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Can I dry peppers?

18 years ago

Hi Everyone,

My daughter gave me some scotch bonnet and anaheim peppers that she grew in her garden. Can I dry these to use at a later time, or should I freeze them? If I can dry them, how do I do that? If I should freeze them, should I just slice them? Thanks.

Sapphires

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Comments (11)

lindac
18 years ago
I am sure you can dry them....I would just thread them on a string and hang them up to dry...
But I freeze them...I just toss into a plastic bag and throw them into the freezer.
Before you freeze any though...put a couple into a jar of cider vinegar and let it sit in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks! Oh my!! Good stuff!
Linda C
Lars
18 years ago
I think they are much better dried. If I don't pick my chilies soon enough, they dry on the plant. I have quite a few already dried that way. Otherwise, they appear to dry in my kitchen after I've picked them if I don't refrigerate them. I'm growing chilies de Arbol and Tabasco chilies. The Arbol chilies so far have not been hot, and I haven't tried the Tabasco chilies yet. I might try leaving the Arbol chilies whole; i.e., not remove the seeds, and see if I get more flavor.

Lars
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annie1992
18 years ago
I dry mine in the dehydrator but I learned quickly to put that in the garage so I didn't get driven out of the house by the fumes.

I also freeze them, chopped, for habanero gold, so I can just take a package out of the freezer and make jelly.

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readinglady
18 years ago
I agree with Annie. One time drying Thai peppers and Habs in the house taught me my lesson. I moved the dehydrator to the shop. (DH was not very enthused but willing to suffer for the results.)

Another lesson: Do not whirl dried peppers in the FP to make pepper flakes. FPs are not airtight. I ended up with a red cloud of Cayenne powder filling the kitchen. We had sneezing fits for days.

Or, like Horseradish, move the FP outside to the patio and stand well back, LOL.

As mentioned, peppers also freeze beautifully. It's easy to chop, freeze on a tray and then bag up. Definitely a money-saver in the winter when you just want a half-cup for a casserole.

Carol
paddy_99
18 years ago
Freeze them. Unless you live in the desert southwest it is extremely hard to dry these type of chili's this time of the year. The Anaheim's especially are hard to dry any time and the scotch bonnets have a tendency to rot before they dry.
Laura thegardenpages
18 years ago
I used to hang mine to dry near the stove. Either tie them or string them.
loagiehoagie
18 years ago
Thick peppers are tough to dry...I agree....usually they will rot first. Smaller peppers like tabasco or kung pao dry beautifully. I freeze mine whole. Then during the winter take 2-3 out...microwave to defrost and chop them up and put in whatever mexican dish I am making. I usually run out just about the time the next seasons' peppers are coming in.

Duane
sapphires
Original Author
18 years ago
Hi,
Ok, I guess I will freeze them as I don't want them to rot. Thank you.
Sapphires
CA Kate z9
18 years ago
When I have nice big chilies I blacken them on the stove or grill, put them in a bag for a few minutes and then remove the skins under running water. THEN I slice and freeze them for future reference. They sure do come in handy for a variety of things.
jazmynsmom
18 years ago
I dry (thin-membraned) peppers all the time by stringing them up and hanging them in my kitchen.

IMPORTANT CAVEAT:
If you use a needle and thread to string them up, THROW THE FLIPPIN' NEEDLE AWAY THE MOMENT YOU FINISH. Do not put it back in your sewing kit. If you do, a year from now, you'll pull it back out to sew on a button... you'll poke at the eye a few times with a slightly frayed piece of thread, you'll lick the thread... and your mouth will blister, you'll rub your eyes and they'll blister too, and it'll take you hours to figure out what the heck went wrong. Hot pepper residue stays on things indefinitely.

Many people recommend using florist wire for heavier ristras, and this would allow you to avoid that whole needle issue in the first place!
putzdog_yahoo_com
15 years ago
WE HAVE FRESH JALAPENO AND SERRANO PEPPERS WE WANT TO DRY. FOR YEARS WE HAVE HEARD OF DRYING SOME IN PAPER BAGS IN A DARK PLACE. HAS ANYONE EVER TRIED IT?

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