How to store chillies

@Fleura (30541)
United Kingdom
November 1, 2022 6:45am CST
What’s your preferred way to store or preserve chilli peppers? I always grow a few chilli plants and they normally produce more than enough fruits to keep us going for a year or more. The varieties vary, depending on what I have grown from seed or what young plants caught my eye in the garden centre, and of course some years some varieties do better than others. A couple of years ago we had lots of ‘Apache’ which are smallish and not too hot. Last year I had some plants of ‘Thai dragon’ which did particularly well. They produced loads of long thin chillies. I had a ‘Scotch bonnet’ plant as well but only got a couple of chillies from that. This year the same ‘Scotch bonnet’ plant has excelled itself and is covered in fruit. These are pretty hot so I imagine they will be used sparingly! Lots of the ‘Apache’ chillies got chopped up and frozen, and there is still some of those in the freezer. Last year, since our freezer was fairly full, I tied the ‘Thai dragon’ chillies in bunches and hung them around the kitchen to dry. They looked quite decorative and kept well. Most have been used but there are still 10 left. I’m not sure what is best to do with this year’s crop. I have had to wash the fruit as they had a bad infestation of greenfly, and they’re difficult to dry properly because of their folded shapes. In the past I’ve made chilli jelly which is delicious. What else do you like to make with chillies? All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2022.
10 people like this
11 responses
@DaddyEvil (137602)
• United States
1 Nov 22
Well, the last time I found some chilies, I picked them and then fed them to the farm animals... The cows liked them really well. The horses didn't really like them, though. *shrug*
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30541)
• United Kingdom
1 Nov 22
You know it never occurred to me that cows might like spicy food!
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137602)
• United States
1 Nov 22
@Fleura I couldn't get the chickens to do more than peck them a little bit... Maybe you can get cows to give hot and spicy milk?
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@Fleura (30541)
• United Kingdom
1 Nov 22
@DaddyEvil Or pre-marinated beef? It's always said that sheep fed on mountain herbs taste better so there must be some effect I guess.
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (47677)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
1 Nov 22
I leave them in the store.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30541)
• United Kingdom
1 Nov 22
You don't like spicy food?
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (47677)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
1 Nov 22
@Fleura Not so much...
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472060)
• Switzerland
1 Nov 22
I love hot peppers and I plant several varieties. I usually place in small bags and freeze, then I use them as they were fresh. I dry the small Italian hot peppers. I also make chili jelly that is delicious with some mature cheese. I am trying right now to preserve some jalapeños in water and vinegar, let's see if this works.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472060)
• Switzerland
1 Nov 22
@Fleura I am prepared a jar yesterday, after all I buy pickled jalapeños in the store.
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@Fleura (30541)
• United Kingdom
1 Nov 22
Oh yes I forgot about pickling them, maybe I could try that!
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@TheHorse (220267)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Nov 22
I put some kind of peppers in much of my cooking. But I've never grown them.
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@Fleura (30541)
• United Kingdom
1 Nov 22
They're pretty easy to grow in a warm climate (generally grown in the greenhouse here, or on a windowsill, or in a warm place outdoors in summer). I'm surprised you haven't grown them along with your squash and peas etc, especially since you can get interesting coloured types the children would probably like. Have you seen the 'Prairie fire' variety?
https://www.pepperscale.com/prairie-fire-pepper/
@JudyEv (342145)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Nov 22
I can't help at all but would a hair-dryer help in drying the peppers?
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@Fleura (30541)
• United Kingdom
2 Nov 22
I did think about that but was afraid I might get impatient and overheat them!
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@relson (34)
20 Nov 22
chillies are a dreaded thing to cook and eat . it is best to limit consuming it as much as possible . it will cause stomach pain .
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30541)
• United Kingdom
20 Nov 22
We enjoy them in small amounts
@shaggin (72252)
• United States
1 Nov 22
I have never used fresh ones. That’s neat you grow them. Hanging them up to dry is a good way to do it I think if you have the room to store them.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108197)
• Marion, Ohio
1 Nov 22
I dont use hot peppers very much so dont save them.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38219)
• Philippines
1 Nov 22
Give me some!
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (19565)
• London, England
1 Nov 22
Never buy enough of them to make storage a problem. I have never tried the Scotch Bonnet, I don't like too hot. Never heard of Apache before
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@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
1 Nov 22
I don't ever use chili peppers. But thanks for the tips. Enjoy your day.
1 person likes this