Preserving chillies?

sarahmelita

I chopped up all my chilli's last year and put them in the freezer so they we there ready to pop into whatever I was cooking.

Miss_Behaving

Hi, I slice mine and then freeze them on a tray so I have chillis all year round.

Beduffshirl

Still using some of mine from two years ago - used all I could while the plant was still going fresh, then left them all to dry on the plant. Just stored them in a surplus pestle and mortar thing - no lid and still fantastic

diamondcatz

can anyone tell me if you can freeze whole chillies and if so how?

FTB83

Hi diamondcatz

My Mum grows chillis every year and freezes what she doesn't use. She normally just washes and dries them thoroughly, then pops them on a small tray spaced apart and pops them in the freezer. Once they're frozen, she pops them all into a bag and back in the freezer. Apparently it stops them all from sticking together and makes them easier to use when you just want one or two.

Hope this helps.

Don'tskipit

Hi diamondcatz,
I do the same as FTB83's mum. If you've grown your own, or bought fresh ones, you can also dry them.

Most varieties will eventually dry on the plant, or pick them when ripe and let them dry on a sunny windowsill - that's if we get any more sun! When thouroughly dry store in an airtight container.

Save some seeds to sow next spring. I'm a chilliholic!!

bltchef

i chop mine with or without seeds with a little oil and place in a jar or you could make this sweet chilli sauce 5oz sugar 10 floz water zest of 1 lime 4oz chillies seeded and finely chopped 6 fresh mint finely choped leaves boil sugar & water till dissolved.add lime zest and chillies remove from heat when cool before stiring in the mint leaves

bargainbetty

I know it's not freezing, but if you have loads, get a bottle of cheap olive oil, shred a few and then push them in to steep in the oil. Chilli oil, great on pasta, dipping bread, salads, anything really!

It gives vodka a really spicy kick too..... yum

Don'tskipit

bltchef wrote:

i chop mine with or without seeds with a little oil and place in a jar or you could make this sweet chilli sauce 5oz sugar 10 floz water zest of 1 lime 4oz chillies seeded and finely chopped 6 fresh mint finely choped leaves boil sugar & water till dissolved.add lime zest and chillies remove from heat when cool before stiring in the mint leaves

Thanks btlchef.
Think I'll try your recipe 'cos my plants have yielded loads this year. Will make a few changes though - have to leave seeds in, can't see the point of deseeding chillies, and must have garlic!
I always buy 'First World' Sweet Chilli Sauce (740ml for £1.30) - love it.
Looking at the 'ingredients' - sugar, water, chilli, garlic, vinegar,salt and a (nasty!) stabiliser.

Will experiment tomorrow

Anne_Marie_2

bargainbetty wrote:

I know it's not freezing, but if you have loads, get a bottle of cheap olive oil, shred a few and then push them in to steep in the oil. Chilli oil, great on pasta, dipping bread, salads, anything really!

It gives vodka a really spicy kick too..... yum

You add chilli oil to vodka?