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The Proper Way To Freeze Stuffed Peppers

By: Author Jess Smith

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To start off this process you are going to cook your peppers. You can do this however you prefer. The main thing to take care of at this stage is to make sure that if you are using meat, it is cooked properly. If you are not careful it could cause your peppers to go back quite quickly. Once your peppers have been cooked you will need to take your peppers and place them in a container that is freezer safe. This container should then be wrapped in aluminum and after that a layer of plastic wrap. It is essential that every inch of your container is covered by the foil and plastic wrap as freezer burn can occur if you are not careful.

If you are looking for a delicious, quick and healthy meal option then look no further than the tasty stuffed pepper. This dish is super easy to prepare and only takes a few minutes to cook.

But it is hard to get your servings right with this dish. You will more often than not have some leftovers. What do you do with them? What is the best way to store them?

Your answer will entirely depend on how soon you intend to eat your stuffed peppers.

The Proper Way To Freeze Stuffed Peppers

If you aim to eat your leftovers within one or two days then you can simply pop your leftovers in a Tupperware and put it in the fridge.

But if you intend to eat your peppers after three or more days then it is a good idea to freeze them. 

Now the question is, what is the proper way to freeze stuffed peppers? Well, in this article we aim to answer that question for you and much more. So, without further ado, let us drive right in and get started!

What Is The Best Way To Freeze Stuffed Peppers?

While stuffed peppers are inherently delicious, they are quite filling. But that is unsurprising as they are whole peppers with a tasty stuffing of your choice. 

You do not need to throw away the leftovers, all you need to do is freeze these peppers and you will be able to eat them months later.

But how do you do this properly? Well, that is what we are going to cover in this section. 

  • Step 1 – To start off you will need to cook your peppers. You can do this however you prefer. The main thing to take care of at this stage is to make sure that if you are using meat, it is cooked properly. If you are not careful it could cause your peppers to go back quite quickly.
  • Step 2 – Once your peppers have been cooked you will need to take your peppers and place them in a container that is freezer safe. This container should then be wrapped in aluminum and after that a layer of plastic wrap.
  • Step 3 – It is essential that every inch of your container is covered by the foil and plastic wrap as freezer burn can occur if you are not careful. 

As a quick side point, if you do not have any containers you can also place your peppers in individual plastic wraps.

Just make sure that they are properly sealed and that you have them stored inside a plastic sandwich bag before you put them in the freezer.

This is a good alternative for those of you that do not have freezer safe containers. 

How To Reheat Frozen Stuffed Peppers?

Now that you know how to properly freeze your stuffed peppers, all that is left for you to learn is how to reheat them.

When you are finally ready to enjoy your delicious stuffed peppers again you will need to start off by ensuring that you have taken all the wrapping off. 

All that you need to do at that point is defrost your peppers so that you can enjoy them hot. You will need to bake your peppers for about half an hour.

This number may vary depending on how many peppers you are heating up and how frozen they are. 

If you are not in a rush then you may want to consider keeping your frozen peppers in the refrigerator so that they can defrost.

This will reduce how long your peppers need to be in the oven when you are reheating them. 

How To Store Uncooked Stuffed Peppers

While you can easily store your peppers any way you like after cooking, they will still be edible for a day or two.

Many people want to enjoy their peppers fresh. It is at times like this that storing uncooked stuffed peppers may be a good option. But how do you do that? 

If you want to properly store your uncooked peppers then you need to start off by cooking the stuffing in a pot on its own.

Next, you will need to blanch your peppers. Just be careful not to cook them all the way through as this would negate the whole process. 

With that done all you need to do now is prepare your stuffed peppers for freezing. You can use the exact same method that we mentioned earlier.

An airtight container wrapped in aluminum foil and plastic wrap. As long as none of your pepper is exposed you should be fine.

Once your peppers have been wrapped you should put them in the freezer. You can decide whether to freeze them individually or in batches. It is up to you to decide what works best for you. 

Once again, when you want to defrost your peppers and stuffing you can defrost them in the same way that we mentioned before.

Simply heat them up in the oven or place them in the freezer so that they defrost before going in the oven.  

What Else Should You Consider?

One thing that you need to keep in mind when you are storing your stuffed peppers is what you plan to put on top.

For example, if your stuffed peppers contain cheese then you need to make sure to add it to your peppers after you have defrosted your peppers. 

If you do this then you ensure that your cheese will melt evenly when your peppers are reheated. 

Making Stuffed Peppers

Making Stuffed Peppers

Well, now that we have gotten all that out of the way. It is finally time to take a closer look at how to make your own stuffed peppers.

If you do not have a recipe to make this delicious vegetarian option then this is going to be the section for you. 

So, without further ado, let us dive right in and get started!

How To Make A Classic Stuffed Pepper

Sometimes the best place to start with a dish like this is with the classics. That is why we are talking about how to make a classic stuffed pepper dish.

After perusing the internet we found that the Delish recipe was the best option. It is easy to make, simplistic and flavorful. 

Below we have done a rough overview of what you need and what steps to take if you want to make this delicious and flavorful stuffed pepper dish. 

In order to make this stuffed pepper dish you are going to need the following ingredients: 

  • Uncooked Rice
  • Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
  • Medium Onion
  • Tomato Paste
  • Cloves Garlic
  • Beef Mince
  • Chopped Tomatoes
  • Dried Oregano
  • Salt
  • Freshly Ground Black Pepper
  • Bell Peppers
  • Cheddar
  • Freshly Chopped Parsley

Below we are going to go over the basic steps for making this tasty dish. If you would like more detail make sure to check out the original recipe by Delish. 

  • Step 1 – You will need to start off by preheating your oven to about 392 Degrees Fahrenheit. Once that is done you will need a small saucepan which you can use to prepare your rice in. Just follow the instructions on the package. 
  • Step 2 – Next, you will need a large pan which you will use to cook your onions for about five minutes. Once your onions are soft, you will need to stir in some tomato paste and garlic. Cook this concoction until there is a delicious aroma. 
  • Step 3 – Once that is done, you will need to add beef to your pot. Break the meat up with a wooden spoon and cook until the meat is no longer pink. 
  • Step 4 – Mix the beef, rice and tomato mixture together and stir properly. Next, season your mixture with oregano, salt, and pepper. Not all that is left is to let it simmer for about five minutes or until the mixture has reduced slightly. 
  • Step 5 – Grab your cored and topped peppers and place then cut side up in a baking dish. Next, drizzle them with oil and spoon the beef, onion and tomato mixture into the peppers. Sprinkle a little cheese on top and then cover your peppers with foil. 
  • Step 6 – Now all that is left to do is bake your peppers until they are tender. This usually takes about thirty-five minutes. Once this time has elapsed you can uncover your stuffed peppers and cook it for another ten minutes or until it is wonderfully golden.
  • Step 7 – With that all you need to do is throw on a little garnish and enjoy your delicious classic pepper dish. 

Overall this dish takes only one hour and twenty minutes to make and it serves six people. That is not too bad when you need something tasty and healthy for a hearty family dinner. 

How To Make Stuffed Pepper Soup

You might have a good idea on how to make regular stuffed peppers, but there are other ways to enjoy stuffed peppers.

One unlikely dish is ‘stuffed pepper soup’. It sounds like an odd dish but we can ensure you that it is 100% delicious. 

In order to make a stuffed pepper soup dish then you are going to need the following ingredients: 

  • Ground Sirloin
  • Green Bell Pepper
  • Onion
  • Tomatoes
  • Tomato Sauce
  • Chicken Broth
  • Thyme
  • Sage
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Water
  • White Rice

Below we are going to go over the basic steps for making this tasty dish. If you would like more detail make sure to check out the original recipe by All Recipes. 

  • Step 1 – Start off by grabbing a large skillet and putting it on the stove. Make sure the stove is on medium. Take your ground beef and put it in your skillet. Cook until the beef is brown and crumbly. This usually takes between five and seven minutes.
  • Step 2 – Next, grab a green pepper and onion, chop into pieces before adding it to the skillet. Cook these veggies until the onion has softened and turned translucent. This usually takes about five minutes. 
  • Step 3 – At this point you need to add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, thyme, sage, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together and then leave your concoction to simmer for between thirty and forty-five minutes. 
  • Step 4 – While your mixture is simmering you will need to grab a saucepan. Fill it with hot water and then allow the water to boil before adding rice. Reduce the heat to medium-low and then cover with a lid. Allow your rice to simmer until it is tender and the water has been totally absorbed. This usually takes between twenty and twenty-five minutes. 
  • Step 5 – With that done all that is left is to stir the rice into the soup and serve it while it is hot. 
  • This recipe takes only fifty-five minutes to make and the recipe itself allows you to alter the quantity of the ingredients based on how many people you need to serve. This dish is about 337 kcal per serving which is not too bad. 

Common Mistakes When Making Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppers are super easy to make, that being said there are often mishaps in the kitchen. You can undercook or overcook your stuffed peppers or any number of issues could occur. 

For example, one of the most common issues that people run into with a stuffed pepper dish is when they use uncooked rice in their stuffing.

This can cause the rice not to cook as it should and even after being baked it is likely you come out of the oven raw.

When this happens you may find your pepper stuffing to be chewy or even hard and inedible. Unpleasant at best. 

There is also the risk of there being too little liquid which once again can cause your rice to be undercooked and hard.

But on the other hand if you add too much liquid your peppers may get too soggy and become quite gross to eat. 

Another issue that many people run into when they are making stuffed peppers is when they put too much stuffing in their peppers.

This is a pretty common issue. They are called stuffed peppers after all. But, when you over stuff a pepper you may find that your ingredients in the mixture will not cook all the way through as they should. 

There are far too many people that do not add enough seasoning to their peppers.

So, when you are making this tasty dish we recommend that you remember to add your salt, peppers and other seasonings. They add spice and flavor which can make or break a dish. 

If you are planning on freezing your stuffed peppers you will need to remember to make sure that you only add your cheese before you put your pepper in the oven.

By doing this you ensure that your cheese will cook better and become delightfully gooey. 

Final Thoughts

Summing up everything that we have talked about.

The best way to freeze stuffed peppers is to place your peppers in a container, wrap it in tin foil, add a layer of plastic wrap, and finally put your stuffed pepper into the freezer for safe keeping. 

You can store your peppers individually or all together. So make sure to consider that when you are storing your stuffed peppers in the freezer. 

With all of that being said, we hope that we have been able to help you and show you how to store your peppers properly. It really is super easy and certainly something you will be able to do. 

All you really need to remember is to make sure that your peppers have been completely covered when they are going in the freezer.

They need to freeze, but if you are not careful you can cause freezer burn to occur which can mess with the flavor. 

Other than that, it should be a breeze to store your stuffed peppers. We hope that you have a nice day. Goodbye for now!

Jess Smith
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