Dried Peppers - 4 easy methods
There are many methods you can use for dried, or dehydrated peppers. A commercial dehydrator, or the oven, your grill, even your air fryer can be used for dried peppers.
Servings 10 depends on number of peppers dried
Calories 1kcal
Cost $4
Ingredients
- hot peppers
Instructions
In a dehydrator
- Rinse and dry off peppers. Cut out any bad spots or obvious blemishes.hot peppers
- Cut peppers in half to speed up drying time. Slice them to dry them even faster. You can remove seeds or leave them in.
- Place them on the dehydrator racks and load into dehydrator.ppers.
- Set time. Set temperature to 135°F.Times for drying peppers should be 8-15 hours, depending on the size of the peppers and if you cut or slice them. Whole peppers can take up to 36 hours, depending on the size.
- Peppers are fully dry when they crack when you try to bend them.
- Once peppers are fully dried, let them cool and then place them in a quart mason jar.
- Lastly, see section below to condition the peppers below.
In the oven
- Rinse and dry off peppers. Cut out any bad spots or obvious blemishes.
- Cut peppers in half to speed up drying time. Slice them to dry them even faster. You can remove seeds or leave them in.
- Place peppers on racks that are placed over baking sheets to improve air circulation around them. Leave the oven door cracked (place a wooden spoon in the door to keep it open. This will also increase airflow.
- Whole peppers can take 8-10 hours, depending on the temperature and size of peppers. Check often.
- Peppers are fully dry when they crack when you try to bend them.
- Once peppers are fully dried, let them cool and then place them in a quart mason jar.
- Lastly, see section below to condition the peppers.
On the grill
- Rinse and dry off peppers. Cut out any bad spots or obvious blemishes.
- Start grill on one side only to very low heat. Spread peppers out directly on grill grates on the opposite side of the heat. (Indirect grilling)Prop the grill open the a wooden spoon.
- Cut peppers in half to speed up drying time. You can remove seeds or leave them in.
- Dry for 6-10 hours depending on the size of peppers, if the are halved and how high you have the heat set. Check them often.
- Peppers are fully dry when they crack when you try to bend them.
- Once peppers are fully dried, let them cool and then place them in a quart mason jar.
- Lastly, see section below to condition the peppers.
In the air fryer
- In your air fryer, set heat to the lowest setting, mine is warm, less than 250°F.Place peppers on air fryer basket and air fry in 5-10 minute intervals. below to condition the peppers.
- Depending on the size of the peppers and the lowest temperature setting of your brand of air fryer they can take 20-40 minutes to fully dehydrate.
- Check often. If they are not quite dry after 40 minutes, dehydrate for 5 minutes at a time until dry.
- Peppers are fully dry when they crack when you try to bend them.
- Once peppers are fully dried, let them cool and then place them in a quart mason jar.
- Lastly, see section below to condition the peppers.
Air drying
- Air drying them will work if you live in a very dry climate, think California or Arizona, you can dry them outside, in a sunny location, but protect them from any chance rain, or dew, at night. They can take as little as a week to dry in a dry climate.
- If you live in a more humid climate, you can dry them in a dry place.
- Prepare them as in step one above. With a needle and a strong thread, pierce the stem with the needle and pull the thread through. Continue until you’ve used up all of the thread or all of the peppers and hang them. We find a metal hanger is great to hang them on.
- They should take about 3-6 weeks to fully dehydrate.
To condition dry fruit
- See notes below.
Video
Notes
Cutting the peppers in half will cut the dehydrating time.
Use any variety of hot pepper you have access to.
Conditioning your fruit is an important step in the drying process, so don’t skip this step.
Uses for dried peppers;
What is conditioning dried fruits?
Conditioning is the process of testing the fruit to make sure that it is thoroughly dry.
Why is conditioning important?
Even a bit of moisture in a couple of pieces has the potential to ruin a whole batch.
How do you condition fruits?
Allow the dehydrated fruits to come to room temperature. Immediately place them into a glass mason jar. Place the jar in a dark area.
Shake the jar daily to break up any stuck pieces. Allow them to stay in the jar for 7-10 days, shaking daily.
If you see any moisture droplets collecting on the jar. You know you have moisture in them.
What if I see moisture after conditioning?
If you see any evidence of moisture or any condensation in the jar, re-dry the food in your oven or dehydrator. After re-drying condition them again. Once they are fully dry, pack in tight fitting glass jars.
What if I see mold?
If you see any evidence of mold during the conditioning process. Discard the product.
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Nutrition
Calories: 1kcal