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Learn all the tips and tricks for freezing peppers to save a ton of time and money. Learning how to freeze peppers (diced, sliced, rings, and whole) is a great way to preserve this delicious staple of so many recipes. A freezer stash of frozen peppers opens the door to amazing and speedy meals.
Frozen peppers are so versatile, but I get it…you don’t have time for a complicated preservation method.
So, instead of anything time-consuming, we’re preserving this crop in the freezer. No canning, nothing fancy, and no special equipment. Get ready for EASY!
Out of freezer space? Check out our post on Drying Peppers.
Can You Freeze Peppers?
Yes, you can! They’re not going to be as crispy as a fresh pepper, but they’re incredible in baked dishes like our fajita casserole.
Flash freezing, or the act of freezing food individually, allows the food to be stored without clumping together. In this instance, we’re going to put the peppers on a rimmed baking sheet and freeze them for 2 hours. Easy peasy!
How to Store Frozen Peppers
Once frozen, you can transfer the peppers to freezer storage (we love these reusable silicone bags) and scoop out whatever amount you need without having to hack away at a hunk of peppers. Other options include:
- Freezer-safe Ziploc plastic bags
- Wide-mouth canning jars:
- 8 oz jam jars = 1 cup peppers
- 16 oz pint jars = 2 cups peppers
- 32 oz quart jars = 4 cups peppers
- Freezer-safe reusable snap-tight containers
- Souper Cubes for premeasured portions of frozen peppers.
storage
Your peppers will last for 6-12 months in the freezer. If you have a deep freeze, storing them in there would be most effective and they will last longer than in a fridge/freezer combo.
How to use frozen peppers
They work great in things like Air Fryer French Bread Pizza, Make-Ahead Scrambled Eggs, Paleo Salmon Cakes, Sweet Chili Sauce Meatballs, and Jalapeño Popper Wontons.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes For Freezing Peppers
- If you are processing hot peppers or a big batch, it is worth it to wear gloves to protect your hands and eyes. As someone who wears contacts, I always remove them and wear my glasses when working with peppers.
- If you’re cutting a lot of peppers, I highly recommend pulsing them in a food processor to save time.
- It is best to leave spicy peppers whole when freezing.
MORE “HOW TO” POSTS YOU’LL LOVE
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Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or a silpat.
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Wash and pat the peppers dry.
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Chop, slice, or prep the peppers to your preference.
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Place peppers on the baking sheet and position them so they aren’t too clumped up, and place the tray in the freezer. Freeze for 3 hours.
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Break apart any clumps that have formed on the baking sheet and transfer peppers to freezer-proof storage.
- If you have a lot to freeze at once, lay another piece of parchment on top of the peppers and top with an additional layer.
- If you are processing hot peppers or a big batch, it is worth it to wear gloves to protect your hands and eyes. As someone who wears contacts, I always remove them and wear my glasses when working with peppers.
- It is best to leave spicy peppers whole when freezing.
- Frozen peppers will last in a conventional freezer for six months or a deep freezer for a year.
- To freeze whole peppers: cut off top, scoop out seeds, and freeze the pepper and top separately. Store together once frozen.
