Mankind began to use dried vegetables and fruits a long time ago. At a time when no household appliances existed yet, this was one of the few ways to preserve the harvest. Until now, drying vegetables is considered not only simple, but also financially economical. Drying hot peppers is easy and simple, you will see this by reading the article.
The specifics of drying for the winter
Hot pepper is a product that is applicable in many areas of human life. It is used in cooking, cosmetology and medicine. This spice is native to Central America. In Mexico and Guatemala, where the largest number of species grows, mention of it dates back to the 15th century. In the Old World, the plant became widespread at the beginning of the 16th century. It was brought to Russia from Turkey only at the end of the 16th century.
Hot peppers are most often used in powder form. Today this spice is one of the most common. In almost every home, there are pepperpots with red powder on the table.
You can season almost any dish with red pepper. It will not lose its taste from this, but only acquire a certain piquancy. The main thing is not to overdo it. Particularly popular today are liquid sauces, which are based on red pepper. In medicine, most natural warming ointments are prepared on its basis.
In terms of the amount of nutrients, it is not inferior to other valuable plants. Vitamins A, B, C; magnesium, iron, potassium - this is just an incomplete list of them.
In order to dry a vegetable at home, you must first prepare it. First, you need to sort the pods.
Only specimens with a uniform color are suitable for drying. The absence of damage and any inclusions guarantees the best drying result.
It is better not to dry and store spoiled pods. Secondly, the selected pods must be rinsed under running water and dried with a cotton towel. Thirdly, after a couple of days, when the pepper has slightly dried up, it must be cut into small pieces.
If it is decided to dry completely, then this is not necessary, the small pods dry out completely. It is recommended to cut it with rubber gloves, since the vegetable, if it gets on the skin or mucous membranes, can simply eat them.
The thickness of the cut pieces should be no more than 0.5 cm. In addition, the seeds are removed beforehand.
It is important to always follow safety precautions when working with a bitter product. Hands should be washed thoroughly after processing the pods.
Ways to dry red capsicum at home
You can dry it in several ways. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, after drying in an oven or electric dryer, the pods can be easily ground into powder. The air-dried pod is more difficult to grind.
In the oven
Immediately before drying, the oven must be heated to a temperature of 50-60 degrees. Then finely chopped pepper is laid out on parchment paper and a baking sheet and left for three to four hours.
An alternative to the oven can be a grill. All this time, you need to make sure that the slicing dries evenly, for this you need to stir it occasionally. After a few hours, when the moisture has completely evaporated, the dried product can be taken out and packaged for storage a day later. Such proper drying preserves a large amount of the plant's original nutrients.
How to dry in the electric dryer
Modern housewives have an excellent opportunity to dry vegetables and fruits in dryers. This type of household appliances, such as the VOLTERA 1000 Lux dryer, has a number of advantages: firstly, it is equipped with several tiers with trays on which products are laid out; secondly, the dryers have a special ventilation system, which guarantees the safety of supplies from decay; thirdly, in such a dryer, you can quickly adjust the temperature.
The drying process is as follows: pre-prepared peppers are placed on the grates and the device is turned on at maximum power for 10-12 hours. Cut pods dry in half. The dried peppers are then stored.
How to dry hot pods in the fresh air whole on a string
Sun drying is the most affordable and popular method. The pods are strung on a thread. This is done with a needle. The holes are made below the stalk.
It is important that the pods do not touch each other and that they are well ventilated. Chopped peppers are dried on paper or sieve. The disadvantage of this method is that it is the longest in time. But he is the most natural.
Microwave recipe
The microwave is not the most convenient place to dry. But, if you need to dry quickly, then it is most suitable. It is better to dry the cut pods in the microwave. For high-quality drying, the average power is set. The liquid from the pepper in the microwave evaporates after ten minutes.
How to properly store and use hot peppers
Dried red peppers can be ground in a coffee grinder. Then for the winter it can be compactly arranged in pre-prepared jars. It is important that the container is tightly closed, otherwise the powder may become damp. In contrast, whole pods are recommended to be stored in containers covered with several layers of gauze or cloth. Such peppers must have a constant flow of fresh air, then it will not grow moldy.
The cooked spice will suit many dishes as a spicy and healthy seasoning. It is often used in recipes for various salads, stews, canned food and many other pickles.
We also recommend reading articles about drying mouth-watering Bulgarian
pepper and crispy carrots.