Any adive on how to freeze chillies? Can I just pick them and pop them whole into a freezer bag? And how long will they keep for?
Thanks :)
I do just that and have no problems.
However, rather that putting them in a bag, I use a plastic container, eg ice cream carton, as this makes using them later a little bit easier. Also you can add more crop just by throwing them in.
Your question made me titter as I stupidly decided to freeze my glut of chillies but thought I'd top, tail and deseed them first before blanching and putting in freezer bags. What I didn't realise was that chillies give off this noxious kind of gas which makes you choke to death when you start messing with them. It was just like I was being gassed. My eyes were running, I was choking and coughing when all I needed to do was bung them in a freezer bag or Tupperware box etc. I never mess with chillies any more ;D
I have just taken two chillis out of the freezer to put in the soup I was making. They are perfect and can be cut up frozen (making them easier to handle) All I do is what you suggest, although I too will use a rigid container if one is available and will fit in the freezer (I need a new freezer!) Chillis must be one of the eaisiest things to freeze.
Thanks for that everyone - and hope it didn't sting too much Wardy :(
So, next question(s)Â :D
Once I start harvesting, should the little chillies that seem to have 'stopped' start bulking up, and would it be worth leaving some on to see if they go red (they're Hot and Spicy). Plus, will I get more flowers, or have I had my lot? Not that I'm complaining as they've been very easy to grow and have produced quite a few chillies so far.
If this is any help - I store chillis in mild olive oil. It flavours the oil, so you can use the oil and the chillis.
To prepare, I fill a bowl (washing up size) with water, put in the chilies, cut into slices (rings) under water, whizz them about a bit to remove seeds, drain in a colander, pour a kettle of boilg water over to blanch, drain, tip onto clean tea towel to dry, put into jar, cover with olive oil.
Simple and they keep for at least eighteen months.
A good easy way to preserve them is to mince them up, out them in a jar and cover with decent quality vinegar. They keep indefinitely in the fridge as long as there's enough vinegar to cover the chili. If you want strong chili oil, heat your olive oil and drop a quantity of dried chilis into it. You can add black peppers and other spices to make it more interesting.
I still have a Tupperware box in the freezer with about 50 chillies grown 4 years ago. I use them occasionally, and they are just as good as ever. As mentioned earlier, they are really easy to cut frozen.
My mother in law does something else with surplus chillies, she puts them in the blender then cooks the lot to reduce and sterilise. It then goes in small tubs/jam jars etc and into the freezer. What you have is chili paste for use in soup, casseroles etc.
3 excellent alternatives - I might have to grow more chillies next year!
I freeze, dry and hang, make chilli sauce and last year I made hot chilli jelly using the late chillis and the first load of windfalls from my allotment apple trees. A spoonfull of that in your dinner certainly warms the cockles!
My chilli plants, once they have started to flower, continue to flower indefinately. In fact, my yellow aji chilli was still in flower at Christmas time! I fine once they start to ripen they don't really get much bigger than they are, and size really can differ, even on the same plant. I have one called yellow dutch and the majority of the chillis are about 3 inches long, and thin, but I have picked a couple that top 6 inches! :o
Chilli jelly? sounds good but explain...
Here you are, recipe on the Recipes4all site.
http://www.recipes4all.co.uk/index.php/topic,216.0.html
Hot enough to blow your sox off, but great to add to a chilli, or spagbol, or smear a little (once softened) over chops.....
Are chillies like beans, the more you pick - the more they grow? Or do I leave them all on the plant and harvest a big massive crop at the end.
Any help is, as always, greatly appreciated.