Fresno Pepper Vs Habanero Pepper: Key Differences

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Fresno and habanero pepper are among the world’s best known chili peppers, each of which deliver a tremendous amount of heat. When it comes to choosing between fresno pepper vs habanero pepper, we consider so many things.

The main difference between fresno and habanero pepper is their taste, flavor, and heat level, and origin. Fresno pepper originated from California with a scoville scale of 2,500–10,000 SHU, while habanero pepper originated from Central America and the Caribbean and has scoville scale of 100,000–350,000 SHU.

As you can see, Habanero pepper is much hotter than Fresno pepper!

Now, let’s quickly learn more about Fresno pepper and Habanero pepper and see their core differences!

What is Fresno Pepper?

Although Fresno peppers develop from green to brilliant red and become hotter as they age, they are often plucked and served as green. The green peppers are moderate to medium spicy, but the mature red Fresno is much hotter, even hotter than the jalapeno.

They reach a length of around 2-3 inches and a width of around one inch. The peppers’ skins are lustrous and sleek, and they have a tiny bend to them. It’s no surprise that the peppers are commonly implemented in salsas and fiery sauces due to their general flavor.

In comparison to ripe red Fresno peppers, which get spicier and more flavorful as they develop, green Fresno peppers have a more herbaceous flavor. For fiery dishes, red Fresno peppers still have a great flavor and a hint of spice.

The thinner walls of Fresnos can affect how you prepare food with them. Although not as thin as a habanero pepper, but they’re thinner than a regular jalapeno, so always keep that in mind. Fresno peppers vary in spiciness from 2,500 to 10,000 Scoville Heat Units on the Scoville Scale.

This is similar to the jalapeno, which has a maximum of 8,000 SHU and an average of 5,000 SHU. They aren’t particularly spicy peppers.

What is Habanero?

The habanero is a spicy chili type. Habaneros are green when unripe and turn red as they grow. Orange and red are the most prevalent color variations, but the fruit can also be white, brown, yellow, green, or purple. A mature habanero is about 2–6 cm long.

Habanero chilies are extremely hot, with Scoville ratings ranging from 100,000 to 350,000. The intensity, flavor, and floral perfume of the habanero make it a popular addition to hot sauces as well as other spicy meals.

It was nicknamed after the Cuban city of La Habana, sometimes known as Havana in the United States, because it used to be a major commerce center there.

It has now become a well-loved spice in various recipes, including hot sauces and other fiery meals, thanks to its fantastic spiciness, hint of citrus and fruity flavor, and flowery perfume.

It is commonly steeped for days or even weeks in tequila or mezcal bottles in Mexico to make beverages even more spicy.

The Mayans transported this magnificent pepper up through Central America to Mexico, where it originated 8,500 years ago in the South American tropical rainforests of Brazil. They’re hugely popular in Mexico and have been firmly engrained in the country’s culture.

The pepper is green until maturation, but as it matures, its color changes from yellow-orange to orange to vivid red, and it can even become pink or dark brown, based on when it is picked. It has a length of 1 to 2 ½ inches and a width of 1 to 2 inches, with a form similar to the Scotch bonnet chili.

The flesh of the pepper is light and glossy.

Fresno Pepper Vs Habanero

Below are the major differences between fresno pepper vs habanero pepper:

 Fresno PepperHabanero Pepper
Size60–75 cm (24–30 in).2–6 centimeters in length
OriginFresno, California.Central America and the Caribbean.
ColorFresno peppers mature from green to bright redThe most common color variants are orange and red, but the fruit may also be white, brown, yellow, green, or purple.
Scoville scale2,500–10,000 SHU100,000–350,000 SHU

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you reduce the intensity of a Habanero pepper?

Discard the inner white placental membrane to turn down the heat prior to incorporating it to your recipes. The pepper seeds do not contain any heat. When touching, use gloves.

How large can Habaneros get?

When completely ripe, habanero peppers turn a vivid orange or red color. They’re 1 to 2.5 inches long, and as they mature into their ultimate orange or red color, they get sharper.

When it comes to peppers, how can you know when they’re ready to be picked?

Pick peppers while they’re firm and green, or wait until they turn red at the end of the season. The fruit is edible in any hue, but all fruits must be plucked from the plant before the fall chill sets in.

Is there a pepper that is comparable to habanero?

The habanero and the Scotch bonnet are nearly identical twins. They have a comparable Scoville heat range (100,000 to 325,000 SHU), look similar (the Scotch bonnet is a touch more squished), and have a pleasant flavor.

What pepper has the same flavor profile as a Fresno pepper?

Cayenne peppers have thin walls and a taste comparable to Fresnos, but with a higher heat level.

Conclusion

Habaneros are unquestionably spicier than Fresno peppers, and by a long shot! Since jalapenos and fresnos are so similar, you can use them alternatively, but not with habaneros!

The higher on the Scoville scale you go, the higher the temperature it gets, and habaneros have about ten times the capsaicin intensity of fresnos — that’s a lot of heat! Another thing to remember is that chili peppers get harsher as they get small, and habaneros are often little.

When handling hot chili peppers, specifically habaneros, some people will wear gloves. If you don’t use gloves, make sure to give your hands (and knives) a good rinse afterward — and don’t touch your eyes or nose while touching them, or you’ll end up with your own personal pepper spray!

Read Also: Ghost Pepper Scoville Scale