Drying chillies

MKS

Can anyone tell me how to dry chillies in the oven - temp/time? Accoudring to Monty D, it's 10 minutes. I tried that and they were not completely dry, so left for a further 10 minutes. A couple of days after I had put them in an airtight storage jar, some went mouldy! Help please as I don't want to have to throw away the next lot!

Sally_A

Try stringing them up, rather than storing in a jar.

parsonswife8

I can't help you there, but I freeze mine. No wastage whatsoever.:)

abbecer

I just chuck mine in a freezer bag and freeze them as already mentioned.

MKS

Thanks to all above. When you say 'freeze them', is that as you have picked them or do you take the seeds out? Do you use them direct from the freezer? Sorry for all the questions but it's the first time that we have grown chillies and are surprised at the amount that a couple of 10p B&Q rejects have produced!

Sambucus_Nigra

I used to dry them, but now I make loads of Nigella's chilli Jam, and use it instead of chopping a chilli, and it lasts absolutely ages for the same amount of chillis.

Sazbo

I just spread mine out in a single layer on a sheet of newspaper, brown paper, or whatever kind of paper I have to hand and leave them to dry gradually that way. Not as quick as the oven of course, but more MSE Thing is to let them dry completely somewhere moisture-free, or they will be prone to mildew.

Saz

kazschow

I don't dry mine I put them in olive oil with some garlic and helps, double bonus, the chillies last for ages and I get yummy spicy oil

Farway

MKS wrote: »

Thanks to all above. When you say 'freeze them', is that as you have picked them or do you take the seeds out? Do you use them direct from the freezer?

I just wash & open freeze whole, then bag up once frozen

When you want to use them, take the ones you want out of freezer, leave for say 20 minutes to partly defrost, then remove seeds etc, whilst still partly frozen [it is easier] if you wish, or just chop & bung in, depends entirely on your taste & preferences, and of course the "heat" of the chillies, the seeds are normally "hotter"

Sally_A

For freezing, they just get a quick wipe and chucked in a pot in the freezer.

To defrost, just rub them in your palms a few times, they are then sodft enough to chop. They do lose their colour though, the purple ones revert to a mucky green - but still great for chopping and adding to mince dishes etc.

Sambucus_Nigra

kazschow wrote: »

I don't dry mine I put them in olive oil with some garlic and helps, double bonus, the chillies last for ages and I get yummy spicy oil

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