Gardeners will have no trouble telling you that pepper plants are quite the producers. One plant can yield a dozen or more peppers, easily leaving you with more vegetables than you can possibly cook with before they go bad.
Or perhaps youre enticed by the colorful variety at the farmers market. When fresh peppers are in season, theyre quite inexpensive, so buying the sweet surplus seems like a great idea.
If you find yourself with too many peppers in your kitchen and not enough recipes in which to use them, but plenty of space in your freezer, the best course of action is to freeze them for later use.
Freezing peppers is an easy process that doesnt require any fancy equipment. Just follow this organized set of steps that will provide you with ready-to-use peppers for the coming months.
Peppers are one of the vegetables you can quickly freeze raw without blanching first. Thawed peppers retain some crispness and can be used in cooked dishes such as casseroles or eaten raw.
Health Benefits of Peppers
Sweet and spicy peppers add a ton of flavor to many recipes while also providing great nutrition. The benefits of incorporating bell peppers into your diet include vitamin A, folate, iron, and plenty of fiber, at just 15 calories per 3-ounce serving.
Other spicy and milder peppers have similar benefits, and their spiciness isnt actually a “taste” but a “feeling;” the capsaicin in the peppers creates a response in our cells that our brain reads as “being burned,” so you feel the burn, but dont taste it. To prep hot peppers for freezing, wear disposable gloves and dont touch your face.
Tasty Ways to Use Frozen Peppers
You have a bag or two of frozen peppers sitting in the freezer—now what? While the frozen peppers dont lose flavor, they can be mushy once defrosted and do best in recipes that call for cooking, like these stir fries, casseroles, and soups.
Some people find that semi-frozen chunks of peppers are delicious when dipped in hummus or ranch. If the lack of crispiness doesnt bother you, theyre perfectly fine to use uncooked in salads and wraps, but we recommend using your best fresh peppers if you can.
How To Freeze Peppers (The Right Way) – Pepper Geek
FAQ
How do you preserve pimento peppers?
Is it better to freeze peppers whole or sliced?
Can you freeze peppers whole with seeds?
Can you freeze pimento peppers?
Store the pimentos in a 0 degree F freezer for up to 12 months. Roast and peel the peppers as you would for freezing. Cut off the stem and remove the seeds from each pimento pepper. Wash pint-size canning jars and the lid rings in soapy water and rinse them with hot water. Keep the jars submerged in hot water until you are ready to use them.
Can one freeze tomatoes?
Yes. Tomatoes may be frozen raw or cooked, whole, sliced, chopped, or puréed. They do not need to be blanched before freezing. Frozen tomatoes will retain their flavor for 12 months.
Can you freeze pimentos?
Preserving them in summer, when they are at peak freshness, gives you a year-round supply. Whether you freeze, can or pickle pimentos, they maintain a good flavor and pleasing texture. To preserve them, select firm, bright red peppers with no visible bruising or damage. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
How do you store pimento peppers?
A member of the chile family, pimento is widely available at fresh markets like produce stands and grocery stores. Growing pimento in pots or in a home garden will provide you with plenty of cherry peppers for using later. Preserve your pimentos with good, safe storage techniques. Rinse the peppers with cool water. Pat them dry with paper towels.