How to String Peppers
A pepper ristra allows you to dry hot red chile peppers in a decorative way that takes up minimal space. The peppers hang from a heavy string, forming the main body of the ristra. As they dry, the hot peppers become hard and brittle which allows you store them for months. Purely decorative strung peppers are usually sprayed with clear lacquer or another protective coating, but pepper strings also provide an attractive way to store the peppers without the need to freeze or can them. Use only red, fully mature peppers, as the green varieties rot before they can dry completely. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Wash the peppers in cool water. Inspect them as you wash them and only use the unblemished, firm peppers. Pat the peppers dry with a paper towel.
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2
Thread a heavy-duty needle with a sharp tip with a yard of thin twine or heavy thread. Use a straight upholstery needle or leather needle.
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3
Push the needle through the top of the first pepper, through the fleshy part beneath the stem. Leave a 3-inch tail of thread hanging from the pepper.
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Bring the thread tail up and tie it to the thread protruding from the other side of the pepper. Make a sturdy knot. The pepper should hang beneath this knot.
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Thread the remaining peppers onto the string, pushing each one down so it rests on the first. Arrange the peppers as string them, so they fan out around the string and the ristra appears full.
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Tie a knot above the top pepper once there is only 10 inches of string left. Loop the string and tie it to secure the loop. Hang the pepper ristra with the loop from a nail or hook.
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Tips & Warnings
Use similar sized peppers for the entire ristra or use larger peppers near the bottom and smaller ones toward the top.
The peppers take three to eight weeks to dry thoroughly. Use the strung peppers as decoration or hang them in a storage area for use in the kitchen throughout winter.
Moisture and direct sun ruins the strung peppers. Hang them in a shaded, dry area to prevent damage.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
