What is the average shelf life of jalapeño? How long do jalapeño last in the pantry, refrigerator, or freezer? What is the best way to store jalapeño to increase their shelf life? Find out the answers to these questions and more below:
Shelf Life of Jalapeño
| Pantry | Refrigerator | Freezer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh | 5-7 Days | 1-2 Months | 2-3 Years |
| Ground | 2-3 Years | - | - |
| Dried | 2-3 Years | - | - |
Jalapenos are readily available everywhere. A medium-sized chili pepper of pod type is known as Jalapeno. Moreover, scientists consider jalapeno a fruit, but the world believes it’s a vegetable. In past consumption of pepper was in lent (a solemn religious observance in Christians). Usually, a jalapeno is 5-10 cm long. They hang with a round and smooth flesh. The width of this chili pepper is 25-38 mm. A jalapeno can stay fresh for 5-7 days in the pantries and 3-4 months in your refrigerators. Jalapenos have three shades of colors, i.e., bright green, dark green and red. Furthermore, jalapenos are ready for consumption during the time span of 3-4 months. They also have a wide range of sharp fragrance which is sometimes unpleasant as well.
Purchasing Jalapeno:
Jalapeno has bright green color, and then they slowly start changing colors into a darker shade of green color. These peppers are hot and spicy. Jalapenos are ready to be picked when these little spices are in the bright green color. Furthermore, you can leave jalapenos on the plant so that they can turn into red color. Red color jalapeno is quite sweeter than the green jalapenos, but at the same time, some red jalapenos are spicier than the green ones. If you want to buy right jalapenos from a grocery store, you should see the striations on them. These are white marks on the outer coverage of jalapenos.
Storage of Jalapenos:
Jalapenos can stay fresh for 5-7 days in a pantry, whereas you can store them in a refrigerator for 3-4 months. At the same time, if you want to save jalapenos for an extended period, you can freeze them for about 2-3 years as well. There are different methods to preserve jalapenos. You have to put these peppers into the clear bag while you are about to put them into the refrigerator. You can also chop jalapenos before storing them in a freezer. You can use a dehydrator to make the powder. At the same time, you can also use the oven trick to save your jalapenos.
Handling Jalapenos:
It is essential to keep in mind that before using any jalapeno either fresh or frozen you have to wash them. Then you can now use them. As jalapenos are quite spicy and that they can leave their effects on your hands, so you should rinse your hands with milk or any other dairy product to neutralize the acidic effect. Furthermore, you can also coat your sides and fingers with vegetable oil to avoid this issue.
Cooking Jalapenos:
There are different recipes to cook jalapenos. You can prepare jalapenos in cream and with cheese as well. Whereas at the same time, some food like jalapenos bread and sauces as well. Moreover, you can bake jalapenos. On the other hand, some people will love to have a roasted jalapeno. Every person has its taste so you can cook them according to your need and taste.