What Is the Difference Between Cayenne Pepper & Red Pepper?
Though the term "red pepper" is often applied to the spicy dried cayenne, the two are in fact very different yet related members of the chili family, each with its own distinct characteristics. Does this Spark an idea?
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Appearance
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Cayenne Peppers While both peppers are members of the Capsicum annuum family of chiles, the cayenne is long and tapered, as opposed to the squat gourd-like shape that gives the red its nickname "bell pepper."
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Flavor
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Red peppers have a much less aggressive flavor than the comparatively spicy cayenne, leading them and the other bell peppers to also be known as "sweet peppers."
Heat
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Though both peppers are members of the Capsicum family, the red pepper, unlike the cayenne, does not contain capsaicin, the compound that gives most chilis their varying degrees of spicy taste.
Preparation
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Cayenne peppers are almost always dried, then ground or chopped and used as a spice. Red peppers serve as a more prominent ingredient, usually sliced or chopped and added to recipes roasted or raw during the cooking process.
Health Benefits
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Due to the presence of capsaicin, cayenne peppers have been found to aid digestion and ease ulcers, pain and inflammation. The red pepper's high content of vitamins and beta carotene can help stave off cataracts and heart attacks.
References
- Photo Credit "Red pepper" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: alancleaver_2000 (Alan Cleaver) under the Creative Commons Attribution license. "In This Week's Box" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: Mat Honan (Mat Honan) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
