When it comes to different types of peppers, it is often difficult to know whether they need to be placed in the refrigerator. Being technically a fruit, can make this decision more tricky.
While the majority of fruits should be kept in the refrigerator, there are others that are better when they are not refrigerated. It is important to know which side of the fence peppers fall into.
All peppers, whether they are hot peppers, jalapeños, or bell peppers should be kept in the refrigerator. They are a perishable item, and if they are left out of cold for too long, they can quickly become bad, and unsuitable to eat.
By keeping them chilled, you are significantly prolonging their shelf life and ensuring that they do not become soggy, and remain fresh and crunchy.
If you are using the peppers in cooking and accidentally leave the pepper out on your kitchen counter, as long as it is put back into the refrigerator after a few hours it will still be okay to eat.
However, if you have left the peppers out overnight, it is always best to throw them away to be on the more cautious side. This is especially important if the pepper has been cut. Once a pepper has been cut, it will begin to dry out and become bad more quickly.
How Long Red Peppers Will Keep In The Refrigerator
All types of pepper are perishable. Given this, while the refrigerator will prolong their shelf life, over time, they will eventually go bad. As a result of this, it is useful to know how long this process takes.
The majority of peppers will be good to eat if they have been refrigerated for around one week. However, bell peppers are typically good to eat for up to two weeks. After this time it is likely that they have begun to go bad, and may potentially be moldy.
However, this is just a rough guide, sometimes they may last for longer or shorter amounts of time. The best way to tell is to always inspect the bell pepper thoroughly before eating to ensure that it is good.
Is Freezing Peppers Possible?
Yes. It is entirely possible to freeze bell peppers. If you are looking to significantly prolong their shelf life, this is the best option to choose. When frozen, peppers can last for up to 12 months, which is impressive.
When freezing you will want to ensure the peppers are whole and placed in an airtight container or bag. This will help them to keep as good as possible, and helps to prevent freezer burn. It is worth noting that while freezing is useful, it can change the overall texture of the peppers when they have been thawed.
After the 12 months, they should be disposed of if they have not yet been eaten. In addition to this, you will always want to ensure that you have thawed the peppers thoroughly before using them.
Summary
We hope that you have found this article insightful. As you can see, the best place to keep any type of pepper is always in the refrigerator. This will help to keep them as fresh and crisp as possible, and significantly prolongs their life span.
You want to avoid leaving out the peppers at room temperature for too long as this can affect their shelf life significantly. Alternatively, if you want to keep a small portion of peppers for later use, you can opt to freeze them. This is a useful thing to do.
