Drying Home-grown Hot Peppers

There is something incredibly satisfying and liberating about growing your own food. In planning your gardens, don't forget peppers. They are a wonderful addition to any flower, herb, or vegetable garden. During the harvest season, hot pepper plants often produce more fruits than you can possible use at that time. Drying the surplus bounty will provide you with this delightful spice all year long.

First, a word of warning - hot peppers can burn the skin. Use gloves when cutting them. Take special care not to touch your eyes if you have touched hot peppers. It is an experience you will never forget.

Second, properly dried peppers will not have any signs of moisture. They should have a brittleness that makes them break easily between your fingers although the skins will retain some flexibility. Your peppers should not be brown or crumbly.

When your peppers are dried, store in a dry, cool location for up to a year. You may use a spice grinder to grind the peppers if you wish for a coarse or fine ground pepper. It is my suggestion that you store your peppers whole and grind only small portions as needed. I find herbs hold their flavors better if left whole and ground as needed. A coffee grinder that is used for only dried herbs and spices is an invaluable kitchen aid!

Drying Methods

Food Dehydrator

Cut in half clean, dry peppers. Lay on the dehydrator trays. Dry for 8 - 12 hours or as needed until the peppers are dry.

Note: I strongly suggest drying peppers in a garage or someplace out of the main living area of your house. The fumes from the drying peppers can be very uncomfortable to eyes and sinuses!

Oven

Cut in half clean, dry peppers. Lay on cookie sheet or other oven safe flat pans. Turn oven on to lowest setting. Prop oven door open for ventilation. Turn peppers frequently to keep from browing.

Note: this is neither energy efficient nor does it yield the best results.

Sun Drying

Cut in half clean, dry peppers. Locate in the hot sun for 3 to 4 days. Protect from insects and you will need to bring your chilis in during the night.

This requires the weather to cooperate over a number of days which can be problematic depending upon where you live.

Hanging

String a heavy thread through the pepper's stem. Hang in a well-ventilated and sunny location for up to 2 weeks depending upon conditions.

Ristras are the long and decorative strings of dried chili peppers. If you'd like to know how to make one, check out this page.

Submitted by Kimberly Burkard