to get the most out of your limes! Learn how to use a grater to zest a lime, the difference between a zester and a grater, and more.

    Plus, get our best recipes using lime zest that you can make easily at home, like our popular Elotes Mexicanos!

    Elotes Mexicanos piled on a white platter with lime wedges
    Elotes Mexicanos, a recipe using lime zest
    Jump to:
    • FAQs
    • Zester vs. Grater
    • How to Zest without a Zester
    • Lime Zest Substitutes
    • Recipes Using Zest
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    FAQs

    What is lime zest?

    Zest is the peel of the citrus fruit grated finely. Zest comes from the rind of citrus fruits. You can zest everything from lemon to orange. And, of course, limes!
    Lime zest is a fun ingredient to add to tacos, salsa, dips, and more. You can kick up the flavor of just about anything with a little lime zest. It’s even perfect for using in tasty dessert recipes. With the right tools, zesting a lime is easy.

    What is the best way to zest a lime?

    The best method, and what we use in this guide for how to zest a lime, is using a fine grater. Fine graters are perfect for separating the most zest from your fruit and are so easy to use.
    I prefer graters to a zesting tool or a peeler as they give you a fine pile of zest. It’s perfect for use as an ingredient in all kinds of lime recipes. Plus, using one takes less time than a peeler or even a zester.

    Zester vs. Grater

    Although a zester can refer to the fine tooth grater we use in this guide for how to zest a lime, it also refers to a separate tool specifically made for zesting citrus.

    A kitchen zester is a metal utensil with a row of holes at the top that cut the zest from citrus into ribbons. These thin ribbons of zest make a beautiful appearance for a cake or cheesecake topping.

    Graters come in a few different sizes, but the kind best used for zest is a very fine grater, such as a Microplane grater. These graters have fine holes that are perfect for separating the zest from the pith of the fruit (the white skin underneath). If you want to learn how to zest a lime the best way, use a fine grater.

    The tools you need for how to zest a lime: a grater, bowl, and lime, on a cutting board

    Here’s a fun fact: did you know that Microplane graters actually started as woodworking tools? Microplane graters were originally wood rasps, but they have always been popular in the kitchen for zesting fruit and grating cheese. Now, many brands, along with Microplane, produce these tools as kitchen utensils.

    How to Zest without a Zester

    If you do not have a zester or fine grater, you can also use a peeler (both a y-peeler or a swivel peeler will work) and a knife for zesting limes and other citrus. You can also purchase a peeler that doubles as a zester.

    To zest without a zester, carefully peel just the zest, and not the white pith, away from your lime. Then, finely chop the zest using a sharp knife.

    If you don’t have a peeler, you can use a knife to finely peel away the skin to chop into zest. However, this is trickier than using a peeler, zester, or grater, as you may cut too close and wind up cutting some of the pith away, too.

    Holding a glass bowl with lime zest in both hands over a cutting board

    Lime Zest Substitutes

    The two best substitutes for lime zest are orange and lemon zest. It’s fun to change up recipe profiles by trying different zests.

    Recipes Using Zest

    • Mexican Street Corn Dip
    • Carne Picada tacos with zest. Yes, please!
    • Carlota de Limón
    • Key Lime Pie Bars
    • Elote
    Sliced strawberry lime topping in a little white cup for Carlota de Limón
    Fresh strawberry lime topping for Carlota de Limón.

    Save the Video Pin

    For more easy cooking guides, try these:

    • How to Cut an Avocado Easily
    • How to Cut a Jalapeno
    • Perfectly Poach Eggs Every Time
    • How to Use a Mandoline
    • How to Cut Peaches Step-by-Step

    📋 Recipe

    Holding a clear glass bowl with lime zest in both hands

    How to Zest a Lime

    Isabel Laessig
    Learn how to zest a lime so you can get the most out of your limes to use in all your favorite lime recipes! Recipes like Mexican Street Corn, Key Lime Pie Bars, and more.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 1 minute min
    Cook Time 3 minutes mins
    Total Time 4 minutes mins
    Course Fruit
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 tablespoons
    Calories 5 kcal

    Equipment

    • Grater
    • Bowl

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 lime
    Cooking Conversions

    See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!

    Instructions
     

    • Hold your lime in one hand and your zester in the other.
      The tools you need for how to zest a lime: a grater, bowl, and lime, on a cutting board
    • Carefully move your lime back and forth over the zester. Do this over a bowl to catch the zest.
      How to zest a lime: running a grater along a lime to release the zest into a glass bowl over a cutting board

    Video

    Notes

    • Make sure to only zest the green layer of your lime; once you’ve hit the white part (known as the pith), stop.
    • IMPORTANT: never let your fingers get close to the zester. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 5kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.03gSaturated Fat: 0.003gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.01gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.003gSodium: 0.3mgPotassium: 17mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 0.3gVitamin A: 8IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 0.1mg
    Keyword how to use a zester, how to zest a lime, key lime recipes, limes, zester vs. grater, zesting a lime
    Did you try this recipe?Tag #SundaySupper on social and leave a comment below!
    Share
    Pin
    Share

    More How-to's & Guides

    • a steak seasoned with salt, pepper, and a rosemary sprig
      Seasoning with Salt
    • Beautiful grilled chicken breast on a cutting board
      Grilled Chicken Breast
    • Close up of four grilled corn on the cob in a foil pack for How to Grill Corn on the Cob in Foil
      How to Grill Corn on the Cob
    • six different kinds of avocado toast on a board
      How to Make Avocado Toast
    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    About Isabel Laessig

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!

    » About Me

    Reader Interactions

    Let us know what you think or ask a question about the recipe! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Leave a rating!




    Primary Sidebar

    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table!

    • Family Foodie Facebook
    • Sunday Supper Pinterest
    • Sunday Supper Youtube
    • Family Foodie Instagram
    • Family Foodie Tiktok

    Sunday Dinner Ideas

    • Southern smothered pork chops in a cast iron skillet
      Pork Chop Recipes
    • Overhead shot of beef chuck roast recipe on a white platter with carrots and fresh herbs
      Beef Chuck Roast
    • up close baked portobello mushrooms surrounded by lettuce
      Portobello Mushroom Recipe
    • A fork with a bite of air fryer pork chops
      Air Fryer Pork Chops
    • Candied Bacon
    • Elotes Mexicanos on a white platter
      Elote Recipe

    Footer

    logos of brands sunday supper has worked with

    Connect with us!

    Join us around our family table by following us on social media, including our Sunday Supper Recipes group!

    • facebook
    • instagram
    • pinterest
    • youtube

    Our Brands

    Follow all of our websites for the best recipes catered to your needs!

    Sunday Supper Movement |
    Best Beef Recipes | Easy Sauce Recipes | Side Dish Ideas | Pork Recipe Ideas

    About Us

    • Contact Us
    • About Isabel and Sunday Supper
    • Our Partners
    • Disclosure & Privacy
    • No AI

    ↑ back to top

    Sunday Supper Logo

    Copyright 2012-2023 Sunday Supper Movement®, All Rights Reserved.