5 Easy Ways to Preserve Jalapeños

1. Freeze them whole - easiest method
Wash and dry thoroughly, then freeze whole jalapeños in a freezer bag or container. No blanching needed. Pull one out whenever you need it for chili, soups, sauces or cooking. They’ll soften after thawing, but the flavour and heat are still great.

2. Freeze them sliced
Remove stems and slice into rings. Freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag once frozen. This keeps them from freezing into one big clump. Perfect for grabbing a handful at a time.

3. Make quick-pickled jalapeños
Slice jalapeños into rings and pack into a clean jar. Bring 1 cup white vinegar + 1 cup water + 2 Tbsp sugar + 1 Tbsp salt to a simmer. Pour over the peppers, cool, cover and refrigerate. They're great on burgers, tacos, nachos, sandwiches and eggs. These are refrigerator pickles, not shelf-stable canned pickles.

4. Dehydrate them
Slice thinly and dehydrate at approximately 125°F/52°C until completely brittle. Store whole or grind into jalapeño flakes or powder. This is a fantastic way to add a little heat throughout the winter. Wear gloves when handling and be careful when grinding dried peppers—the airborne powder can be irritating.

5. Make jalapeño freezer cubes
Finely chop jalapeños and portion them into an ice cube tray with a little water. Freeze, pop out and store the cubes in a freezer bag. Toss one straight into chili, soups, stews or sauces.

🌶️ Homestead Harvest Hack

Too many jalapeños? Don't let them go to waste.

Freezing is the easiest option: wash, dry and freeze them whole, no blanching required. When winter rolls around, simply grab what you need and chop it straight from frozen.