Banana peppers and jalapeños are two popular chilies, familiar to most North Americans. They are common sites in most supermarkets and are often used in similar ways. But how do they compare? Is one hotter than the other? Are their flavors similar? How do they differ in shape? Let’s dive into the similarities and differences between jalapeños and banana peppers.
Banana peppers are not consider hot peppers, giving either no heat at all or a very mild kick at 500 Scoville Heat Units. Compared to a jalapeno pepper, which measures from 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), the hottest banana pepper is actually 5 times milder than the mildest jalapeno peppers.
What does each look like?
Banana peppers measure between two and three inches long and are a distinctive pale yellow-green, which is where it gets its association with the banana fruit. They are wider towards the stem and narrow to a blunt point. Banana peppers can be deeply curved or straight.
Their walls appear to be almost translucent when the peppers are green, and they change to orange or red when they ripen. But, as mentioned, these chili peppers are most often eaten in their earlier yellow/green stage. That’s also when they are typically used for pickling.
Jalapeño peppers measure two and a half to three inches long and are more consistently bullet-shaped. They are smooth, usually straight, and have rounded tips. They are sometimes mistaken for Fresno chilies, as they do look quite a lot alike. But Fresnos, on close examination, are noticeably wider at their tops and have more of a point at the other end.
There are several different jalapeño colors, like yellow and purple jalapeños, but most ripen to red.
Where did each pepper originate?
Banana peppers are one of the ancient chili types and are believed to have been among the first peppers to make their way to Europe from the Americas. They would go on to be cultivated in parts of Europe — Hungary in particular since the peppers grow well in that country’s climate.
Jalapeños are named for the city of Jalapa — also spelled Xalapa — in Veracruz. Jalapeño peppers were once known as cuaresmeños chiles or chiles cuaresmeños. They were only available during one season until modern agriculture made it possible to cultivate them all year. The jalapeño name was supposedly given to them after a business in Jalapa began selling the pickled peppers.
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FAQ
How hot is a banana pepper?
Can I use banana peppers instead of jalapenos?
What is a banana pepper but spicier?
Are banana peppers hotter than jalapenos?
However, they are generally hotter than banana peppers on the Scoville scale. While both banana peppers and jalapenos are members of the same family of chili peppers known for their heat levels, there are noticeable differences in taste. Banana peppers provide a subtle sweetness to recipes without overwhelming other flavors or adding too much heat.
What are the healthy substitutes of jalapeno?
The healthy substitutes of jalapeno are: 1. Serrano pepper: When compared with the jalapeno pepper, the serrano pepper has very similar taste. They are bright but don’t have the same level of bitterness. 2. Fresno peppers: Another jalapeno look alike pepper is the fresno peppers. They also have same heat range but fresno peppers are sometimes little hotter and can be up to 10,000 SHU. Fresno peppers have a crisp, smokey and fruity flavour. 3. Anaheim peppers: If jalapeno peppers are too hot, then Anaheim peppers are best choice. They have milder heat and have sweeter in taste.
Why do banana peppers & jalapenos get hotter?
Growing banana peppers and jalapenos with optimal pH levels in nutrient-rich soil can help produce hotter fruits. In addition to growing conditions, several other factors can affect the heat level of banana peppers and jalapenos. One such factor is ripeness – as both types of pepper mature, their spiciness increases.
Are banana peppers the same as hot peppers?
You’ll see it occur in online forums, restaurants, and even supermarkets: All three look a lot alike and they all come from the same species of chili ( capsicum annuum ), but they aren’t the same. Adding to the confusion, banana peppers are also known as yellow wax peppers and Hungarian wax peppers are sometimes referred to as hot banana peppers.