Tips for Freezing Bell Peppers

If you're like me, you love fresh bell peppers but sometimes can't use them all before they go bad. Well, have no fear! You can freeze green peppers to extend their shelf life. 

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Can I freeze green peppers raw?

If you find yourself with an abundance of green peppers, you may be wondering if you can freeze them raw. The answer is yes! Freezing green peppers is a great way to preserve them for use in future recipes. Frozen green peppers can be used in any recipe that calls for fresh green peppers.

Is it better to freeze peppers whole or sliced?

Both methods have their pros and cons. If you freeze peppers whole, they'll last longer in the freezer but will be a pain to thaw and slice when you're ready to use them. 

On the other hand, pre-sliced peppers are more convenient you just pop open the bag and pull out a handful of peppers for whatever dish.  However, sliced peppers won't last as long in the freezer and get freezer burn quicker.

Why shouldn't you freeze green peppers?

There are a few reasons you might not want to freeze peppers.  First, peppers contain a high percentage of water, and when this water freezes, it expands and breaks down the cell walls. This damages the peppers and can alter their flavor. This water is what can make them mushy.  Frozen peppers should only be used for cooking since they are too soft for putting in salads or eaten like a crisp, fresh pepper.

Additionally, freezing alters the chemical composition of peppers, causing them to lose some of their vitamin C content. But any kind of preserving or canning will cause foods to loose some of their nutritional value.

Do you have to blanch green peppers before freezing?

Blanching green peppers before freezing them is not strictly necessary, but it does have some advantages. Blanching helps to preserve the color and texture of the peppers, and it also stops the action of enzymes that can cause off-flavors. 

If you're short on time, you can just wash the peppers and pat them dry before putting them in the freezer. This is what I do.  

How to freeze green peppers

Materials Needed

• Green Peppers
• Knife
• Cutting Board
• Plastic quart freezer bags
• Pen

Step 1

Wash a dry peppers.  Turn pepper over so the bottom is upright.  Slice down each of the ridges in the pepper.

Step 2

Open up the pepper so it kind of looks like a blooming flower.  The seeds should be in the middle and easy to pull out.

Step 3

Separate the different sliced sections of the pepper.

 

Step 4

Either chop peppers into large chunks or julienne into thin strips.  

Step 5 

Place peppers in a labeled freezer bag and place in the freezer.

So there you have it, green pepper freezing 101. It’s really not as daunting as it may seem and with a little practice you will be able to stock your freezer full of these healthy, delicious peppers all winter long. 

What’s your favorite way to use frozen green peppers? Let us know in the comments below!