• Direct from the grower
  • Freshly shipped
  • Quick delivery & pick-up point
  • Spicy support
Here's how to dry your own peppers
Got some fresh peppers left over? You can easily dry them yourself! This makes them last longer and helps reduce food waste. Check out our blog here for the best ways to dry your own peppers, plus some extra tips.

Share:

Drying Your Own Peppers Westlandpeppers
Here's how to dry your own peppers
Got some fresh peppers left over? You can easily dry them yourself! This makes them last longer and helps reduce food waste. Check out our blog here for the best ways to dry your own peppers, plus some extra tips.

Share:

Drying Your Own Peppers Westlandpeppers

Why Dry Your Peppers?

Drying peppers is a fantastic way to keep their amazing flavor locked in so you can enjoy them all year long! Plus, it's one of the oldest ways to preserve food and comes with a bunch of perks:

  • Lasts way longer: Fresh peppers usually only stick around for a few weeks. But dried ones? They'll keep for months, even up to a year! So yeah, they last a lot longer, but for the best flavor and heat, try to use them within a year.
  • Super easy to store: They take up less space. More intense flavor: Drying really concentrates the flavor, making them perfect for spicy dishes.
  • Super versatile: Toss them in stews, grind them into powder, or even whip up your own chili oil!

Ways to Dry Peppers

First things first, you gotta pick the right peppers. You can pretty much dry any kind, but it's super important to go for really fresh ones. So, make sure they're not soft or rotten. Also, a little tip: thin-walled peppers are way easier to dry than their thicker cousins, like Jalapeños. That's because the thicker ones hold a lot of moisture, which can lead to mold before they even get a chance to dry out.

1. Air Drying (Traditional Method)

What you'll need: Fresh peppers, a needle, and thread.

Steps:

  1. Thread your peppers onto a string right through their stems, making sure they're not touching.
  2. Hang this pepper garland in a dry, warm spot with good airflow, like an attic or your kitchen.
  3. Now, just wait 2-8 weeks until they're totally dry. How long it takes depends on the type of pepper and the conditions where they're hanging (think warmth and dryness). 

Or

What you'll need: Fresh peppers, a small knife, parchment paper, and a large plate or baking sheet.

Steps:

  1. Just make a small cut in each fresh pepper with a knife. This helps them lose moisture faster and keeps them from getting moldy.
  2. Then, pop the peppers on a plate lined with baking paper and put them in a dry, warm spot to let them air dry.
  3. Now, just wait 2-8 weeks until they're totally dry. How long it takes depends on the type of pepper and the conditions where they're hanging (think warmth and dryness). 

Tips

  • These two methods work best in summer or in warm, dry climates.
  • Steer clear of humid areas to keep mold away. 
  • It's best to use thin-walled peppers; thicker ones are harder to dry this way.
2. Drying Peppers in the Oven

What you'll need: Fresh peppers, an oven, a baking sheet, and baking paper.

Steps:

  1. Cut thicker peppers (like jalapeños) in half lengthwise. You can leave thinner ones (like cayenne or bird's eye chilies) whole.
  2. Spread the peppers in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with baking paper.
  3. Preheat your oven to its lowest setting (50-60 °C). Keep the oven door slightly open for ventilation.
  4. Check on them regularly. Drying can take anywhere from 6 to 12 hours, depending on how thick they are.

Tips

  • If your oven has a fan setting, use it!
  • Don't use higher temperatures, or they'll burn.
3. Drying in a Food Dehydrator

What you'll need: Fresh peppers and a food dehydrator.

Steps:

  1. If you have thicker peppers, you can cut them in half to speed things up.
  2. Arrange the peppers in a single layer on your dehydrator trays.
  3. Set your food dehydrator to 50-60 °C and let them dry for 8-12 hours.

Benefits

  • A food dehydrator gives you a steady temperature and airflow, so your peppers dry super evenly. This helps avoid the patchy drying you sometimes get with an oven. Plus, you can fine-tune the settings for different pepper types and how dry you want them.
  • Because of the consistent low temperature, your peppers keep their vibrant color and hold onto their natural flavor and nutrients much better than if you dried them in the oven.
  • Unlike an oven, there's no risk of burning your peppers when using a food dehydrator.
  • With continuous air circulation, there's less chance of moisture building up, which means no mold! This can be a real headache if you're air-drying in a humid spot.
  • A food dehydrator actually uses less energy than an oven running for hours. So, if you're drying peppers often, it's a greener choice!
  • Using a food dehydrator is awesome for drying peppers until they're super crispy and totally moisture-free. This really helps them last longer and keeps them from going bad!
Dried Naga Jolokia Westlandpeppers
Dried Chili Peppers Westlandpeppers

How can you tell if your peppers are dried just right?

Your dried peppers should be totally hard and brittle. If they bend or feel flexible, they're not dry enough yet and might get moldy.

So, what can you do with your awesome dried peppers?

  • Turn them into chili flakes or chili powder. Just grind them up to your preferred size and sprinkle them into your food.
  • They're a perfect base for your very own hot sauce. Just soak the peppers in warm water, then blend them up.
  • Whip up your own chili oil. Heat the peppers in oil and let all those amazing flavors soak in.

Storing your dried peppers.

It's best to keep your dried peppers in a sealed jar or an airtight container. Click here to check out our blog for more tips on how to store them perfectly.

You might also like to read

Westlandpeppers

Pickup Point

Monday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday from 8:00 to 12:00
Sunday Closed

Company Info

Address

Burg. Crezeelaan 44A
2678 KZ De Lier

Phone

+31(0)174-521876

Email

westlandpeppersinfo@gmail.com

Instagram Facebook Twitter Youtube Pinterest

© Westlandpeppers | Webshop by Buro Staal

Various peppers Westlandpeppers

Webshop closed on Fridays

Our webshop will be closed this coming Friday. Orders placed after 9:30 AM on Thursday, July 31st, will be processed and shipped again on Monday. Thanks for your understanding!