Entonces, we've all been there.  Caliente!  You've gotten a bumper crop of chiles, and while they are muy sabrosos, ya probably can't eat them all at once.  So how can we store these babies to help them last as long as possible?

 

Short-term:

 

-Last about a week after picking

-Clean them, wipe off all excess moisture

-Store in refrigerator in paper napkins to prevent growth of mold

-2 weeks are generally the max these peppers will last in the refrigerator

-Do not place them in plastic bags without the paper napkins (can cause mold growth)

-Check them regularly for molding

 

Long-term:

 

-Place pods in plastic bags, then freeze them immediately until you are ready to use them

-You can also store chiles in oil but this method is a little tricker (the oil can sometimes turn rancid, and then there go your chiles…)

 

T. Valencia

tvalencia@hispanic.com

 

info compiled  from wikipedia.com, fiery-foods.com, recipetips.com