How Long Do Peppers Last?

Most people enjoy fresh vegetables, but have you ever wondered how long fresh vegetables can last?

In this article we will deal with peppers. Fresh peppers have a great clean flavor and a crisp texture and most people like them. But, how we can keep them fresh for a long time? We will tell you something about this vegetable that you maybe didn’t know about.

Also, we will tell you what is the shelf life of peppers and how you should store them in order to extend their shelf life. Read along and you will find out.

More about Peppers

Peppers are also known as capsicum and they belong to a genus of flowering plants in the family Solanaceae. Peppers are native to America where they have been cultivated for thousand of years and today they are grown all over the world. Peppers can be eaten raw or cooked. Because of their high nutritional content, peppers can be eaten raw as a snack.

Peppers are often prepared with fillings such as meat, cheese or rice. Also, you can use them chopped in salads or you can add them to many dishes. Peppers not only add flavor, but they also add color to your food. There are green, red, yellow, chili and other types of peppers.

Peppers are rich in vitamin C and other nutrients and they have many health benefits for people.

What Is the Shelf Life of Peppers?

The shelf life of peppers depends mostly on the way of their storage. Like other fresh vegetables, peppers usually don’t have a best before date, use by date or a sell by date, so you have to take in consideration the date when you have purchased the peppers. It is always best to choose firm peppers.

It is good to know that green peppers will stay fresh longer than red or orange peppers. Green peppers usually last one or two weeks when they are stored in plastic bags, while red and yellow peppers can last four or five days only.

How To Store Peppers Properly?

Proper storage is one of the most important factors when we talk about the shelf life of peppers. You should keep your peppers dry because the moisture will probably cause peppers to rot. The way of storage depends on whether peppers are whole or cut. Whole peppers should be stored in the fridge, in order to extend their shelf life. When you cut a pepper you should seal it in a plastic bag and use within a couple of days. The best way to extend the shelf life of peppers is to freeze them.

Actually, it is recommended to chop peppers first, to place them on a cookie tray and to freeze the tray. After that you should transfer the peppers into the freezer safe bags.

Another way to freeze peppers is to roast them first and to toss with a little olive oil or garlic. Then you can put peppers in airtight containers in the freezer.  You should know that peppers will develop ice crystals so it is best to eat them as soon as possible. Defrosted peppers are fine for cooking, but they are not recommended for eaten raw.

How To Tell If Peppers Have Gone Bad?

You will notice that the peppers are getting old if they become softer or if you notice wrinkles on them. You can still use these peppers for cooking, but it is not good to eat them raw. If the peppers have gone bad they will become soft and slimy and the mold will start to grow on them. If you see mold on your peppers you should discard them immediately.

But, you should know that peppers might change in color but it doesn’t necessarily mean they have gone bad.

Summary

We hope this article was useful and interesting for you. Now you know that peppers usually last a couple of days, depending on how they are stored and which type of peppers you have purchased.

Peppers should be stored in a dry, dark and cool place. It is best to store them in the fridge or in the freezer to extend their shelf life.

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