How to Preserve Sweet Banana Peppers

Fresh sweet banana peppers from the garden.

You can preserve sweet banana peppers to enjoy them at any time. People choose to cook banana peppers in a variety of ways due to their versatility. These peppers are sautéed, cooked, fried, pickled and even dried. Banana peppers are popular peppers to grow in vegetable gardens. Their names originate from their shape and color similarity to the banana.

Things You'll Need

• Sweet banana peppers
• Shallow pot
• Canning jars
• White Vinegar
• Water
• Salt
• Tupperware containers
• Paper towels

Instructions

Preserve Sweet Banana Peppers in a Canning Jar

1. Wash your canning jars with mild soap and warm water. Boil the jars in a shallow pan to sanitize them.

2. Clean the peppers to remove dirt and debris. Inspect them for any insects, bad spots or abnormalities.

3. Remove the stem by either pulling it off or cutting it off with a knife. Slice the peppers into rings to your desired thickness.

4. Pack the peppers into the canning jar. Do not smash the peppers in to fit, but make sure that they are tightly packed.

5. Boil white vinegar on the stove-top. Pour two cups of white vinegar into the canning jar filled with peppers. Top off each jar with water. Add ½ teaspoon of salt to each jar to help preserve the banana peppers. Close the lid with the canning ring, and store in a cool and dry environment at room temperature.

6. Ensure that the lids are sealed. The hot vinegar should seal the lids, but if the vinegar cools off enough the lids may not seal. Place the canning jars standing up in a pot of boiling water, and they will make a popping noise when they seal.

Freeze Sweet Banana Peppers to Preserve Them

1. Clean the banana peppers thoroughly. Set them aside in a bowl.

2. Cut the stems off each banana pepper and discard them. Slice the sweet banana peppers into rings or strips.

3. Blanch the banana peppers in a pot of boiling water for two minutes. This will help kill any bacteria and as preserve the peppers' flavor and color.

4. Place the cooled banana peppers in Tupperware containers. Ensure that the containers are airtight. Add a paper towel on top of the banana papers to absorb moisture that may remain in the bowl while the peppers are freezing.

5. Mark the Tupperware containers with the date that the sweet banana peppers were frozen. Thaw the banana peppers before using them by placing them out on the counter at room temperature, or run the Tupperware container under hot water.

Tips & Warnings

• Leave canned banana peppers out at room temperature, and they will continue to ripen in the jar.

References

• Freeze Peppers
• Can Banana Peppers