How To Freeze Jalapeño Peppers Properly

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When you have a large harvest or an excess of peppers, you might wonder if can you freeze jalapeño peppers. Freezing jalapeños is almost as simple as it sounds.

But before you just go throwing your fresh peppers into the freezer, there are a few things to know. Read our fool-proof method on how to freeze fresh jalapeño peppers the right way.

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The goal of freezing jalapeños is to preserve your peppers after a large harvest. It is not uncommon for pepper growers to have an abundance of hot peppers at the end of the growing season.

Unless you’re eating spicy food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (we wouldn’t blame you), you’ll want to preserve some of your peppers. Freezing is a great option for keeping your jalapeños fresh and spicy for whenever you’re ready to use them. Let’s get started!

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Use The Right Bags

The last thing you want is to open your frozen jalapeños in a month only to find freezer burn and frost buildup. Normal, thin plastic baggies will technically work, but they allow more air particles through to your peppers over time.

Instead, use freezer bags, which are designed for long term freezer storage. You can use them for a variety of foods, including jalapeños and other peppers.

• Get freezer bags here
• Or, try reusable silicon baggies (they have an airtight seal)

Oxygen will be the enemy of your frozen jalapeños, so be sure to get some proper freezer bags. These thick-walled and double-sealed bags will keep your peppers tasting great for many months to come.

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Preparing Jalapeños For Freezing

For jalapeños, there are two popular options for freezing. Which method you choose will depend on how much freezer space you have and how you plan to use the peppers in the future.

Option 1: Freeze whole

Jalapeño peppers are small enough to be frozen whole. In fact, most hot peppers (habaneros, ghost peppers, etc.) are on the small side and freeze best without chopping. You’ll also avoid getting any hot pepper juices on your hands.

If you have enough space for all your peppers, we recommend this method, since it preserves the original shape and avoids problems with oxidization and potential skin irritation.

If you plan to freeze jalapeños whole, follow these steps:

• Rinse peppers under cool water
• Dry peppers thoroughly
• Remove stems (unless you have a need for them)
• Place peppers in freezer bags
• Remove as much air as possible and seal
• Freeze until peppers are needed

Option 2: Pre-slice jalapeños

The other option for freezing jalapeños is to pre-slice the peppers into the desired shape. The benefits of this method are that the peppers will store more compactly (less open space) and you won’t have to slice the peppers later.

If you are short on freezer space, or would like to pre-slice your peppers for easier use later, this may be the right choice. It is great to be able to open the bag and add some frozen peppers straight into a frying pan without slicing!

If you plan to freeze jalapeños sliced, follow these steps:

• Clean peppers under cool water
• Dry peppers thoroughly
• Cut off stems and discard
• Wearing gloves, slice peppers into the desired shape (we like long thin “straws” for ideal packing) – you can also remove the seeds at this point
• Optional: Spread sliced peppers on a cookie sheet and flash-freeze for 1 hour (this helps prevent clumping in the freezer)
• Place sliced jalapeños in freezer bags
• Remove as much air as possible and seal
• Freeze until peppers are needed

You can also use a combination of both methods, some sliced and some whole, if you want to keep some of the peppers intact. The size and shape are ultimately up to you, but each has benefits and drawbacks.

Tip: For removing the air from the bag, you can get more out by submerging the bags in a pot of water. Leave a small corner of the filled bag open and submerge it underwater. This will press all the air out. Then, seal the bag fully and remove it from the water. Just be sure to dry it off before popping it in the freezer!

The most important step with either option is to remove as much air as possible. Air exposure is what causes freezer burn, so do your best to keep the air locked out!

Using a vacuum sealer

Since we grow an abundance of peppers each year, we decided to get a vacuum sealer for our harvests. While this may not be for everyone, it certainly prolongs the shelf life of your produce.

Vacuum sealers suck out all of the air within special bags, then form an airtight seal. This protects peppers, meats and other foods for long-term freezer storage.

Tip: If you use a vacuum sealer, make small batches for use throughout the year. That way, you can open a bag and use it all without the need to re-seal.

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How Long Do Frozen Peppers Last

Freezers tend to give foods an odd flavor after long periods of time. Have you ever accidentally left ice cube trays in the freezer for too long? That ice doesn’t taste good, and neither will your jalapeños after that long.

Ideally, you should try to use up all of your frozen jalapeños within 1 year. It is okay to keep jalapeño peppers frozen for longer than a year, though you may begin to notice negative changes in flavor and color.

Try to use your frozen jalapeños for more home cooked recipes or for making hot sauce. The peppers are versatile and your options are virtually endless!

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Thawing Jalapeños

I prefer to cook frozen peppers straight out of the freezer (no thawing necessary). This is best for frying, soups, stews and most other meals. However, if you need a softer pepper (say for an omelet or hot sauce), you can thaw the jalapeños before use.

Thawing your frozen jalapeños is even easier than freezing. Simply remove the desired quantity of peppers from your freezer bag and thaw them on a paper towel to allow any excess moisture to be absorbed. Re-seal the bag with the remaining jalapeños, removing any excess air, and return them to the freezer.

Once your peppers reach room temperature, you can treat them like fresh peppers and use them as desired. The main drawback to freezing is that thawed peppers will be soft, not crisp. However, they should have the same heat level and flavor!

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What To Do With Frozen Jalapeños

Once you have thawed your frozen jalapeño peppers, you can use them as if they were fresh. They won’t have the same crunchiness as a fresh pepper. However, the flavor and heat will be almost identical to that of a fresh jalapeño.

Here are a few ideas for what do you with frozen jalapeños:

• Use them in a stir-fry. Jalapeños add a nice kick to a stir-fry. I like to just cook the peppers straight from the freezer without thawing. If you need to slice them, you may wish to thaw them beforehand.
• Make salsa. You can use frozen jalapeños for making fresh salsa. Just make sure you thaw out and dry the peppers completely before chopping for the salsa.
• Make hot sauce. If you need some extra heat to warm up during the winter, use your jalapeños to make a tasty homemade hot sauce. They can be cooked beforehand, or just thawed and blended with other ingredients.
• Add to pasta. Spice up a red sauce or pasta dish for an extra kick of heat and flavor. I like to dice the jalapeños into small cubes for pasta.
• Make jalapeño poppers. Yes, you can even use your frozen jalapeños for jalapeño poppers. However, if you blanched your fresh jalapeños before freezing, they will not have the stiffness necessary to support the popper filling. Try whipping up a cheesy dip if your peppers are too limp!

Get some more ideas for what to do with jalapeños here.

The only thing I might avoid using frozen jalapeños for is pickling. The frozen peppers will lack the crunch factor that is essential to a good pickle. Make pickles with fresh jalapños only!

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Do Jalapeños Lose Heat When Frozen?

Since jalapeños are hot peppers, it would be a shame if freezing them reduced their heat level. Thankfully, freezing peppers locks in the original spiciness, so jalapeños lose almost none of their original heat. This makes freezing a great option if you plan to use the peppers for hot sauce or for spicing up dishes in the future.

Interestingly, frozen peppers also retain most of their nutritional value after freezing. So, you’ll still get plenty of vitamins and minerals from your frozen produce.

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Do Jalapeños Lose Flavor When Frozen?

This is a tough question to answer. When freezing anything, you will lose some flavor over time. But, if frozen properly, it will take a while to degrade.

If you plan to eat your jalapeños within 6 months or so, you shouldn’t notice any flavor loss. Just be sure to follow our steps above on how to freeze jalapeños properly.

If you notice freezer burn on your peppers, you know that something is wrong with your storage container. Try not to leave your freezer open to avoid condensation buildup in your frozen peppers.

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Can I Use This Method For Other Peppers?

Yes! As mentioned before, most spicy peppers can be frozen whole, just like jalapeños. However, if you plan to freeze larger peppers (like bell peppers or poblanos) you may want to slice before freezing to save room.

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That’s it! Have any other questions about freezing jalapeños or other peppers? Feel free to reach out or leave a comment.