How to Identify Peppers
Peppers come in many varieties and locations such as India, the southwest area of the United States and countries in Asia. Peppers can either have a hot or mild heat index, which determines the level of heat within the pepper. The heat index measures a compound called capsaisin, which is what makes the pepper hot with heat ranges starting at 0 and going up to 325,000 units. Peppers provide useful nutritional benefits such as vitamins A, C and B6. The color of the pepper often determines the vitamin source, for example, red or orange peppers will have a higher amount of Vitamin A than green peppers. People can eat peppers raw or cooked. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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How to Identify Peppers
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Notice the color of the pepper, which varies depending on the pepper. Some peppers are red in color, such as red chile peppers, tepin or cherry peppers. Jalapeño peppers, sweet peppers, poblano peppers or bell peppers can have a green or red color. Some peppers initially grow as one color and then change colors as it matures, such as goat peppers and jalapenos.
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Determine the Scoville Heat Index of the pepper in question. The scale ranges from low to high, with sweet bell peppers in the low heat range, cayenne peppers in the mid-level range and habanero peppers ranking at the top of the Scoville Heat Index. Individuals can use this heat index to determine whether the pepper in question will cause any pain while eating it and how long the pain may last. There exist three different ways to determine the Scoville heat index. The organoleptic method utilizes a sugar and water mixture to dilute the heat. This method identifies the heat index by how much dilution is needed to eliminate the heat. The UV screen process utilizes ultraviolet light and sensors to read the heat level. The high-performance liquid chromatography process extracts capsaicin and uses lab equipment to determine the heat index.
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Use a ruler to measure the length and width of the peppers. Also, notice the shape of the pepper. Peppers come in different shapes and sizes. Jalapeño peppers at approximately three inches long have a slim oval shape. New Mexico Chile peppers and Peter peppers measure between three and ten inches long. Also, notice the shape of the pepper, since some peppers have a thin and long shape while others appear wide and short.
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Peppers grow at different times of the year and some peppers take longer than others to reach full maturity. The seeds typically take 16 to 20 days to sprout with the full growth cycle lasting over 120 days for some peppers, such as the Aji pepper that is often used in salsas. Most grocery stores will carry peppers throughout the year, although it is best to select them during the summer when purchasing local varieties.
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Tips & Warnings
When tasting peppers, drink milk to reduce the burning sensation.
Use caution when eating peppers high on the Scoville Heat Index. Eating extremely hot peppers can cause burns and discomfort.
References
- Photo Credit red, green and orange peppers image by Piter Pkruger from Fotolia.com
