Tips for Harvesting and Storing Peppers

If you find yourself with more peppers than you know what to do with here are a few Tips for Harvesting and Storing Peppers.

 When are your peppers ready to harvest?

Typically peppers are harvested when green and firm for eating, cooking or canning.

Days to harvest?

Most peppers ripen 70-85 days from planting; some may take up to 150 days. They are mature when they have firm texture and thick walls.

Best way to pick your pepper?

Snap or cut off pepper stem at plant, try not to nick or bruise peppers this will cause them to rot more quickly.

To wash or not after picking?

Don’t wash after picking just wipe off dirt.

Store in refrigerator or not?

Store them immediately in the produce bin in your refrigerator, between 40-45°F.

How long will they last after you pick them?

If you store at the proper temperature peppers can last up to 2-3 weeks.

Can you freeze? If so how?

To freeze peppers, slice and place on cookie sheet and freeze until just firm. Slide frozen peppers into a freezer bag, seal bag, remove any excess air and freeze up to 9 months.

Drying or Roasting?

To dry peppers cut them into strips and use a food dehydrator for 2-4 hours. You can also dry on a cookie sheet in oven set to 140°, leaving door slightly ajar to circulate air, stirring peppers occasionally. This can take 3-6 hours. You can use a string to tie peppers together and hang them a warm dry room for up to 3 weeks.

Just a note of caution: When you are working with hot peppers, make sure to wear a pair of rubber gloves.  

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