If you grow Habaneros yourself, you will be able to harvest plenty of pods in a good summer. But this chili is so hot that it can only be enjoyed in small quantities. What to do with the remaining fruit? We know a few ways you can preserve them.
How can you preserve Habaneros?
There are three methods available to preserve habaneros: soaking them in vinegar and oil, drying them in a dehydrator or oven, and freezing them. Each method preserves the heat and flavor of the chilies, while the consistency and texture may vary.
Preservation methods
After harvesting, chili peppers only stay fresh for a few days in the refrigerator. If it is foreseeable that you will not be able to use them in time when cooking, it is worth preserving them for later using one of these three methods:
- Insert
- Drying
- Freezing
Insert
There are many recipes for pickled chilies to be found on the Internet. Most of them are vinegar and oil based. Browse the net. Maybe you'll discover a recipe that appeals to you. When pickled, the habaneros lose their crunch, but they still remain delicious. If the pods are pickled together with other vegetables, you should know that over time all the ingredients will take on the spiciness of the habaneros.
Drying
All Habanero varieties have thick flesh. That's why air drying is not recommended in this country. The pods can be dried in a dehydrator or in the oven.
- First pick the chili peppers. Only perfect specimens should be dried.
- Clean the chilies thoroughly under water.
- Remove stems and core.
- Halve the pods or cut them into narrow strips.
- Dry them in the dehydrator according to the device instructions.
- Alternatively, dry the pods in the oven at 75 °C. The process should be complete after about 8 hours.
Tip
Let the dried habaneros cool completely. Only then collect them in an airtight container.
Freezing
Habaneros can be preserved in the freezer in minutes. They retain their spiciness and fruity taste even after thawing. The consistency, on the other hand, can be described as mushy. If they are added to cooking dishes later, it won't be a problem.
- Cleaning Habaneros
- blanch for a minute
- freeze after cooling
Frozen habaneros will last for at least a year in the icy cold of the chest.
