Take the zest before you use the orange.
It’s easier to take the zest off the orange before cutting or peeling it. Take only the peel (not the white pith). With a vegetable peeler, you take off just the right thickness.
If you’re buying a peeler, get the simplest one rather than the kind that can make zest strips. It’s easier to use, and you can cut the long strips you get with a pair of well-sharpened scissors.
