Drying Peppers
Some Tips On Drying Peppers
If you normally purchase peppers in any kind of quantities, drying peppers is a terrific way to help store them for a long period of time, so that you can use them in recipes for months. You can dry peppers in a few different ways, so select the one that works best for you.
When drying peppers with a dehydrator, you will want to slice your peppers in half first. You can remove the membranes, stem and seeds from each half, if you desire to. Place your dehydrator in an area that is well-ventilated. The fumes from drying peppers, especially HOT peppers, will have you rubbing your eyes, and this process can sometimes take several days. You can even put the dehydrator outside if you have space available.
Let your drying peppers remain in the dehydrator for a few days with the temperature set at about 100F, and check on them daily to see how they’re coming along. The peppers should be very dry before you can call them done, since any moisture left in them will be an invitation for parasites and mold.
To do your drying peppers in an oven, prepare them the same way as for the dehydrator. They can then be placed on your oven racks or on cookie sheets, if you’d rather use them. Put the peppers in your oven and heat them to between 100 and 135 degrees. You may want to leave the oven door open just a crack, to help provide circulation of air. Turn the peppers over a few times, to make sure they are drying evenly. Make sure they dry well, with no moisture that you can detect left in them.
In air drying peppers, you will generally leave your peppers whole, and you may leave the stems on them. Use a sharp, long needle and strong fishing line or thread to string your peppers together. Leave enough room between the peppers for the air to circulate so the peppers will dry more evenly.
Hang your peppers-on-strings in a dry and warm place. Direct sunlight is definitely a plus, if you have an area where this is available. These peppers may take several weeks to completely dry.
Doing pepper drying in a dehydrator will cause them to lose some of their seeds and color. Peppers dried by air-drying will keep their color and also their seeds. When your peppers are dried completely, you will want to store them in a container that is airtight, or a plastic bag with a zipper. And keep them in a dry, cool place. You can use dried peppers ground as spices, or you can rehydrate them with water and use them in sauces or soups.