Can you freeze peppers?
Can you freeze peppers? Yes, you can freeze raw peppers or cooked peppers. In both cases, they will keep for about 6 months in the freezer. Below are the two methods to follow.
How to freeze raw peppers?
- Select ripe peppers that are firm to the touch. Clean them thoroughly with cold water.
- Cut the peppers in half and deseed them. Then cut them into small pieces, such as cubes or slices.
- Spread the pepper pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure the pepper pieces do not touch each other. The idea is to pre-freeze each piece individually so they don’t stick together later. This will make it easier to defrost small portions. Put the baking sheet in the freezer for several hours.
- Once the bell pepper pieces are completely frozen, remove the baking sheet from the freezer and transfer the pieces to a freezer bag or an airtight container. Seal the freezer bag or container tightly, pushing out as much air as possible.
- Label the freezer bag or container with the date and contents, then return the pepper pieces to the freezer.
How to freeze cooked peppers?
- Cook your peppers as usual following your favorite recipe.
- Then let your peppers cool before freezing them.
- Spread the pepper pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure the pepper pieces do not touch each other. The idea is to pre-freeze each piece individually so they don’t stick together later. This will make it easier to defrost small portions. Put the baking sheet in the freezer for several hours.
- Once the bell pepper pieces are completely frozen, remove the baking sheet from the freezer and transfer the pieces to a freezer bag or an airtight container. Seal the freezer bag or container tightly, pushing out as much air as possible.
- Label the freezer bag or container with the date and contents, then return the pepper pieces to the freezer.
How long do bell peppers last in the freezer?
Peppers, raw or cooked, will keep for about 6 months in the freezer . After this time, their texture may degrade somewhat; they will still be safe to eat but won’t be as tasty.
How to thaw bell peppers?
If you are going to use your peppers in a hot dish, you can use them as is without thawing them. Simply reheat them over low heat to give them time to thaw without the surface burning.
If, on the other hand, you want to use your peppers in a salad or a cold dish, you must let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Can you refreeze peppers?
We strongly advise against refreezing peppers. The risk of thawing and then refreezing peppers lies in the fact that their texture may deteriorate significantly.
Instead, we recommend that you freeze your peppers in small portions so that you can defrost them one at a time. This way you will avoid any waste.
Should you blanch peppers before freezing them?
It is not essential. Raw peppers hold up relatively well to freezing, but you can blanch them if you want to preserve their color and flavor more.
Can you freeze stuffed peppers?
You can freeze stuffed peppers but you can take a better approach. Cut off the tops of your peppers, remove the seeds and freeze them whole without stuffing.
Then all you have to do is prepare the stuffing, then stuff the peppers (still frozen) and bake them in the oven. No need to thaw your peppers with this method!
