Food
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What Are the Best Tips for Pickling Peppers?

Henry Gaudet
Henry Gaudet

When pickling peppers, selecting the right salt and vinegar is critical to the process. Fresh spices are also important, with noticeably better results than powdered spices. Brass, copper or iron cookware should be avoided, as well as jars with metal lids. Once the pickling is complete, peppers will need between two to four weeks to mature.

Cooking salt is typically used in the process of pickling peppers. Most table salt contains iodine, which is usually avoided because it has a tendency to discolor the peppers. Look for salt that does not contain iodine for the best and most attractive results.

Chili peppers.
Chili peppers.

The type of peppers chosen for pickling and the individual recipe will determine what type of vinegar should be used, with cider vinegar and distilled white vinegar among the most common. Regardless of the variety of vinegar selected, aiming for those with 5% acidity (50 grain) is ideal. A dash of sugar can be used to soften the acidic taste if desired. Peppers should be covered by at least one inch (2.5 cm) of cold vinegar for crisp pickled peppers.

It's best to chop large bell peppers before pickling them.
It's best to chop large bell peppers before pickling them.

Using fresh spices often gives the best results for pickling. Powdered spices make the vinegar cloudy and lack the taste of fresh ingredients. Pickling spices vary with each recipe, but common ingredients include cloves, mace, and ginger. Other common additions call for allspice berries, celery seed and stick cinnamon.

Some metals can react with vinegar and alter the taste of pickled peppers, and for that reason, brass, copper and iron cookware should not be used for pickling. Instead, aluminum or stainless steel pots should be chosen. Enamel covered pots can also be used, provided the enamel is not cracked or chipped.

Celery seed is often used in pickled peppers.
Celery seed is often used in pickled peppers.

Metal lids may also react with the vinegar, which has the potential to significantly alter the taste. When pickling peppers, jars with rubber seals are recommended for the tightest fit without ingredients touching metal. Kilner jars, which have rubber sealed glass lids held in place by clips, are considered ideal for pickling peppers.

Large peppers such as sweet bell peppers will not fit in pickling jars unless they are first chopped. The white core and seeds should be removed from chopped peppers and discarded. Smaller peppers can be pickled whole, but slits must be made in the pepper to allow the vinegar to fill the cavity inside.

Stainless steel or aluminum cookware is best for pickling.
Stainless steel or aluminum cookware is best for pickling.

Many peppers are quite spicy, and some protection may be required while handling them. Rubber or plastic gloves should be worn to keep the hands free of irritants while working with them. Special care should be taken to avoid touching the face and especially the eyes when pickling peppers that are spicy.

After the pickling process is complete, the peppers will need time before they are ready to eat. Typically, pickled peppers should be allowed to stand for two to four weeks before they are mature enough to eat. Pickles left too long, generally over three months, are still edible, but they will usually begin to lose their crispness.

Discussion Comments

Hazali

Even though there are many people who prefer to buy their own pickled peppers, making your own at home can be just as fun, if not even more so. In fact, in some ways, if you were to pickle your own food at home, the results might be even better than if you were to buy it at the store.

After all, while the brine is used to pickle and preserve things, on the other hand, how long is the food product supposed to stay in there? Considering how some foods at grocery stores can stay on shelves for a long time before they're even touched, it's certainly something to take into consideration.

However, considering how the article mentions that peppers need to be pickled for weeks on end before they're ready, it shouldn't be a problem if one buys them at the grocery store. The fact that these products have an expiration date also says a lot about how long they can last.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Chili peppers.
      Chili peppers.
    • It's best to chop large bell peppers before pickling them.
      By: Natika
      It's best to chop large bell peppers before pickling them.
    • Celery seed is often used in pickled peppers.
      By: travis manley
      Celery seed is often used in pickled peppers.
    • Stainless steel or aluminum cookware is best for pickling.
      By: karandaev
      Stainless steel or aluminum cookware is best for pickling.
    • Salt used for pickling should be free of additives like iodine.
      By: ksena32
      Salt used for pickling should be free of additives like iodine.