Whether you are using these bell peppers in a salad or stir fry, it is essential for you to properly store your bell peppers. Best placed in the fridge, you can extend the shelf life of these peppers exponentially.
When you get home from the supermarket, you will need to store them properly.
To ensure that your mouth-watering peppers stay fresh for as long as possible, this guide will tell you the perfect way of storing them!
How Should You Store Raw Bell Peppers?
Bell pepper can either be eaten raw or cooked. When you first buy bell peppers, you should keep them in their packaging.
Once you have opened the packaging, you might want to transfer the peppers to an airtight container, such as a sealable bag.
It is particularly important to store the peppers in an airtight container if you have cut into them. You might want to place a paper towel at the bottom of the container so that this can absorb moisture.
They must be stored in the fridge so that they are at a cool temperature. This temperature will slow down the expiration process, meaning that the bell peppers can be kept fresh for longer.
Ideally, you should put the peppers in the crisper drawer. This compartment is built for fresh fruit and vegetables.
This drawer has higher humidity than other parts of the fridge, thus maintaining the freshness of your vegetables. If your crisper drawer is full, then anywhere else in the fridge should be sufficient!
How Should You Store Cooked Bell Peppers?
If you have already fried or roasted your peppers and want to keep some for later, you must use an appropriate storage method.
You should wait for these peppers to cool before storing them. This is because hot foods can alter the temperature of the fridge.
Once cooled, transfer the cooked pepper to an airtight container. This will decelerate the oxidation process. Then, put this container in the fridge. Cooked bell peppers can last for between 3 and 5 days in the fridge.
How Long Will Bell Peppers Last?
On average, fresh bell peppers tend to only last between 4 and 5 days.
However, when appropriately stored, these peppers can last for up to 2 weeks. Some peppers come with use-by dates, which you should use as an indication of how long they can keep.
If you have already chopped the peppers, they will last for less time. This is because they do not retain as much moisture, thus resulting in these peppers drying out. Consequently, chopped peppers will only keep for roughly 3 days.
To maximize the longevity of your chopped peppers, you should put them in an airtight container. Keep them in the fridge to ensure freshness.
We do not advise leaving cut peppers in the fridge for longer than 5 days, as they are unlikely to have a pleasant taste or texture.
Though some people maintain that green bell peppers last for longer, our experience has found that the color does not affect how long these peppers remain fresh.
Whether you have a green, yellow, orange, or red pepper, they should all last approximately the same time.
How Can You Tell If A Bell Pepper Has Spoiled?
Eating expired food is never an enjoyable experience. This is because spoiled food tends to feel, look, and taste different. As a consequence, this food tastes inferior to fresh ingredients.
Aside from paying attention to the amount of time that pepper can last, you should also look out for signs that your pepper has gone bad. There are several different indicators that you should pay attention to. This includes:
Soft Texture
If your pepper feels different, this is a strong indication that it has expired. These peppers are meant to have a crunchy texture.
Over time, the bell pepper will soften. This is due to a depletion of moisture, causing the pepper to become dry.
Aside from this, bell peppers can also become increasingly slimy when they’ve gone off. Moreover, bad bell peppers can also develop sunken areas.
This can either be a sign of decay or a fungal disease, such as anthracnose. Either way, it is best to discard a sunken bell pepper.
Unpleasant Smell
Bell peppers do not have overly strong scents. So if you notice that a pepper is starting to smell a little odd, this might be because it has expired.
In particular, bell peppers tend to have sweeter smells when they have over-ripened.
Mold Growths
If mold has grown on the exterior or interior of your bell pepper, this is an obvious sign that you should not eat it. If
there are small amounts of mold, some people maintain that it is safe to cut the infected areas out and eat the rest.
It is up to you whether or not you are willing to take this risk. Regardless, we do not recommend eating any moldy pepper.
Changes In Appearance
If you notice any significant developments in the appearance of the bell pepper, it may have gone bad. For instance, if the bell pepper is starting to turn black, you might want to refrain from eating it.
Can You Eat Spoiled Bell Peppers?
Technically, you can eat gone-off belle peppers without making yourself ill. However, we still do not advise consuming expired peppers. The reduction in quality is simply not worth it.
This is especially true if the pepper has mold on it. The reason for this is that it can make you sick. You can experience symptoms such as shortness of breath and vomiting.
While the chances of having these severe symptoms are low, it is nonetheless not worth taking the risk.
Therefore, you should simply discard the bell peppers. To avoid waste, you should pay attention to expiration dates and the standard longevity of these peppers.
Plus, you should store them sufficiently to increase longevity. Additionally, you should only buy the number of peppers that you need, as this decreases the chances of you needing to throw out old food.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Put Bell Peppers In The Freezer?
Yes, you can store peppers in the freezer if you wish to extend the shelf life. Just bear in mind that the texture of the pepper might be slightly different once it has been thawed.
Can You Store Peppers in a Jar?
A mason jar can be utilized to preserve bell peppers. Just make sure that you use a decent pickling solution.
How To Store Bell Peppers
The best way to store your fresh bell peppers is by placing them in a sealed container and put them in the fridge.
Materials
- Raw bell peppers
Tools
- Airtight container
- Refrigerator
Instructions
- Put the peppers into an airtight container: Remove the bell peppers from their packaging and place them in an airtight container.
- Store the bell peppers in the fridge: Peppers last longer when you store them in the fridge. Some refrigerators also have a crisper drawer which is ideal for fresh vegetables.
- Store cooked bell peppers in an airtight container: Cooked bell peppers should be allowed to cool first, and then placed in a sealed container.
Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.
I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!
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