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Like other peppers, preserving your shishito peppers is easy if you know how to do it properly. You can buy shishito peppers in the fresh produce section of most grocery stores.
Each year, as summer winds in, you’ll find farmers looking for how to preserve shishito peppers.
While most farmers love to can them, you must understand that there are several other ways to keep your peppers safe without confining them in cans.
Below, you will learn, in detail, how to store shishito peppers for more extended use.
Let’s get started!
Storing Freshly Picked Shishito Peppers
You should preserve the freshness of the shishito peppers until they are ready to be cooked or eaten raw off the serving dish. If that’s the case, here are some techniques to store the shishito pepper and maintain its crispiness.
First, inspect the peppers for damage from cuts, discoloration, or bruises. Damage to the shishito pepper sustained during transportation or storage may decrease its individual or group shelf-life.
Next up is washing the peppers carefully in a dish using cold water to eliminate traces of debris or dirt. Use a soft cloth or towel to dry them.
After ensuring that your shishito peppers are dry, it is time for storage. The most recommended method is in the refrigerator. For this to work, you must use a sealed container or plastic bag with enough room for air to circulate.
Compared to other pepper varieties, such as jalapeño or fresno, shishito peppers are more sensitive to cold temperatures. If you refrigerate the peppers and not freeze them, place them in the warmest sections.
Shishito Peppers Refrigeration Debate
On the storage issue, the most obvious question that comes to mind is whether or not to refrigerate shishito peppers.
The short answer is yes, you should refrigerate your shishito peppers. Unlike other pepper varieties like paprikas, these peppers are highly perishable and need to be kept at a cool temperature to extend their shelf life.
Shelf Life of Shishito Peppers in the Fridge
Refrigeration is a better way to store shishito peppers than other storage methods like roasting. If these peppers remain at room temperature, they become soft and wrinkled, decreasing their nutritional value.
Refrigeration further slows down their natural aging process keeping them fresh for longer. Keeping shishito peppers calm can also help to preserve their flavor.
If stored well, a shishito pepper freshly picked in summer or early fall can stay fresh to eat for up to a week or two in the refrigerator chiller.
Keeping Shishito Peppers Fresh in Your Refrigerator
To properly refrigerate shishito peppers, you must treat them like the darlings they are. They need the best room to keep them happy and fresh.
To accomplish this, you need to place the peppers in the crisper drawer of your fridge. This drawer is the most appropriate place to maintain the peppers’ optimum humidity and temperature. Think of it as an executive suite with a mini fridge.
Don’t just throw the peppers in there naked. Instead, place them in a plastic bag or sealed jar.
Freezing Shishito Peppers Whole
Good news for Shishito pepper lovers! Freezing your pepper is one of the best ways people preserve them. The significant part of this method is that you can freeze all types of shishito pepper, which is more accessible than canning.
You shouldn’t expect peppers preserved by freezing to be as crisp as fresh peppers, but frozen peppers can still work perfectly in cooked dishes like pasta dishes, soups, stews, grilled chicken, or as a summer appetizer or side dish in salads.
Before freezing your peppers, either grind them entirely and place them in a well-sealed microwaveable container or store them as whole peppers in strong leather bags. This method allows you to access your shishito peppers whenever you need them.
Preparing Shishito Peppers for Freezing
If you want to enjoy your peppers all year round, prepare them adequately for freezing. The prep time for this process is less than three hours. We’ve got you covered with these simple steps.
- Wash your peppers thoroughly to remove dirt and debris.
- Use a paper towel to pat them dry and remove excess moisture.
- Place the peppers on a baking sheet in a single layer, ensuring they do not get into contact with each other.
- Pop that tray in the freezer and let it remain there for one or two hours. This technique is called flash freezing and helps prevent peppers from sticking together in the frozen bag.
- Once flash-frozen, take the peppers from the baking sheet and insert them in a freezer bag.
- Remove as much air as you can from the bags before sealing it tightly. You can use a vacuum sealer to help you in removing the air.
- Label your bags with the correct freezing date and contents and freeze them.
Freezing Shishito Peppers: How Long Will They Keep?
The secret to keeping your shishito peppers fresh for months is to freeze them. That’s right. These peppers can stay up to six months in the freezer. That’s right.
To make them stay in top shape, consider factors like air exposure, temperature, and air moisture content which can affect the quality of the shishito peppers.
Speaking of temperature, freeze shishito peppers at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below. If you allow these temperatures to fluctuate, you might have some nasty mushy chili pepper. Changing temperatures cause ice crystals to form, damaging your pepper’s texture and flavor.
Including Seeds in the Freezing Process
If you are wondering, “Can you freeze shishito peppers with their seeds intact?” the answer is that they definitely can.
Start by washing and drying the chili pepper thoroughly. Then, you can cut the peppers in equal halves to expose the seeds.
Next, scoop out those pesky seeds with a spoon. After preparing your shishito peppers, it’s time to put them in the freezer. Uses a freezer-safe bag ensuring to get out as much air as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
For How Long Can You Keep Shishito Peppers?
When it is in the fridge, you can use it for up to two weeks, and if you do not have stable electricity, you can follow the other methods mentioned.
How Do You Tell If Shishito Peppers Are Harsh?
For you to know that your peppers are harsh to eat, it turns soft and slimy sometimes. You should note that fresh shishito peppers are usually firm and possess a bright color. Brightly colored thin skin is another thing the shishito peppers have. For you to know that your peppers are harsh to eat, it turns soft and slimy sometimes.
Are Shishito Peppers Hot When They Turn Red?
Not really. Although shishito peppers are commonly known to be generally mild compared to other pepper varieties, there’s a possibility that one out of every ten shishito peppers you eat is very hot, so take note. Colors do not affect the flavor of shishito peppers.
Conclusion
The shishito pepper is a delicious and nutritious addition to any meal. You need proper storage techniques to maintain their unique flavor and delicate texture during cooking. If you refrigerate or freeze shishito peppers, follow these steps, and your pepper recipes will always taste good.
