Whether you enjoy eating the milder varieties or mild candy peppers, they are very easy to raise and preserve. There are pepper varieties which may be eaten fresh, dried or used in salsas pepper vinegars and sauces. Some of the favorite varieties include:
* Gypsy hybrid peppers
* Jalapeno peppers
* Serrano chili peppers
* Tabasco peppers
* Sweet bell peppers
* Sweet and hot banana peppers
* Poblano peppers
* Cubanelle peppers
* Hungarian wax peppers
* Habanero peppers
* Cayenne peppers
* Cherry peppers
The method that you select for maintaining peppers depends on the variety. We conserve our harvest by freezing: in these ways, in sauces, in salsas, in vinegars or by drying. To freeze peppers, harvest and young peppers and wash them. Peppers will go limp quickly before you intend to freeze them, select them. Cut the peppers in half and remove seeds. The seeds wash, put them in plastic storage bags and save for next season’s planting. Slice peppers into julienne or rings pieces. Boil water and blanch peppers for 2-3 minutes. Cool in ice water and drain. Put in freezer bags that are zippered and seal. Label outside of bag including the date and the selection, with a permanent marker. Use the frozen peppers in cooked foods such as soups, stews, gumbos, chili, pasta dishes, and spaghetti sauce and stir fries. To make hottest peppers vinegar, pack hot peppers or bottle. Be sure it is so it would not crack in the vinegar glass made to withstand heat. Add salt for flavoring, if desired. Pour vinegar over the peppers, leaving a little bit of head space. Seal tightly and let steep for 4-5 weeks. Experiment with various varieties such as other vinegars and cider, sherry of vinegar.
You can create your own salsa. There are recipes for salsa. Your recipe selection depends on your own taste. The choice of Worlqd’s hottest peppers is dependent on whether you need hot or mild salsa. Once your salsa is created, ladle into Mason canning jars and process according to your home canner instructions. Be sure that every jar pops when cooling from the canning procedure. This indicates that the jar has sealed. Unsealed foods are not safe. You can dry peppers in an oven or you could air dry them. We prefer method drying. We take a very strong needle and sew them with very strong quilting thread. We leave space between peppers so air can circulate. They are suspended by us and permit them to dry, which takes several weeks. When dried, store in containers or bags. We use those in stir fries, fried rice and pasta dishes. Seeds, such as red pepper flakes are amazing for seasoning foods such as pasta and pizza. It is possible to rehydrate dried peppers before use by soaking in water, if desired.