{"id":405,"date":"2020-09-27T20:47:30","date_gmt":"2020-09-27T20:47:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fueledwithfood.com\/?p=405"},"modified":"2022-09-02T05:36:06","modified_gmt":"2022-09-02T05:36:06","slug":"freezing-peppers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fueledwithfood.com\/freezing-peppers\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Freeze Peppers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Spicy, sweet, mild — peppers of all kinds are a staple to have on hand. However, if you buy a big pack or grow more peppers than you know what to do with, you may be wondering if you can freeze peppers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answer is yes! Freezing peppers is easy. However, as you may imagine, frozen peppers don\u2019t defrost the same crisp texture as fresh peppers, so you\u2019ll only want to freeze them if you\u2019re going to use them for cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"frosty,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How to Freeze Peppers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

No matter what kind of pepper you\u2019re freezing (bell pepper, jalapeno, serrano, etc.), the process is relatively the same. When choosing peppers to freeze, make sure that they\u2019re fresh and crisp. Avoid freezing peppers that are soft, and keep an eye out for any mold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re freezing spicy peppers like serranos, jalapenos, or Thai chiles, you can cut the peppers up<\/a> if you want, but you don\u2019t have to. If you are chopping them, you may want to wear gloves since the spice can irritate your skin (especially if you rub your eyes!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Wash your peppers and dry them thoroughly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Remove the seeds and the core.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Slice the peppers into whatever shape you\u2019d like. They can be diced, sliced, or even whole with the top cut off if you want to make stuffed peppers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"sliced<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4. Place the cut peppers in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Place in the freezer until frozen. While some people recommend twelve hours, I typically find that a couple hours is enough to prevent them from sticking together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"closeup<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

5. Transfer to a freezer-safe plastic bag, making sure to remove as much air as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"transferring<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

6. Write the date on the bag and place it in the freezer. Your frozen peppers will be good for about 6-8 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"frozen<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Can you freeze whole peppers?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yes, though keep in mind what you\u2019d like to use them for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"variety<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you plan on making bell stuffed peppers, you can freeze them whole. Simply cut off the top and remove the seeds and core. You should not freeze whole bell peppers if you\u2019d like to use them sliced or dice — cut them up before freezing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spicy peppers like serranos can be frozen whole or sliced, depending on how you plan to use them. You can also preserve them by drying them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you freeze sliced peppers and onions?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yes! This is convenient if you plan on using sliced peppers and onions in fajitas or soups. Onions do not have to be blanched before freezing, so use the same process as mentioned above. You may even want to portion your sliced onions and peppers into the amount you commonly use for recipes to make it easy to grab out of the freezer and throw in your dish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you have to blanch peppers before freezing them?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t have to blanch peppers before freezing them like you do with most vegetables, making the process quick and easy. Simply wash your peppers, slice them, flash freeze them, and put them in a freezer-safe bag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Use Frozen Peppers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your peppers are frozen. Now what?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can either thaw your peppers before throwing them in a dish or cook from frozen. If you\u2019re thawing the peppers, make sure they thaw completely, dump out any excess water, and pat the peppers dry. If you\u2019re cooking them from frozen, you can add them directly to the pan or pot you\u2019re cooking in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We don\u2019t recommend thawing frozen peppers and eating them plain, since they\u2019ll be slightly mushy. Here are a few of our favorite ways to use frozen peppers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n