Can You Freeze Bell Peppers?

Here is the most comprehensive guide on how to freeze and store bell peppers. These methods and tips have worked like a charm for me. Let’s get started right away.

How to Freeze Bell Peppers?

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

If you are looking for a hassle-free and quick method of freezing bell papers, this is your best bet.

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Materials

• Bell Peppers
• Freezer-Safe Air-Tight Containers or Ziploc Bags

Tools

• Parchment Paper (Optional)

Instructions

Wash and Cut: Thoroughly wash the bell peppers and cut them up into shapes and sizes that you usually use in your recipes.

Portion and Pack: You can portion the bell peppers into measures that you would use in one recipe or serving and pack them in separate freezer-safe air-tight containers or Ziploc bags.

Optionally, you could also use a big freezer-safe air-tight container and create layers of bell pepper portions by placing a sheet of parchment paper after every single serving.

Seal, Label, and Freeze: Seal the container or Ziploc bag and add a label with the best before date. Now you can freeze the bell peppers till you need them next.

Here is a tutorial by “Phyllis Stokes and Sons” on YouTube -

Freezing Bell Peppers after Flash Freezing 

A great way to freeze bell peppers, without having to worry about portioning them, is to flash freeze them first.

Wash and Cut

Rinse and dry the bell peppers. Then cut them up into slices or cubes depending on how you usually use them.

Spread Out

Lay the cut bell peppers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure to evenly space them out and not to clump them together.

Flash Freeze

Leave the tray of bell peppers in the freezer for a couple of hours till it freezes solid.

Pack and Seal

Transfer the frozen bell peppers into a Ziploc bag and seal them, making sure to squeeze out all the excess air. Or you could pack them into a freezer-safe air-tight container instead.

Label and Freeze

Label the bag or container with the best before date, and you are all set to freeze the bell peppers.

Here is a video by “Kevin Lee Jacobs Delicious Living” on YouTube to show you how it’s done –

Freezing Bell Peppers after Blanching Them

You could also blanch the bell peppers before you freeze them in freezer-safe air-tight containers or Ziploc bags.

Wash and Cut

Thoroughly wash the bell peppers and then cut them up into your preferred shapes and sizes.

Blanch Them

Add the cut bell peppers into a pot of boiling water and wait for it rises to the top of the pan. Then transfer it into an ice bath to stop the cooking.

Spread Out

After the bell peppers dry, spread them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure that the bell peppers are not clumped together and are evenly spaced.

Flash Freeze

Leave the tray in the freezer for a couple of hours and let it freeze solid.

Pack and Seal

Transfer the frozen bell peppers into a Ziploc bag and seal them after making sure to squeeze out all the excess air.

Label and Freeze

Add a label on the bag with the best before date, and you can leave it in the freezer for the long term.

Check out this tutorial by “Spring Barton” on YouTube –

How Long Can You Freeze Bell Peppers?

You can freeze the bell peppers for 6 to 10 months.If done right, you could also freeze the bell peppers for a year or so. But to get the best out of its taste, texture, and quality, it is best to consume it within the 6-month mark.

Unlike most other vegetables like peas or carrots, you needn’t blanch the bell peppers to keep them lasting for long in the freezer.And of the different types of bell peppers, the green and yellow ones freeze the best and for longer.

The key is to make sure that they are thoroughly covered and protected from freezer burns. If you aren’t flash freezing or blanching the bell peppers beforehand, you could double bag them to avoid freezer burns.

How to Store Frozen Bell Peppers?

You can freeze bell peppers in any freezer-safe air-tight container or Ziploc bag. The important thing is that it is not exposed to air or freezer burns. The storage choice mainly comes down to how much freezer space you have.

If you are pressed for freezer space then the Ziploc bags are your best option. You can pack a big batch of bell peppers quite compactly and lay the bags flat on top of each other.

How to Defrost Bell Peppers?

The best way to defrost bell peppers is to leave them in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight and let them thaw gradually. Make sure to drain the liquid, that collects when the bell pepper thaws, before you use them.

You could also thaw them in a bowl of lukewarm water or the microwave if you are in a hurry.With slices and diced bell peppers, you could directly use them in recipes if you plan to cook with them.

It is best to cook them directly rather than thaw and let them get soggy.

Can You Refreeze Bell Peppers?

No, it is best recommended not to refreeze bell peppers. Because once they thaw, they can get mushy and soggy, losing their taste and texture.

But if you have cooked the frozen bell peppers in a dish and plan to freeze the cooked version, you can go ahead and freeze them.

If you wish to avoid refreezing bell peppers, you could either portion them beforehand or flash freeze them so that you can grab just the amount you would use at a time.

With these two methods, you can avoid having to thaw a big batch, just to use a small handful of bell peppers.

Do Bell Peppers Freeze Well?

Yes, bell peppers freeze well and can last for a whole year in the freezer if done right. And unlike most other vegetables you needn’t blanch them first to make sure that they stay fresh for long in the freezer.

But keep in mind that the bell peppers lose their crunch and texture once they thaw.

They are best used in cooking recipes, and it is best to cut them up beforehand into slices or cubes so that you don’t have to deal with mushy bell peppers to cut.

FAQs

Bottom Line

I hope this article helped you freeze and store all the extra bell peppers in your pantry.

If you have any doubts or would like to share some tips and tricks of your own, it would be great to hear from you.

Feel free to share this article with your friends and loved ones.