hot crop,hot hands

[OllieMartin]

Reb, it's because the chemical that is actually responsible for the heat in Chillies, Capsaicin, is not soluble in water. Something fatty will do the trick though, like milk, ice cream. yoghurt or even peanut butter.

I believe that's because capsaicin is an oil, correct?
I wonder if that would mean drinking oil would help wash it down. Sounds disgusting, but if you get the really really posh oils, they're quite pleasant. Like the guy who introduced them to Dragon's Den.

[HotStuff]

I believe that's because capsaicin is an oil, correct?
I wonder if that would mean drinking oil would help wash it down. Sounds disgusting, but if you get the really really posh oils, they're quite pleasant. Like the guy who introduced them to Dragon's Den.

You can get Capsaicin oil, but pure Capsaicin is crystalline. Pure Capsaicin is rated around 16 million on the Scoville scale, so should be handled with care

[JerseyJimbo]

Gloves is a good idea but the juice in the chillies can eat through them so something to keep an eye on.
Personally I dont wear gloves the technique I use is to rub my hands with a little cooking oil this blocks the pores in the skin with oild and stops the juice of the chillies entering the pores when done wash hands thouroly with washing up liquid and your hands dont sting your eyes or anything else.

i personally use olive oil on my hands for chillies, i dont spose its matters what oil but i know that olive oil is lower in saturated fat and therefore should be better for me hehehe

[Alison]

I just freeze mine either whole or cut in half / quarters with a pair of scissors so no risk there if you're doing a lot - can't be bothered phaffing with blanching at the best of times and certainly not for something like this!

[harrybrew69]

I wondered why my fingers were burning! we grew cayenne chillies i put 3 in a curry last week chopped up very small loads of juice came out of them and I've hung the rest in the kitchen about 50 of the red beauties, there are still a lot of green ones on the plants in the greenhouse I'm gonna use these up before the frosts get them. I've heard that they can survive mild winters and flower again in the spring if they make it, I'm gonna give it a go.
PS, don't pick your nose either after chopping them ow!