Dehydrating jalapeno peppers is an excellent way to preserve them so they can be used for months. They dry into crunchy or leathery slices that are perfect for adding spice and flavor to any dish. This post will teach you how to dehydrate jalapenos in your kitchen!
What Are Jalapeno Peppers and What Do They Taste Like
Jalapeno peppers are a kind of chili pepper that comes from Mexico. They belong to the nightshade family and can be found green or red when ripe (although red jalapenos tend to have more heat). Jalapeño peppers rank between 2,500-8,000 on the Scoville Heat Unit scale.
Jalapeno pepper is a widespread ingredient in my cooking. It tastes like serrano peppers but with less heat and has a bright vegetable flavor.
What You Need
- Dehydrator
- Knife
- Chopping board
How to Dehydrate Jalapeno Peppers
Now you are ready to dehydrate your jalapeno peppers!
Select The Right Peppers.
The first thing to do is make sure to pick the ripe peppers. You can tell by looking for a deep, vibrant color and make sure they don’t have any mold, holes, and rot; if they do, make sure to throw them away.
Wash The Peppers
Wash the jalapenos with cool water and pat them dry carefully before cutting. It is essential to do this process thoroughly because any bacteria on the outside of this pepper could get into your dehydrator and cause contamination.
You should make sure the peppers are dehydrated. The reason for this is that you don’t want to make your dehydrator work extra hard drying out droplets of moisture on each pepper slice!
Slice Them Up
Hold your breath and chop the pepper! Namely, remove the stem of each jalapeno. Then choose if you want them cut into circles or saucers-we recommend cutting them in 1/4 inch rounds for snacking on (or any other time). This size is perfect for adding onto sandwiches because they have lots more surface area than thick slices would provide.
Tip: If you want to grind your dehydrated jalapenos into powder, the seeds must be removed.
Lay Out On Dehydrator Trays.
Arrange the jalapeno pepper slices on dehydrator trays as evenly as possible.
Ensure the slices don’t stick together during drying, make sure there is room between them, and never overlap pepper slices when placing on trays for dehydration.
Adjust The Temperature
The best way to dry peppers is by setting them at 125°F. This provides just enough heat to speed up the drying process without cooking the pepper, giving you more of its authentic flavor.
Dehydrate For Six To Twelve hours
This will depend on your preferred thickness, and dehydration times can vary greatly; just be sure to monitor them closely so they don’t burn or overcook while preserving all their delicious flavors as best as possible.
Tip: To make the peppers into powder, you should continue dehydrating them until it becomes brittle and stiff.
How to Store Your Dehydrated Jalapeno Peppers
- In a sealed jar or airtight container
- Store in the freezer
Safety Tip: To prevent spoiling, peppers must be dehydrated enough. If you observe condensation in the storage container, your peppers are not dehydrated to a safe level.
Recipes for Using Jalapeno Peppers
Dehydrated jalapenos are the best addition to any of your favorite recipes. You can add them in Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix, Crockpot Refried Beans, or even Homemade Chili Powder and create a spicier flavor that you will love!
The Health Benefits of Jalapenos
Jalapenos are low in calories and full of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. This means that they’re a superfood!
- Vitamin C:
- Vitamin B6:
- Vitamin A:
- Vitamin K:
- Folate:
- Manganese:
Remember, when dehydrating jalapeno peppers, they lose some of these nutrients because the drying process removes water.
Conclusion:
You can dehydrate jalapeno peppers as a way to preserve them, so they don’t spoil quickly! It’s easy, and all you need is some time, your dehydrator machine, and of course, a little bit of patience while it dries.
I really hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article and have learned how to dry jalapenos at home.
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