Imagine getting stuck in a snowstorm on cold months. Preserving food can be your best bet whenever there’s an emergency. Before winter rolls around, it would be best to stock up on vegetables that are still in season. This way, you save both money and time. Remember that peak season for peppers are from July to September.
But how can you really preserve your peppers? Can you even freeze them? And how long can you even freeze them to make them last until winter?
The answer is yes, you can freeze your peppers in order to preserve them. There are other ways to preserve them, but it still is possible to put your peppers in a freezer to make them last.
Other Ways to Preserve Peppers
As stated before, you can use a freezer to preserve them. However, there are still other ways to make your peppers last.
Do you have a lot of mason jars stocked up back home? Want to preserve salsa made from peppers? You can use the canning method.
This can be achieved by adding vinegar on your pepper-filled salsa before you store them. This way, you will be able to balance out the acidity to make it safe for canning.
You can also preserve them by drying them. By dehydrating your peppers, it will lead to concentrating its heat and flavor. Find ways to dry your peppers first completely before storing them.
When you store them, find containers or jars that can make sure they’ll be able to keep the air out.
Of course, freezing to preserve is still the best way. To know how to preserve your peppers this way, do read on.
Freezing Your Peppers
If you intend on freezing your peppers in order to preserve them, select the crisp and tender ones before throwing them in your refrigerator.
- Of course, it would be best to wash them first. Wash them before grabbing a knife to slice them into bits.
- Before slicing them, cut off the stems first before cutting the peppers in half.
- Take out the seeds and membrane. You can save time by using the tip of a spoon or a melon baller to scrape it all out.
- Cut them into strips first before freezing them and find a cookie sheet. Place them in a single layer on the tray with the cookie sheet.
- Do this for an hour. Make sure your freezer is below zero degrees.
- Put your sliced peppers in a “freezer” bag when frozen completely. Make sure to squeeze out as much air as you can.
How To Use Up Extra/Leftover Peppers?
Peppers are a versatile vegetable that can be used in a variety of dishes. But what do you do when you have extra peppers? Here are five delicious ways to use up your leftover peppers:
- Make a frittata – A frittata is a quick and easy way to use up leftover peppers. Just add them to some beaten eggs, and you’ll have a delicious and healthy meal in no time.
- Stuff them with rice – Stuffed peppers make a great main dish or side dish. To make stuffed peppers, simply cook some rice and mix it with your favorite vegetables. Then stuff the mixture into the peppers and bake until tender.
- Add them to soup – Peppers are a great way to add some flavor and nutrition to soup. Just add them in with your other favorite ingredients, and you’ll have a delicious and healthy meal in no time.
- Make a stir-fry – Stir-fries are a great way to use up leftover peppers. Just add them to a pan with some other vegetables and your favorite sauce, and you’ll have a delicious and healthy meal in no time.
- Roast them – Roasted peppers make a great side dish or topping for salads. To roast peppers, simply place them on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Then bake at 400 degrees until they’re tender.
So there you have it – five delicious ways to use up your leftover peppers. Next time you find yourself with extra peppers, try one of these recipes and enjoy!
Recipes You Can Try With Your Peppers
When it comes to finding recipes concerning peppers, you would most likely encounter Stuffed Peppers. This dish is something you can serve as an appetizer for your next family dinner if you want to go for something a little bit fancy.
For your main dish, you can go for pepper steak, which is a stir-fry dish that you can mostly find in Chinese restaurants.
If you want to spice up the usual Italian sausage on a bun, you can add in peppers and onions.
Wrap Up
Yes, you can freeze peppers. Frozen peppers will last for 1-2 months in the freezer. Follow these tips on freezing peppers: Wash and drain them well. Remove stem and seeds (optional). Slice the peppers according to your desired usage (chips, slices, cubes etc.) Pack your desired number of dried and separated pieces in a ziplock bag or any other airtight container and seal tightly. Put the bags or containers in the freezer.
Now that you know how to freeze pepper, please share your experience with me by leaving a comment below this article.
