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Drying and Storing Habanero Peppers at Home

Author: Molly Weinfurter

Updated: October 13, 2021

Habanero peppers are hot! They can even make jalapeño peppers seem mild. Yet, they have a unique crunch that’s both sweet and spicy, making them a perfect addition to your dish.

So, here are some tips for drying and storing habanero peppers at home. With dried habaneros, you’ll be making unforgettable flavors in no time!

How to Dry Habanero Peppers with a Dehydrator

Dehydrating habanero peppers is a great way to preserve them and use them in several different ways. You can grind dehydrated peppers over your food or rehydrate them to make sauce or another type of seasoning.

Using a dehydrator is a popular method for drying your peppers. But how exactly does this work? Here are a few steps to help make the drying process a breeze!

Step 1 - Clean the Peppers

Before you begin, have gloves handy. Wear gloves any time you handle a hot pepper. If you don’t, you might experience a tingling or minor pain in your fingers. This uncomfortable feeling could be passed on to other parts of your body through touch as well. So, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Start by washing off your habanero peppers with clean water. Then, fully dry them off. If you notice any rotting on the pepper, throw the entire pepper away.

Step 2 - Slice the Peppers

While still wearing gloves, cut the peppers into more manageable pieces. Cut them into rings first and then into thinner slices. If the habanero pepper is large, you may want to cut it in half before chopping it into small pieces.

The smaller pieces you cut your pepper into, the faster it will dehydrate. It’s possible to put peppers into a dehydrator whole, but they will take much, much longer to dry. Now, you might be wondering how exactly the dehydrator works.

Step 3 - Put Peppers in the Food Dehydrator

Once your pepper is cut into sizable strips, carefully transfer them to the trays of the dehydrator. Spread them out evenly for more efficiency. Check what temperature your dehydrator recommends and set it to that. Most products recommend somewhere between 135 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once you set the dehydrator to the right temperature, all you have to do is wait. It’s as simple as that, but there are a few more things to keep in mind.

Step 4 - Check on the Peppers

Most habaneros take between 8 and 10 hours to dehydrate. So, leave them be, but check on them every few hours. About halfway through the dehydrating process, you might want to swap the trays with each other to ensure that all the peppers dry evenly. Keep checking on them until all the peppers have dried.

How to Dry Habanero Peppers without a Dehydrator

If you don’t have access to a dehydrator, there’s no need to fear! You can allow your habanero peppers to air dry instead. The ideal way to do this is to place them on a cookie sheet with parchment paper and leave them out in direct sunlight.

A logical way to do this is to set the cookie sheets on a grill outside. Leave the grill in direct sunlight, and then close the lid to protect your peppers from bugs. There’s no need to turn the grill on because the sun’s heat will be enough to dry out the peppers. Another option would be to put them inside a hot car on the dashboard.

While your habanero peppers are air drying, occasionally rotate them to speed up the process. Check to make sure the peppers stay evenly spaced out for the best results. Continue letting them air dry until they’re crispy and brittle. Then, you’re ready for the best part: using habanero peppers for cooking!

How to Store Dried Habanero Peppers

Drying habanero peppers can help them last longer, but they could lose flavor if not stored correctly. If you keep the peppers in the proper container and environment, they may be able to last for as long as you need them to. So, here are some tips for how to store dried habanero peppers properly.

Use an Airtight Container

An airtight container is a perfect way to preserve the dried peppers. Mason jars and resealable plastic bags are some options to consider. The longer your dried habanero peppers are exposed to the outside air, the more they’ll lose their flavor. They will also remain softer in an airtight container, but exposed peppers could become too brittle to rehydrate.

Airtight containers can also prevent your dried peppers from touching moisture. Contact with liquid could partially rehydrate the peppers, which could cause mold. Partially rehydrated peppers also don’t last nearly as long as dried peppers. But where you keep it can be just as important as the container you use.

Choose the Right Environment

Keep your dried peppers stored in a dark location. Your habaneros could degrade and fade under direct light. A clear container sitting on the counter won’t cut it. Instead, put the peppers in an opaque vessel or a dark cabinet when not in use.

Hot temperatures could also have negative effects like direct light. It’s a good idea to leave your dried habanero peppers in a cool place, preferably away from the oven. Spice cabinets close to the stove could damage the ingredients after a while.

Instead of keeping your dried peppers in the cabinet, you could freeze them instead. In a freezer bag, the ingredients will have low temperatures, darkness, and no pests. Some consider this an optimal way to store dried habaneros.

But now that you know how to store your peppers, it gets better. It’s time to start your cooking preparations.

How to Grind Dried Habanero Peppers

Now, you may want to grind up your dried peppers for the best results. Grinding up dried habaneros is the best way to help them hold their flavor. You should still follow the recommended storage tips above.

Are you ready to grind your peppers? Here’s an easy and efficient way to do so.

Step 1: Toast the Peppers

Toasting your peppers can remove excess moisture that’s still trapped inside. You can do this by putting all the dried peppers on a frying pan over medium heat. You can also toast them in the oven for 8 minutes at 325 degrees.

Once you’ve toasted your peppers, let them cool down for a few minutes. Then, you can remove the seeds and stems as you prepare for your next steps.

Step 2: Grind the Peppers

Before grinding your dried habaneros, you can break them into smaller pieces to make the process easier. Grinding them by hand often creates the best flavors, but it’s also the most work. You can do this by putting the pieces in a bowl or mortar and then grinding them using a circular motion.

If it’s too laborious to grind peppers by hand, you can use a grinder instead. A pepper mill or an electric coffee grinder could speed up the process a bit. Regardless of the method you use, grind the dried peppers until they turn into a coarse powder.

Step 3: Store the Peppers When Not in Use

Like pieces of dried pepper, you should also store ground pepper in a dark, cool location using an airtight container. You can also store them in the refrigerator if you’d like.

Grinding up your peppers will give you the best flavor, but what if you would rather rehydrate your dried habaneros? Luckily, that process can be just as easy.

How to Rehydrate Dried Habanero Peppers

Drying habanero peppers can intensify the flavor so much that it remains that tasty even when rehydrated. So, if you’re ready to use your peppers, rehydrating is the best way to do so. You can use these peppers for various sauces, soups, and many other dishes.

If you haven’t already, start by scooping out the insides and removing the stems. You can remove those parts when the peppers are rehydrated, but it’s more efficient when they’re dried. Next, you can briefly dry roast the peppers at medium-high heat if you want. Put them on a large pan and cook them for 30-60 seconds on each side. This roasting is optional, but it will make the peppers more puffy and aromatic.

Next, place the peppers in an oven-safe bowl. Pour enough boiling water in to cover the peppers. Wait for 15 to 30 minutes for the peppers to rehydrate. Thicker peppers will take the longest, so keep an eye on the bowl during the process.

Once they’re looking soft and juicy again, you can remove the water and use the peppers for cooking. At this point, the peppers should look fresh again and ready for the best part: the final dish. After all, habaneros are one unique pepper.

Habanero Peppers 101

Habanero peppers are from South America, specifically from the Amazonas region of Peru. At one point, these peppers were even labeled the hottest. Over the years, several other peppers have passed them on the hot scale, but don’t let that deter you. These peppers have quite the kick to them while still tasting delicious!

The habanero pepper is far from new. The first domesticated habanero was found in a Mexican archaeological dig and was approximately 8,500 years old. Today, these peppers are commonly grown in South American and Central American countries, along with the southwestern United States.

These peppers are small with a pod-like shape, measuring 1 to 3 inches long. They have smooth skin that’s most commonly orange or red. You might also see yellow, green, white, brown, and purple habaneros.

Regular orange habaneros tend to have a tropical fruit flavor while other colors are a little simpler. Luckily, all habaneros are still hot and can be used for powders, hot sauces, or rubs.

How Hot is a Habanero Pepper?

In Scoville heat units (SHU), habanero peppers range from 100,000 to 350,000. Here’s how that hotness compares to similar peppers:

Jalapeño Pepper: 2,500 to 8,000

Cayenne Pepper: 30,000 to 50,000
Ghost Pepper: 855,000 to 1,041,427

The jalapeño pepper and cayenne pepper are no match for the habanero pepper. If you compare the mildest jalapeño to the hottest habanero, the habanero would be 140 times hotter! Yet, even a habanero pepper can seem tame next to the ghost pepper.

But now, you might be wondering why the habanero pepper has such a wide range of heat. As it turns out, it might have to do with the pepper’s color.

Which Color Habanero Pepper is the Hottest?

All habanero peppers are hot, but the appearance could affect where it ranks on the SHU scale. If you’re growing your habaneros, you can get the hottest peppers by waiting longer before picking them. As they grow, they’ll become a darker color with a spicier flavor.

But overall, the hottest color is red. The Red Savina is the hottest habanero, measuring above the average range at 500,000 SHU. Brown, purple, and black peppers, known as chocolate habaneros, are also hotter than most. Neither comes close to the ghost pepper, but you will still experience an intense burn when eating them. So, if you’re looking for an extra hot dish, dry some bright red habaneros for your food.

Not everyone can handle the intense heat of habanero peppers, but it can sure make an incredible addition to your food. Drying and storing habanero peppers at home is one of the best ways to preserve them and keep them flavorful. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time for you to make the perfect habanero dish!