Dehydrate Sweet Peppers

Dehydrate sweet peppers in a multitude of ways to save for the whole year! Do whole, diced, rings, julienne, and more - including oven directions!

Sweet peppers are so fanastic, aren't they? And unlike bell peppers, you can actually dehydrate many sweet peppers whole! They look fantastic in a jar for Christmas gifts, or to be smoked for later use as a sweet smoked 'paprika' substitute.

So are you ready to learn how to dehydrate sweet peppers?

How to Dehydrate Sweet Peppers

Quick directions: Prepare as desired, dry at 125°F/52°C for up to 12 hours in most cases.

Directions:

1. Wash and destem peppers
2. Prepare as desired
3. Place on dehydrator trays
4. Dry at 125°F / 52°C for anywhere from 8-72 hours, depending on how you prepared the peppers.
5. Dryness check: leathery, brittle, hard, pings when you drop it on a countertop and hollow
6. Condition - this allows for even moisture distribution of the naturally occurring moisture of dried foods (usually less than 10-12%) and helps prevent molding during storage.
7. Store dried sweet peppers in an airtight container for a year+

Tips for Drying Whole Sweet Peppers

• Be sure to use a fork, a knife tip, or another implement to puncture the pepper completely through the skin. Use small slits all over for the most efficient dehydrating
• You can also slice off the stem end to have an open-top pepper
• Removing seeds isn't necessary as they will come out easily and are not hot as hot pepper seeds are
• Removing the rib membrane is usually not necessary.
• If you have larger, thicker-walled peppers, it would be best to cut them down to dry most efficiently.
• Be prepared for them to take up to three or four days to dry.

To use: Smoke them dried, then grind for a sweet, smokey, paprika-like powder for seasonings. You can also grind unsmoked if you'd like.

Tips for Drying Sliced Sweet Peppers

• Use a sharp knife to cut rings from the pepper in approximately ¼" (6 mm) slices. Mandolines will work, but my experience has found that knives are better suited for them since they are not firm.
• Parchment paper can be helpful if you are very worried about your mesh sheets being stained
• Expect anywhere from 6-12 hours for drying time.

To use: Use them in salads or on pizza for a pretty

Tips for Drying Diced Sweet Peppers

• Use a vegetable chopper, food processor, or knife to dice sweet peppers.
• Allow them to drain in a colander for a time before placing on to fruit leather sheets or parchment paper as they can stain mesh on dehydrator trays.
• Small dices and shreds will shrink up enough to fall through larger grated dehydrator trays, so use something to help to stop falling. Or use a good mat on the bottom and just collect them.
• Expect anywhere from 6-10 hours of drying time, depending on the size of the pieces.

Oven Directions:

1. Follow preparation instructions above
2. Set your oven to its lowest temperature
3. Place your prepared sweet peppers onto parchment-covered cooking racks. This is better than straight onto cookie sheets as there is less 'hot' surface area to burn pepper pieces. You can use a cookie sheet under it if you'd like.
4. Use a burn-proof silicone glove, wooden spoon, or another implement to let the door stay cracked open and allow moisture to escape for the most efficient drying.
5. Can take anywhere from 4-8 hours for smaller pieces to a day or two for whole peppers. Watch pieces carefully so that they do not burn.
6. Condition
7. Store

How to Rehydrate Dried Sweet Peppers

When sweet peppers are dehydrated, they are still in their raw form. So when you rehydrate, even with hot water, the peppers are still raw. The hot water just helps open up cells to accept water more efficiently than if cold.

Soak the peppers in hot water for about 20-30 minutes. Then add it to your dish - but remember to give them plenty of time to cook in the dish, as well.

Soak in cold water overnight in the fridge. Cover the peppers completely + some to make sure there is enough for them to fully absorb.

Learn more about rehydrating dehydrated foods with these tips.

How to Dehydrate Sweet Peppers

Dehydrate sweet peppers in whole, sliced and diced formats to save for the whole year!

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Author: Darcy Baldwin

Equipment

• ▢
  Dehydrator
• ▢
  Knife
• ▢
  Vegetable Chopper

Ingredients

• ▢ Sweet Peppers

Instructions

• Wash and de-stem peppers
• Prepare as desired
• Place on dehydrator trays
• Dry at 125°F / 52°C for anywhere from 8-72 hours, depending on how you prepared the peppers.
• Dryness check: leathery, brittle, hard, pings when you drop it on a countertop and hollow
• Condition - this allows for even moisture distribution of the naturally occurring moisture of dried foods (usually less than 10-12%) and helps prevent molding during storage.
• Store dried sweet peppers in an airtight container for a year+

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Notes

Oven Directions:

1. Follow preparation instructions above
2. Set your oven to its lowest temperature
3. Place your prepared sweet peppers onto parchment-covered cooking racks. This is better than straight onto cookie sheets as there is less 'hot' surface area to burn pepper pieces. You can use a cookie sheet under it if you'd like.
4. Use a burn-proof silicone glove, wooden spoon, or another implement to let the door stay cracked open and allow moisture to escape for the most efficient drying.
5. Can take anywhere from 4-8 hours for smaller pieces to a day or two for whole peppers. Watch pieces carefully so that they do not burn.
6. Condition
7. Store

Nutritional information is an estimation only.

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