Measuring grated orange or lemon peel

[cheesemaestro]

If a recipe calls for, say, a tablespoon of grated peel, how is that to be measured? Do you pack the spoon with grated peel and press down to get as much in as possible? Or do you measure without compacting the peel--in which case it takes a lot less to fill the spoon?

[cocktailhour]

I just eyeball it. I zest one lemon for a teaspoon. I may zest more it the recipe calls for more than one lemon's worth of juice.

[gansu girl]

I don't pack it down, but I also generally tend to use more zest than is called for in most cases - I really like the freshness zest brings to dressings, baked goods, etc. Zest is one of those things you can add to your liking . . . .

GG
http://www.semisweetonline.com

[Val]

I concur with the others who have responded...made the LottieandDoof.com cranberry bread this afternoon to take to relatives tomorrow ..recipe calls for 1 TBSP grated orange rind...I did NOT pack it down. I've made this recipe before and it seems to always be about 1 (Florida navel) orange, zested.