How to Freeze Bell Peppers

How to freeze bell peppers – Whether you got a great bargain at the farmers market or have plenty in your garden, you can preserve bell peppers longer by freezing them. Process as many peppers at once as you can to cut down on the overall work. Gather your bell peppers, a cutting board, a cookie sheet, and freezer bags to start.

Instructions to freeze bell peppers

1. Wash your bell peppers thoroughly with fresh, clean water. Pat dry your peppers.

2. Set aside any pepper with mold or soft spots. You can use part of these peppers immediately, but they will not freeze well.

3. Slice the peppers in half or quarters, discard the stem and remove all of the seeds, scrapping with your knife, or by cutting out the white pith. 

4. Slice or dice the peppers into whatever size and shape you like.

5. Rinse the cut peppers, and dry them thoroughly with a paper towel. The drier the peppers are, the less likely they are to suffer from freezer burn.

6. Arrange your cut pepper pieces in large heavy-duty freezer bags in one layer to avoid your peppers from freezing together in clumps. Before sealing, remove as much air as possible from the bags to help prevent freezer burn.

7. Label the freezer bags with the content and the date of freezing. Transfer to the back of your freezer, where it is the coldest. You’re done!

Tips for freezing bell peppers

• If you like to make stuffed peppers, you can freeze the bell peppers whole. Just cut off the tops, scoop out the seeds, and put the tops back on. Of course, whole peppers will take up more of freezer space than diced peppers.
• To avoid the dreaded freezer burn, try to use your peppers within six months of freezing. It is generally recommended frozen vegetables be eaten within about 8 months for best quality. When storing the peppers, keep them in the back of the freezer, where it is the coldest
• Peppers do lose some of their crispness when frozen then thawed. So they’re best to use them grilled or in cooked recipes such as casseroles, stir fry, or soups.
• If you like making stuffed peppers using frozen peppers, remove them from the freezer and stuff them straight out while they’re still frozen. You don’t need to thaw them out first.

Tips for freezing hot peppers

To process to freeze hot peppers is pretty much the same as freezing bell peppers. Peppers as usually smaller in size so it’s not necessary to chop them. I you do want to chop them, you might want to wear gloves to avoid feeling the burn on your skin (you also won’t be tempted to rub your eyes if you wear gloves).

• Wash and stem hot peppers. Package in freezer bags, leaving no headspace. Seal and freeze the peppers. Because of their size, it is not necessary to cut or chop hot peppers before freezing.