Quick Answer: How to Dry Bell Peppers at Home?
One of the easiest methods to dry bell peppers at home is by sunlight and air-drying technique, but that is time-consuming. Using a food dehydrator or an oven is a much faster way to dry bell peppers at home with great results.
In this article, I will be outlining the best methods to dry bell peppers from the comfort of your home.
You’ll be requiring your everyday kitchen appliances for the same.
I’ve not only poured my personal experience with drying bell peppers but have also incorporated hours of research on what food bloggers and experts have to say on drying bell peppers at home.
There are many ways to dry bell peppers and I’ve got you covered with the three simplest methods.
Since each of these methods are unique in their own way, let’s kick things off with the most common method referred to for drying bell peppers at home.
The Proper Way to Cut Bell Peppers Before Drying Them
Remove the seeds and cut the core and ribs. You can chop by hand, with a convenient chopper, or in a food processor, depending on your preference.
If you want, you can just slice the bell peppers into long slices. Any approach is effective.
Keep in mind that the smaller the pieces are, the faster they dry when dehydrating bell peppers.
One bell pepper yields about a third of a cup of diced peppers. However, the size of your pepper and the size of the dice you use will determine this.
Place the bell peppers on the dehydrator trays: The mesh will be stained by bell peppers. To protect your dehydrator mesh, use parchment paper or silicone sheets.
How to Dry Bell Peppers at Home Using Air-drying?
Air-drying bell peppers is one of the most common ways referred to for drying bell peppers at home. Even though this method takes several days, you won’t be needing any electrical appliances or artificial heat to dry your bell peppers evenly at home.
Materials
- Fresh Bell peppers
- A colander
- Paper towels
- Needle and thread
Tools
- No special tools needed
Instructions
- Select your bell peppers - For air-drying, choose thin-walled peppers. Thicker peppers may take longer to dry and usually begin to mold.
Choose those bell peppers that have been recently harvested and are free of insect damage or blemishes. - Wash your bell peppers - Rinse your bell peppers under running water to remove any dirt from them.
Use a colander to get rid of the excess water and then dry them with paper towels. - Tie the bell peppers - String the peppers together through the stems with a long needle and thread.
Your bell peppers should be facing downwards with the string needled in between their stems.
Allow lots of room between the peppers to let air circulate properly. - Hang the bell peppers to dry - Dry your bell peppers in a well-ventilated room with plenty of sunlight.
This approach can take about 3 to 4 weeks to fully dry the bell peppers, depending on the humidity in the air.
You know your bell peppers are perfectly dried when they are brittle and crunchy.
Bell Peppers Using a Food Dehydrator
Time Taken: About 6 to 10 hours
Optimum Temperature – 125 degrees Fahrenheit
What You Need:
- Fresh Bell peppers
- Baking sheet
- A colander
- A knife
- Paper towels
- Dehydrator trays
A food dehydrator can be used as well to dry bell peppers at home.
You will get evenly dried bell peppers instantly from the comforts of your home using a dehydrator.
Preheat your Food Dehydrator
It is recommended to always preheat your food dehydrator at 125 degrees Fahrenheit for properly dried bell peppers.
Select your Bell Peppers
For air-drying, choose thin-walled peppers. Thicker peppers may take longer to dry and usually begin to mold.
Choose those bell peppers that have been recently harvested and are free of insect damage or blemishes.
Wash the Bell Peppers
Rinse your bell peppers under running water and rub your thumbs to remove any dirt from them.
Use a colander to get rid of the excess water and then dry them with paper towels.
Chop the Bell Peppers
Remove the seeds and cut the core and ribs. You can chop by hand, with a convenient chopper, or in a food processor, depending on your preference.
If you want, you can just slice the bell peppers into long slices. Any approach is effective.
Keep in mind that the smaller the pieces are, the faster they dry when dehydrating bell peppers.
Arrange your Bell Peppers
Place the chopped bell peppers on the dehydrator trays and arrange them in one single layer ensuring that there is enough space in between each piece.
Dry your Bell Peppers
It takes about 6 to 10 hours for bell peppers to dry.
A few factors that affect the drying time include how hydrated your bell peppers are, how humid your environment is, and which dehydrator you’re using.
Bell Peppers Using an Oven
Time Taken: About 1 to 2 hours
What You Need:
- Fresh Bell peppers
- A colander
- Paper towels
- Cookie sheets
- Gloves
An oven is the fastest method there is to dry bell peppers evenly at home with minimum effort and within one to two hours.
You can even dry your bell pepper in bulk with this method.
Select your Bell Peppers
Choose thin-walled bell peppers.
Thicker bell peppers may take longer to dry and usually begin to mold.
Choose those bell peppers that have been recently harvested and are free of insect damage or blemishes.
Wash the Bell Peppers
Rinse your bell peppers under running water and rub your thumbs to remove any dirt from them.
Use a colander to get rid of the excess water and then dry them with paper towels.
Chop the Bell Peppers
Remove the seeds and cut the core and ribs. You can chop by hand, with a convenient chopper, or in a food processor, depending on your preference.
If you want, you can just slice the bell peppers into long slices.
Any approach is effective. Keep in mind that the smaller the pieces are, the faster they dry when dehydrating bell peppers.
Arrange your Bell Peppers
Place the chopped bell peppers on the oven trays and arrange them in one single layer ensuring that there is enough space in between each piece.
Dry your Bell Peppers
It takes about 2 hours at max for bell peppers to dry properly. Every 30 minutes, rotate the bell peppers and remove the ones that are dry.
When the peppers are entirely dry, they are brittle.
Let it Cool
Set aside your evenly dried bell peppers for a few minutes to cool down before you proceed to store them.
The Right Texture of Evenly Dried Bell Peppers
When bell peppers split apart, they are completely dried.
Allow them to get to room temperature before attempting to separate them and they will ought to snap.
Put them back in the dehydrator or oven for a while if they are still a little bendy, and try them again in an hour.
The Importance of Conditioning Bell Peppers Before Storing Them
Conditioning is the process of ensuring that all of your bell pepper pieces have the same humidity level which should be around 10% for vegetables.
For acquiring this, fill a jar to about 2/3 full and check for signs of humidity by shaking once or twice a day.
Look for water on the inside of the jar or water droplets on the pieces. Keep doing this for about a week or 10 days and then proceed to store the dried bell peppers.
If there is any water on the jar or on the pieces, return them to the dehydrator to finish drying.
If mold appears on any of the produce, discard it and sterilize the jar and lid.
The Proper Way to Store Dried Bell Peppers at Home
Keep dehydrated bell peppers in an airtight container in a cool, dark location. Vacuum sealing is the finest method for removing excess air from your jar.
If you are using a Foodsaver bag or mylar to vacuum seal the bell peppers, make sure to place them in a paper bag first, then vacuum seal.
Over time, the sharp edges of the bell pepper pieces may puncture your plastic bags, causing a hole.
Our Take on Which Method is Best
You may just air-dry bell peppers if you live in a tropical area with ample air and sunlight.
You can swiftly dry red, yellow, and green bell peppers with a food dehydrator.
It’s the most widely used and effective method.
Dry bell peppers quickly and in big amounts in the oven.
However, keep a watch on them as they dry to make sure that they don’t overheat and burn.
FAQs
Dried bell peppers have a shelf life of a few months until they begun to stale.
Preheat the oven to 100 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. The time taken to dry the bell isn’t quite specific. Keep a close check on them and rotate them every few minutes or so. You can leave the oven door slightly ajar to allow air to circulate.
Air-drying bell peppers is one of the most common ways referred to for drying bell peppers at home. Even though this method takes several days, you won’t be needing any electrical appliances or artificial heat to dry your bell peppers evenly at home.
To condition your bell peppers properly, fill a jar to about 2/3 full and check for signs of humidity by shaking once or twice a day. Look for water on the inside of the jar or water droplets on the pieces.
Keep doing this for about a week or 10 days and then proceed to store the dried bell peppers.
Bottom Line
Hopefully, this guide has aided you in understanding how to dry bell peppers at home with ease.
In case you have any queries to ask regarding the process, do let us know.
Feel like we have missed out on something? Let us know any tips we can include in our guide to make it better!
Kindly share this guide with your friends and family to assist them with drying bell peppers at home.
What temperature for oven drying of bell peppers?
Hi, 150-180F works well. There is a temperature range as it varies based on the size of peppers and how they are cut.