Do you do it? Do you pre-boil your peppers before stuffing them? If not, we bet you will next time!
There are hundreds of different ways to make Stuffed Peppers. Creating different fillings, slicing the pepper in half or leaving it whole, and the most debated, to pre-cook or to not pre-cook. To blanch or not to blanch.
Note first off that pre-cooking is not the same as blanching. To blanch you get the water boiling first. Then add your veg. It goes in for a short short time and then is transferred to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Blanching helps vegetables retain a nice bright color but it doesn’t really cook the vegetable.
You can absolutely blanch your bell peppers before stuffing them. It would result in a nicer color for the finished product but it wouldn’t help you in terms of cooking time or any other thing a busy person might need. We don’t blanch our peppers but we won’t make a big deal about it if you do. We just don’t know why you’d bother. Pre-cooking, on the other hand. That’s where it’s at!
Pre-cooking is different. Pre-cooking is the idea of quick-starting the cooking process of your stuffed pepper. Since stuffed peppers can take as long as 45 minutes to bake, shortening that down with a quick boil really helps me out.
How to do it? Cut the tops off of your peppers and get them ready for stuffing (using one of the methods from here). Then follow the instructions below.
Once you have your peppers ready, or if you’ve decided to not pre-cook them, I have some really amazing stuffed pepper recipes for you to try:
I definitely suggest par-cooking the bell peppers first, just a little bit before stuffing them. Not only does this help to soften the bell peppers, but it also cuts down on your cook time. As the bell peppers are cooking you can make the filling, shaving off about 20 minutes from your total cook time.
Podcast Episode About Pre-Cooking Peppers
Listen to me explain briefly about how to make these peppers, along with some other great tips, by clicking the play button below:
Do you need to boil peppers before stuffing them?
FAQ
Should peppers be boiled before stuffing?
What is the best way to Precook peppers for stuffed peppers?
Should you cook or raw bell peppers?
Should you pre Cook stuffed peppers?
When your peppers are ready to cook, you have two methods of attack when it comes to pre-cooking. Remember, stuffed peppers usually cook for up to 45 minutes, so pre-cooking the peppers while you work on the stuffing saves you time. The first method is boiling. For this route, place the peppers in a large pot and cover them with water.
How long do stuffed peppers take to cook?
Remember, stuffed peppers usually cook for up to 45 minutes, so pre-cooking the peppers while you work on the stuffing saves you time. The first method is boiling. For this route, place the peppers in a large pot and cover them with water. Next, bring them to a boil, reduce the heat, and continue cooking the peppers until tender.
How do you make stuffed bell peppers?
Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers is a simple stuffed pepper recipe with cooked rice and ground beef. With only five ingredients, including a simple sauce of tomato sauce, this basic recipe is anything but simple in flavor. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F; spray a baking dish large enough to hold peppers upright with nonstick cooking spray.
Do green peppers get boiled before stuffing?
This simple stuffed green pepper recipe has multiple aspects that point to its simplicity and easiness to make. The hamburger does not get cooked before stuffing the pepper; keep it raw. White rice is cooked before stuffing which means you can use leftover white rice. The green peppers do not get boiled before stuffing like some recipes call for.