How to Roast Hot Peppers

Learn how to roast hot peppers on a gas burner or in the oven.

Hot peppers, or chili peppers, can range from mild to intensely hot, depending on the amount of capsaicin that's present. Capsaicin is the chemical that gives the pepper its heat. Chili peppers have been used as a cooking ingredient for thousands of years. Chili peppers are still used in spicy dishes in many cooking traditions. Roasting is a cooking method that uses dry heat to cook the peppers from the outside in, enhancing their flavor.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic or latex gloves
• Gentle scrubbing pads
• Long-handled tongs

Instructions

Roasting in Oven

1. Put on latex or plastic gloves to protect your hands from the hot pepper oil, which can burn your skin.

2. Wash the hot peppers in warm water to remove any chemical or other residues. Use a gentle scrubbing pad to remove any labels.

3. Preheat the oven to 450 F.

4. Put the hot peppers on a cookie sheet, leaving a little space between each of them. Place the cookie sheet inside the preheated oven.

5. Use long-handled tongs to rotate the peppers every 10 minutes until they're black, wrinkled and blistered on all sides. This should take 20 to 25 minutes. Keep checking on the peppers throughout the roasting process to make sure they don't burn or catch on fire.

6. Remove the roasted hot peppers from the oven with the tongs.

Roasting on Gas Stove Top

1. Put on plastic or latex gloves.

2. Turn the gas burner on high. Place the hot pepper directly on the flame. Use long-handled tongs to carefully turn the pepper to blacken and blister all sides, which usually takes 4 to 6 minutes.

3. Remove the roasted hot pepper from the burner with the tongs.

Tips & Warnings

• After roasting, put the peppers inside a plastic food storage bag and seal. Remove the hot peppers from the plastic bag after 15 minutes. The steam inside the bag will help loosen the pepper's skin, making them easier to peel.

• Washing your hands with lemon juice, or liquid soap with salt will help eliminate any burning sensations or smells on your hands after handling the hot peppers.

• If you have allergies or respiratory sensitivities, consider wearing a mask or goggles while roasting hot peppers to protect yourself from the fumes.

• Never touch your eyes after peeling hot peppers because the oil can cause eye irritation. Rinse your eyes with cool water or seek medical assistance if it doesn't stop after a few minutes.

• Try to make your kitchen as well-ventilated as possible before roasting hot peppers. Open a window, if possible.

References

• Simply Recipes: How to Roast Chili Peppers Over a Gas Flame
• The Wednesday Chef: How to Roast Peppers
• Epicurious: To Roast and Peel Bell Peppers or Poblano Chiles
• Gourmet Sleuth: How to Roast Fresh Chile Peppers
• Chili Pepper Madness: How to Roast Chili Peppers

Resources

• University of Kentucky-College of Agriculture: Hot Peppers & Specialty Sweet Peppers