Freezing Peppers For Long Term Storage
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Having a successful garden is extremely rewarding. However, we often find ourselves frantically giving away peppers every year to anyone who will take them so that they won’t go to waste.
If you’re in this situation (or simply have lots of peppers on hand) you may be wondering if you can freeze peppers. Freezing bell peppers and other varieties is easy, but there are some important steps to get right. In this article, I’ll share how to freeze peppers the easy way.
How To Freeze Peppers (Video):
If you’d like to see the other methods of storing your fresh peppers, read our top 5 ways to store peppers here.
How To Freeze Bell Peppers
When it comes to freezing large peppers, there are a few extra steps. Bell peppers are big, so freezing them whole wastes a lot of space. If you just put them into a bag, you’ll have to use more room in your freeze than is necessary. So fresh bell peppers should be sliced before freezing to save room.
Use the steps below for freezing bell peppers, banana peppers and any larger pepper varieties:
- Select fresh, firm peppers to freeze.
- Wash thoroughly with cold water and dry the peppers.
- Remove the stems, seeds and membranes.
- Slice the peppers into your desired shape (chopped, match sticks, etc.).
- Spread sliced peppers on a cookie sheet or similar and freeze for 1 hour (flash freezing). This helps prevent the frozen peppers from sticking together.
- Put frozen peppers into a freezer bag and squeeze out as much air as possible. For even better longevity, vacuum seal the peppers before freezing.
- Seal the bag and freeze.
- Store frozen peppers for up to 12 months.
Tip: Label each bag with the date and type of peppers being frozen. This will help avoid confusion when using your frozen peppers later.
What is the best freezer bag to use?
Freezer bags are made with thicker plastic than standard sandwich baggies. This added insulation protects the produce from freezer burn and punctures.
They come in a variety of sizes for different storage amounts, but we generally recommend using smaller portion bags so you can use a little bit at a time throughout the storage life. Quart sized freezer bags are a good middle ground.
Ziploc makes a reliable seal and a durable freezer bag. We also found that reusable silicon baggies work just as well for keeping out freezer burn (though they are more expensive).
Vacuum Sealing
Using a vacuum sealer is ideal for long-term freezer storage. The removal of all air helps prevent freezer burn for a very long time. We love our food saver!
Freezing Hot Peppers
For smaller hot pepper varieties like jalapeños, ghost peppers, or cayennes, we just remove the stems and freeze them whole! This saves a lot of time and makes the task of preserving the chillies simple and quick.
Can you freeze peppers whole?
Our preferred method for freezing most hot peppers is to leave them whole. Here is a simple guide to freezing small hot peppers:
- Select fresh, firm peppers.
- Thoroughly wash and dry all peppers.
- Remove the stems from all peppers (optional).
- Add peppers to freezer bags and remove as much air as possible.
- Label the bags with the date and variety, and place bags in freezer.
Again, labeling bags with the date before freezing is always a good idea. It can be easy to forget which bag was frozen first. By labeling, you can always use the oldest peppers first.
How long do peppers last in the freezer?
When frozen fresh, peppers can last at least 10-12 months in the freezer. Aim to keep your freezer at 0°F for the best longevity.
Do peppers lose heat when frozen?
No, spicy peppers will not lose any heat when frozen fresh. To retain as much heat and flavor as possible, try to freeze your peppers the same day they are picked.
If you are freezing store bought peppers, whatever heat they possessed when bought will be maintained when frozen. This makes frozen peppers perfect for making hot sauce throughout the winter!
Thawing Frozen Peppers
When you are ready to use your frozen peppers, thawing them is easy. Follow these steps:
- Remove the desired amount of frozen peppers from freezer bag.
- Reseal the freezer bag, removing as much air as possible.
- Put remaining frozen peppers back in freezer right away.
- Allow peppers to reach room temperature on a plate.
- Alternatively, heat peppers directly from frozen in a pan (ideal if using to cook).
Frozen peppers can be cooked, or they can be eaten raw. If eating fresh, make sure to thaw them on a towel to remove any excess moisture. Keep in mind that the peppers will lack their original crunch and will be limp.
Do Peppers Lose Flavor When Frozen?
Peppers will not lose much flavor when frozen fresh. Ideally, peppers should be frozen the same day they are picked to maintain the original flavor, heat and nutritional value.
Other Ways to Store Peppers
Want to store your peppers another way? Freezing is not your only option! There are many easy (and tasty) ways to preserve your fresh peppers for longer.
For our top 5 best ways to preserve peppers, read our article here! From pickling to making hot sauce, you’ll find some great options for preserving your peppers.
Quick Pickling
Quick pickling is one of our favorite methods for storing hot peppers. This is a quick way to turn your fresh peppers into the perfect, crunchy sandwich topper. They will last for several weeks in the fridge and can be a great snack or addition to meals.
Try making pickled jalapeños (or other pepper). We make them every single year!
Canning
Canning is a longer process for pickling and storing produce, and peppers will last much longer with this method. It involves boiling the sealed jars to sterilize the food and seal the jars.
The canning technique is a bit more involved, but can be worth the effort if you have a large amount of peppers to store. Properly canned peppers can be stored at room temperature for months without spoiling. Also, they make another great gift for friends or family.
Dehydrating & Powdering
If you want to use your peppers to create a dry rub or spice, you will need to dehydrate the peppers first. This can be done easily at home with a dehydrator, or in the oven (though it will take much longer).
Learn how to make homemade cayenne pepper powder here.
Dehydrating peppers can be fun to experiment to create your own dried spices, especially if you have a lot of varieties to combine. The colors can be gorgeous, too!
I hope this article helped you learn how to freeze fresh peppers. I recommend this storage method for all gardeners, as it is so easy and allows you to keep cooking with your peppers all year long!
Calvin
One of the original Pepper Geeks! When Calvin isn’t gardening or learning more about peppers and botany, he might be traveling new places or playing some music.
thank you so much for this. this was was helpful. im growing Habanero, Ghost and Thai Hot peppers for salsa and cooking in tacos as well(yummy tacos LOL) anyway seeing as how the peppers don’t all grow and ripen at the same rate i have to freeze them so when i get enough i can use them for salsa. my main concern was that if freezing them did it take away there spiciness. this obviously answered that question and many others. and turns out i been doing it right as i been freezing them as soon as i pick them! once again thanks a million. my peppers are growing so well this year!!!! the Texas heat has done them wonders lol