A rind is the thick, tough outer layer of certain fruits, vegetables, and cheeses. When you peel an orange, that colorful, bumpy skin you throw away is the rind. Watermelons have a hard green rind that protects the juicy red fruit inside. Cheese wheels often develop a firm rind on the outside as they age.

The rind acts like natural packaging, keeping the good stuff inside fresh and protected. Some rinds are edible (like lemon rind, which bakers grate into recipes for flavor), while others are too thick or bitter to eat (like watermelon rind).

You might hear someone say they ate a cheese “right down to the rind,” meaning they enjoyed every bit they possibly could. And while most people toss orange and banana peels in the compost, some rinds (like the rind on brie cheese) are actually meant to be eaten along with the soft center.