Bell peppers come in different shapes and sizes. You can freeze them whole or even in pieces. The right method needs to be employed when doing this. The date of freezing should also be noted. However, bell peppers, like every other frozen fruit or vegetable, ought to be consumed as quickly as possible. Do bell peppers freeze well? Yes, they freeze wonderfully, and they do not need to be blanched because of their texture. Let’s see now how to freeze fresh bell peppers whole and sliced.

How to Freeze Bell Peppers whole

To freeze whole peppers follow these steps :

1. First, wash your bell peppers vigorously. Make sure to get rid of any dirt or germs.
2. Next, you will need to take a knife and cut off the top area that contains the stem. This will form a hole inside the bell pepper from the top.
3. Scoop out all the seeds through the hole and put the top back on.

1. Now go ahead and wrap each bell pepper separately in a plastic wrap.
2. Now you can freeze them in a heavy duty freezer bag to keep it safe.

In the end it is important to label the date of processing with a permanent marker. You should be using the bell peppers up till six months.

How to Freeze Bell Peppers Sliced

1. Go ahead and wash your bell peppers vigorously. Make sure to get rid of any dirt or germs.
2. Next, you will need to take a knife and cut off the top area containing the stem. This will form a hole inside the bell pepper from the top.
3. Scoop out all the seeds through the hole and put the top back on.
4. Slice up the bell peppers in the way you like. You can either slice it into long strips or dice it up into cubes.
5. Take the cut-up bell peppers and freeze them for an hour by spreading them separately on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
6. After they are frozen, scoop them up into a freezer bag. Ziploc it tight and store them in the freezer for whenever you want to use them.

Questions

Do I need to blanch bell peppers before freezing?

Because of the nature of bell peppers, you do not need to blanch them before freezing them. Unlike other vegetables, bell peppers freeze correctly even when they are raw. All you need to do is pat the peppers dry after washing them, lay them over a baking sheet lined with parchment paper separately, and freeze them. They retain their crispness and can be used in various dishes.

How long can peppers last in the freezer?

It is good to Mark your bell peppers when putting them in the freezer. Frozen bell peppers maintain good quality and remain good for use for 10 to 12 months if stored at less than 0°. Since it is difficult to measure the temperature of freezers and freezers at home are usually inconsistent, it is better to use up the bell peppers within a few months just in case.

Do frozen peppers get mushy?

A common problem when freezing fruits and vegetables is that they become mushy and watery when you take them out of the freezer. When freezing bell peppers, the texture is often compromised. After you take them out of the freezer, they cannot be as fresh and crisp as they were. All vegetables become slightly mushy after they are taken out. It is best to use thawed bell peppers in baked and cooked dishes when frozen because the texture is not noticeable.

Bell Pepper are one of the healthiest greens you can eat

Bell Pepper Recipes

Mediterranean Diet Stuffed Bell Peppers

Should peppers be precooked before stuffing?  No you don’t have to precook the peppers, but make sure you cook them at low heat, 350F for about 40 minutes.

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 4 medium bell peppers
• 2 tablespoons virgin oil
• 1 cup diced onion
• 2 cups diced zucchini
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• Dried oregano, salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes cut in half
• 1/2 cup kalamata olives chopped
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F
2. Heat over a medium-high heat a saucepan with olive oil
3. Add onion and zucchini and saute for about 10 minutes
4. Add the garlic and season with oregano, salt and pepper, mix well
5. Remove and transfer to a bowl
6. Add tomatoes, olives and feta to the bowl and toss well
7. Remove the top of the peppers and the seeds.
8. Rub each pepper with olive oil
9. Arrange the peppers in a backing sheet
10. Stuff each pepper with the mixture
11. Bake for about 40 minutes
12. Serve them with a salad

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