If you are a lover of spicy foods, it is likely that you have consumed a hefty variety of peppers. It is easy to distinguish the difference between some peppers more than others. However, there are certain types such as serrano peppers and Jalapeno peppers which are a little more difficult to identify because they look fairly similar.
You may have several questions regarding the differences between these peppers, for example, the origins of each species, their hotness, and whether they can be substituted for one another. We have compiled a guide for you below where we have identified several differences between serrano and jalapeno peppers.
Species and origin
Serrano peppers and jalapenos are a species of the Capsicum annuum. They are both grown in Mexico, although serranos originated in the regions of Puebla and Hidalgo, whilst jalapenos come from Jalapa. As these peppers are members of the same species, they are related but they are not exactly the same.
Taste and flavor
Fresh serrano peppers have a rather vegetal taste, however, when roasted, they have a richer and smokier flavor and a lot of heat. Jalapenos taste very similar, except they don’t have as much heat. Just like serrano peppers, jalapenos have a bright, vegetal flavor when fresh and a rich and smokey flavor when roasted.
The thickness of the skin and the flesh
There is a noticeable difference in the thickness of the skin and flesh of serrano peppers and jalapeno peppers. The skin and flesh of serrano peppers are thinner than that of jalapeno peppers and they also contain more seeds. This skin has a firm feel and is solid in color. Depending on what you intend to use the peppers for, when it comes to cooking, serrano peppers may be the preferred choice.
The spiciness
The Scoville scale is a measurement that is used to determine the pungency or spiciness of chili peppers. Serrano peppers are hot, in fact, they are five times hotter than jalapenos. They have a rating of 10,000 to 23,000 on the Scoville scale whilst jalapenos have a rating of 2,500 to 8,000 on the Scoville scale.
As such, when you bite into a serrano pepper you are likely to notice that they have a more intense spicy taste. Because serrano peppers are spicier, this also means that you don’t have to use as many because a few of these peppers will deliver the same amount of heat as some jalapeno peppers.
The size
Although at an initial glance you may think that serrano peppers and jalapenos look virtually the same, a key difference can be identified in the size of each pepper. In terms of length, serrano peppers are just as long as jalapenos but they aren’t as thick.
As a medium-sized pepper, jalapenos are easier to stuff with different ingredients, however, serrano peppers are the best option for recipes that call for the use of finely chopped peppers.
The Appearance
As touched upon previously, serrano peppers and jalapeno peppers look fairly similar. Jalapenos are typically eaten when they are green, however, they turn red, orange, or yellow when they ripen.
Serrano peppers also tend to be green when they are unripe and various shades from red to yellow when they are ripe. Whilst jalapeno peppers are quite rounded, serrano peppers are straighter with only a slight curve at the bottom.
Are serrano peppers hotter than jalapenos?
If you have never tried serranos or jalapenos before, you may be wondering which one is the hottest. This is important to know before adding them to a recipe because you may find that the heat of one of these peppers overpowers the dish and the flavors of the other ingredients.
Serrano peppers are hotter than jalapenos. Their rating on the Scoville scale very much exceeds the rating of jalapeno peppers. If you are rustling up salsa or chili of some kind, the kick of heat that is provided by these peppers will likely make them the preferred option. Jalapenos, on the other hand, work well in dishes where you need a little bit of heat but not too much.
Is it possible to substitute jalapenos for serranos?
There may be instances where you have gone to tackle a recipe that calls for either one of these peppers. If you don’t have any on hand but you have the other type readily available, you may be wondering whether they can be substituted for one another.
It is possible to substitute jalapenos for serranos and serranos for jalapenos. In fact, jalapenos are believed to be one the best substitutes for serrano peppers. It is important to note the difference in the spiciness of the peppers.
If you are going to be using jalapenos as a replacement for serranos you will likely need to add it to your dish in higher quantities so that the taste and spiciness is a closer replica to that of serrano peppers.
You will also need to consider what you intend to use the peppers for to determine whether either one of these peppers is an appropriate substitute for the other. As mentioned, serrano peppers are a lot thinner than jalapeno peppers. For this reason, you will likely struggle when attempting to stuff these peppers.
What are the differences between serrano and habanero peppers?
Habaneros are another popular pepper variety. Unlike serrano peppers, habanero peppers are shorter and rounder. The skin of these peppers also tends to have a wrinkly feel. There is also a difference in the taste of each of these peppers.
Whilst serrano peppers have a crisp and bright taste, habanero peppers have a more tropical taste that is much more fruity. Furthermore, there is also a noticeable difference in the heat and spiciness of serrano and habanero peppers.
Whilst the former is spicy, the latter is significantly hotter. Because of this, using each of these peppers interchangeably is not recommended as the taste and heat are very different.
Should I grow serranos or jalapenos?
Now that you are aware of the difference between serrano peppers and jalapenos, you may be wondering which type you should grow.
In short, the answer depends on your preference. If you enjoy milder peppers or you want peppers that can be stuffed, jalapeno peppers are going to be the best option for you. If you like the taste of jalapenos but you want something that has a bit more of a kick which adds more heat to your dishes, growing serrano peppers is recommended.
Serrano peppers require at least 6 hours of exposure to the sun daily. The plant will also produce more of these peppers and because they are smaller you aren’t likely to use as many so those on your plant will last longer.
Jalapeno peppers will also thrive when they are exposed to sunlight. You can also get different colored jalapenos. The color will depend on the jalapeno's ripeness when it is picked.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, serranos and jalapenos share few similarities, however, they are different in many ways too. Both are great additions to recipes as they practically taste the same. Whilst jalapenos are milder, serrano peppers are spicier. You can grow both types yourself so long as you provide them with the care and maintenance that they require.
