keeping chillis

[littlebabybird]

which would be best to keep chillis
freezing or oven drying?

if it is oven drying what temp and for how long?

lbb

[littlebabybird]

[Tinkie_Bear]

Freezing gets my vote, sling them in a poly bag whole and just take out what you need.  I am still using last years!

Helen

[saddad]

I just string and hang mine... some do better than others. Ring of fire and Hot stuff (yellow) are still looking good. Jalapenos are now really shrivelled. Habanero didn't take to it...   :-\

[PurpleHeather]

I would vote to chop them up and freeze. Ice cube tray is as good as anything so that they are 'portioned' other wise they can end up all stuck together and one thing I do not want is too big a portion of chilli.

[littlebabybird]

thank you, i wasnt sure they would hold up to freezing
the ones i air dried last year went kind of grey :(
lbb

[saddad]

That's a good description of what happened to the Habanero!  :-[

[1066]

I always freeze loads of chillies and find the best way is to chop the tops off (the bit with the stalk) but you can just sling em in whole

the ones i air dried last year went kind of grey :(
lbb

And there was I thinking about stringing some up to dry, as dried chillies have quite a different flavour - but that doesn't sound so appealing?!

1066

[littlebabybird]

I always freeze loads of chillies and find the best way is to chop the tops off (the bit with the stalk) but you can just sling em in whole

the ones i air dried last year went kind of grey :(
lbb

And there was I thinking about stringing some up to dry, as dried chillies have quite a different flavour - but that doesn't sound so appealing?!

yes that was what i wanted to do but grey just doesnt look that attractive
i am saving up for a dryer bit in the mean time i will have to freeze them
unless someone can tell me a temp and time for oven drying or
does anyone know how to stop the grey

lbb

1066

[1066]

Can't remember who it was but someone on here mentioned how we do "eat with our eyes" - so true. And I'd never heard of a dryer!
Hope you get the info you are after  :)

1066

[delboy]

Ay caramba!

Mine from 2 years ago - dried - are still going "strong".

And from the seeds of some I have around 20 plants doing well in pots and also in the ground outside.

I will try freezing some as well

[1066]

I remember when on holiday in India I used to see chillies drying by the side of the road or in courtyards or on roof tops - just drying in the sun. I guess we need a bit more heat in the day to achieve the same?!

1066

[Duke Ellington]

I put mine on a tray in the freezer to freeze  then put them in a poly box. :)

Duke

[twinkletoes]

mmmm probably not the conventional route but I left some in a box last year and they just dried naturally - crushed them and put them in an air-tight container and lasted me ages.
twinkletoes