freezing chillies

[Snadger]

The tupperware carton I use for freezing is strangely in the shape of a carrier bag knotted at the top with a big Tesco sign on the side!

[annacruachan]

Like Alice I freeze them whole and scoop out the seeds. I have always believed that the seeds were the hottest part, in which case it would be too hot for me, but if I am wrong it would be good to know and save some time as well as hot fingers!

[HeyWayne]

Well, harvested the rest of my chillies from teh plants in the greenhouse thingy.

A mixture of Cayenne, Jalepeno, Twilight and Purple Tiger. Myriad of colours too.

Looks like I'm boxing and freezing them them. Was just going to dry them, but then realised quite a few are not yet ripe. Plus it's nice to have some green ones innit?

[nomad]

yep freezing is a good way to go i always grow way too many i had 20 different varieties this year but alot of my friends call round for some all through the year and i have just finished using last years i think i may have to get a freezer just for chillis. i do find that sometimes the seeds turn a funny colour but if it is going into a curry or chilli then it is not going to matter and no one will know!!!

[vegnut]

An interesting thread, i found it very useful. Thanks all

[HayleyB]

I've a few bags frozen, will probably take me a year to get through them all

[annacruachan]

I don't know if any of you watched economy gastronomy last week, but on the show they suggested freezing chillies whole by chucking them in a tupperware in the freezer, sounds too good to be true!! Has anyone tried this?

Works a treat, Lainey Lou; just chop them up and chuck them in whatever you're making. If you want the seeds out, that's easier to do when they're frozen too. They defrost very quickly. I have used them from frozen for both chilli jam and chutney and am still using last year's - no! the year before last's - freezer stored chillies. (Had a really heavy crop in 2008! )

[WrexTheDragon]

Just used 5 from frozen in a curry, they cut like a dream by the time I walk from the deep freezer to the kitchen. Cut the stalks off and throw them in the recycle bin. I slice the whole chilli and every one comments on how I get perfect circles of chilli (including seeds) in my dishes.

I tell them it's an old family secrete.

[DGoulston]

Hottest Part of a chilli

Like Alice I freeze them whole and scoop out the seeds. I have always believed that the seeds were the hottest part, in which case it would be too hot for me, but if I am wrong it would be good to know and save some time as well as hot fingers!

It is a general misconception that the seed is the hottest part, the seed only contains a small amount of capsaicin, the chemical that makes them spicy. most of it is in the inside of the skin, and the parts (membrane) that the seeds hold on to.

I will be hopefully freezing some of mine this year since reading this.
so thanks a lot all! I LOVEEEEEE CHILLI! lol.

Darren.

[Mizjazzi]

I have always just frozen mine,

I leave the stalk on so that it is easier to chop without getting the juice on my fingers.
I find that if you do a quick curry or chilli recipe it flavours quicker with frozen than dried.

Mizjazzi

[sewer rat]

I bag mine into batches of 20 and chuck them in the freezer as they come - no preparation required.

[nancyrowina]

I tend to dry mine and to use them just soak them in boiling water for a few minutes before chopping, will have to try freezing them whole if it works and when I have a working freezer again.

[VirginVegGrower]

My chillies are freezing - chilly they are

[Dynamite]

What a great thread. Didn’t know that you could freeze them so if I manage to actually get a decent crop, I will be doing this.

Kind Regards..........Rob

[Can the Man]

I have always frozen mine, actually ones I have bought as I have never grown them before but I hope to do so this year. I freeze them whole and put them in a ziplock bag and put them in the door of the freezer for easy access