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Author Topic: help with freezing/drying chillies please  (read 18,232 times)

AI Summary
The discussion revolves around various methods for preserving excess chillies, with participants suggesting freezing, drying, and pickling as viable options. Freezing is popular, with some users noting that while chillies may become limp, they retain their flavor and can be used directly from the freezer. Others recommend drying chillies using an oven or a food dehydrator, with several participants sharing their successful experiences and tips for both methods. Overall, the community agrees that freezing and drying are effective ways to store chillies for future use.

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Offline merlin11

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help with freezing/drying chillies please
« on: August 22, 2008, 09:32 AM »
would anyone know the best weay to keep my chillies ?. the plant is fully laden and i cant use them all. i have given some away of course but i hate to think of them going bad because i cant keep up . im sure there must be a way to store them for future use. any help would be appreciated. thank you. :)
merlin
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Offline SnS

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Re: help with freezing/drying chillies please
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2008, 04:46 PM »
Quote from: merlin11 on August 22, 2008, 09:32 AM
would anyone know the best weay to keep my chillies ?. the plant is fully laden and i cant use them all. i have given some away of course but i hate to think of them going bad because i cant keep up . im sure there must be a way to store them for future use. any help would be appreciated. thank you. :)
merlin

Hi Merlin

Pickle your chiles in cider vinegar. Make slits lengthwise down each chile and stuff into clean sterilised jar. Stand overnight in vinegar to get rid of air. Expel all air in the jar by topping up with vinegar, seal and store jars upside down. Should keep for months.

or

Slice chiles in half lengthwise, and dry in airing cupboard on wire rack. When dry, blend in liquidiser to make your own chile powder. WARNING - If blending hot chiles (habeneros etc ..) make sure you have your doors and windows open and lots of ventilation!

or

For cooking - freeze them. They will go mushy when defrosted but still maintain the original flavour and hotness.

or

Use chiles to make relish or pickles. If done correctly using sterilised equipment, will last for many months. Store jars upside down.

SnS  :)
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Offline merlin11

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Re: help with freezing/drying chillies please
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2008, 03:24 PM »
thank you SnS
i will  freeze some and also try to dry some. with the windows open of course .lol

merlin
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Offline Ghoulie

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Re: help with freezing/drying chillies please
« Reply #3 on: October 27, 2010, 05:24 PM »
dried mine for 6 hours in fan assisted oven @ 50?C
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Offline commis

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Re: help with freezing/drying chillies please
« Reply #4 on: October 27, 2010, 07:17 PM »
Hi
Did you wash them first to remove any wild yeast ect. Or straight into the oven?
Regards
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Offline Bobby Bhuna

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Re: help with freezing/drying chillies please
« Reply #5 on: October 27, 2010, 07:54 PM »
Quote from: SnS on September 29, 2008, 04:46 PM
For cooking - freeze them. They will go mushy when defrosted but still maintain the original flavour and hotness.

I don't find they go mushy at all! Limp perhaps, but never mushy. I always freeze mine. I use them whole in North Indian Chilli / garlic chicken and jalfrezi - seem to work almost as well as fresh.
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Offline Secret Santa

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Re: help with freezing/drying chillies please
« Reply #6 on: October 27, 2010, 09:49 PM »
Quote from: Bobby Bhuna on October 27, 2010, 07:54 PM
Quote from: SnS on September 29, 2008, 04:46 PM
For cooking - freeze them. They will go mushy when defrosted but still maintain the original flavour and hotness.

I don't find they go mushy at all! Limp perhaps, but never mushy. I always freeze mine. I use them whole in North Indian Chilli / garlic chicken and jalfrezi - seem to work almost as well as fresh.

I never have that problem either but then I never let them fully defrost. It's a quick rinse under the cold tap and then straight into the curry.
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Offline Ghoulie

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Re: help with freezing/drying chillies please
« Reply #7 on: October 28, 2010, 06:01 PM »
commis - yep - washed 'em 1st - then into oven - a site i looked at said 5 hours - but some of the 'fatter' ones were still needing a bit more drying - so did it for 6 hours and all ok.

tasted brilliantly when used to gee up a tikka massalla sauce ex M&S for a chicken dish

- even the missus had to concede it tasted ok
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Offline Bobby Bhuna

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Re: help with freezing/drying chillies please
« Reply #8 on: October 28, 2010, 10:52 PM »
Quote from: Secret Santa on October 27, 2010, 09:49 PM
I never have that problem either but then I never let them fully defrost. It's a quick rinse under the cold tap and then straight into the curry.

Same! I chop the base off whilst frozen then twirl them in my fingers under a cold tap to remove the seeds.
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Offline JivyJ

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Re: help with freezing/drying chillies please
« Reply #9 on: October 29, 2010, 06:24 PM »
I finely chop my chillies and put them into a small plastic container and freeze them, so that  when i am making a dish all you need to do is use a knife and scrape out the amount you need for the dish and put the container back in the freezer.
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