Store peppers in the refrigerator?
Many people store their peppers in the refrigerator. However, this is counterproductive because the vegetables originally come from warmer regions, which makes them extremely sensitive to cold. In general, with this type of storage, it only takes a few days for peppers to literally give up the ghost: They get mushy, lose a large part of their healthy ingredients, and may already start to rotten. So we advise you not to store the vegetables in the refrigerator.
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Exception: if you have opened or cut peppers, wrap them in kitchen paper and put them in an airtight box so that you can finally put them in the fridge. The pepper pieces stay there for a maximum of two to three days.
Store peppers properly
Ideally, you should store peppers at temperatures of eight to ten degrees Celsius. Furthermore, the chosen storage location should be as dark as possible. In order to ensure such conditions, cellars and storage rooms as well as pantries are ideal locations - provided they are unheated and dry.
Tips
If you cannot guarantee darkness, it is best to cover the peppers with a cloth (dishcloth or towel).
Caution: Always choose a place with low humidity. Otherwise the risk of mold growth is very high.
Once you have determined a suitable location for storage, it is advisable to simply put the peppers there in a vegetable basket. Special containers are not required.
This way, peppers usually stay fresh for at least one to two weeks.
Select fresh peppers
In order to achieve the longest possible shelf life, you must be attentive when harvesting or buying and choosing fresh peppers. The following characteristics are essential:
- crisp, firm and shiny skin
- green, fresh looking stem
Tips
Do not take peppers whose outer skin has already visibly and noticeably decreased in elasticity.
Freeze peppers
If you have harvested or bought too many peppers, you can freeze some of them and keep them for months. Here is a quick guide:
- Wash the peppers thoroughly and dry them carefully.
- Core and cut into pieces (e.g. cubes or strips).
- Portion the pepper pieces in freezer bags or freezer cans.
- Close container (s) airtight.
- Put in the freezer.
Tips
Frozen peppers are nowhere near as crunchy as fresh ones. It is therefore advisable to only use them for cooking (not defrosted!).
General information on storing peppers
Do not keep peppers in close proximity to apples and other ripening fruits. These release the ripening gas ethylene and ensure that your peppers and other vegetables spoil faster.
Unlike red peppers, green versions ripen afterwards. Keep this in mind both when purchasing and when storing.
The garden journal freshness-ABC
How can fruit & vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh as long as possible?
The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:
- as free PDF file to print out on your own