How to Freeze Fresh Picked Hot Peppers
A bountiful harvest of hot peppers can be either a blessing or a bane depending on how quickly you can use them in recipes. When your garden is inundated with these toasty fruits, do not let them go to waste. You can preserve fresh picked hot peppers for future use by freezing them. Hot peppers can be frozen whole or cut in half. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 2 lbs. hot peppers
- 1 box of 1qt. freezer storage bags
- Chef's knife
- Cutting board
- Latex gloves
- Teaspoon
- Cookie sheet
- Drinking straw
Instructions
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Preparing the Hot Peppers
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1
Select firm, unblemished hot peppers. Wash and thoroughly dry the peppers.
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2
Put on latex gloves. Place the hot peppers on cutting board. Cut off the stem end. Cut the peppers in half lengthwise. Scrape out seeds and membrane with a spoon.
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3
Place the halved hot peppers, cut side up, in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Do not allow pepper pieces to touch.
Freezing the Hot Peppers
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4
Place the cookie sheet with halved hot peppers into the freezer. Allow the peppers to freeze completely, typically in one hour. Remove the frozen peppers from the freezer.
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5
Place the peppers, whole or halved, into freezer bags. Do not leave any head space.
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6
Squeeze as much air as possible out of the freezer bag. Seal the bag, leaving one corner open.
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7
Insert one end of the straw into the open corner of the freezer bag. Place your mouth over the other end of the straw and suck the remaining air out of the freezer bag. Quickly remove the straw and finish sealing the freezer bag.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Sweet and bell peppers can be frozen using the same procedure.
Store peppers in the freezer for up to one year. After that time their quality begins to deteriorate.
Always wear latex gloves when cutting hot peppers. The capsaicin contained in hot peppers can irritate your skin.
References
- Photo Credit Hot Peppers image by Karin Lau from Fotolia.com
