How to dry out hot peppers so you can same them for later??

[jwmghf]

Hey guys:
 
That's essentially it.  I have a bunch of Caralina reaper peppers I like to  save  for another day.  How do I go about drying them out ??
 
Thanks

 

[peppamang]

Wash them
Put on disposable gloves
Cut them in half
Deseed (save seeds if you want)
Cut halves in half again
Preheat oven to 170 or however low your oven goes (up to 200 is fine)
Lay a sheet of parchment paper on a cookie tray
Put your quarters on the tray
Stick em in, keep an eye on them. They can take anywhere from 2 hours to 4. Sometimes longer.
 
cheers

 

[jwmghf]

"Stick em in, keep an eye on them. They can take anywhere from 2 hours to 4. Sometimes longer."
 
 

Thanks for the quick reply peppamang!!!  How can you tell when they are done? What should I be looking for?
 

 

[The Hot Pepper]

Done = no water. Pick one up and see if it is brittle. It should crush no problem. (Reaper that is. Thick walled peppers are different.)

 

[jwmghf]

Got it!!!  Thanks On Fire!!!

 

[Scovie]

Glasses are a good idea too.

You havent lived until you get a seed in the eye. :Rofl:

 

[Shorerider]

Glasses are a good idea too.

You havent lived until you get a seed in the eye.

 
That's what she said.     

 

[peppamang]

 
That's what she said.     

 
laughed too hard 

 

[The Hot Pepper]

Let's not scare the new user away. Back on topic.

 

[jwmghf]

No worries On Fire1.  All good here!!!!!  I love pepper humor!!!

 

[Spokanepepperman]

My oven goes at 125 for up to 14 hours I try to retain as much of the original color and flavor as I can lower temps help that

 

[jwmghf]

Good to know Spokanepepperman!!!  The lower the better.

 

 

[Hafners]

Be sure to open the oven door slowly and with your face way far back from it. With super hots the vapors can be like getting pepper sprayed. I learned my lesson drying ghosts in my smoker.....

 

[jwmghf]

Thanks Hafners!!!  I can see I'm gonna be very well prepared for this.

 

[willard3]

Google "ristra", a great way to dry and preserve chiles

 

[jwmghf]

Thanks willard!!!  I will!!!

 

[Scovie]

I have never seen a Ristra made with Carolina Reapers and I highly doubt it would work in New Jersey anyway. Ristras are mostly down in New Mexico where its hot and arid. You really should cut them in half, I have seen whole pods puff up like a balloon in the dehydrator, then mold. Cutting them in half and drying them skin side down allows the water to evaporate at an accelerated rate, thus preventing mold.

But by all means, make a Ristra if that floats your boat. Pics please!! LOL

 

[RoyBoy]

Glasses are a good idea too.

You havent lived until you get a seed in the eye.

 
BwaHaHaHaHa......Excellent!!!! Just spilled my coffee I laughed so hard!!!

 

 

[willard3]

If you keep the RH low and the temp above freezing, ristras will work anywhere.
 
In the attic is good.

 

[jwmghf]

Ready to pick and dry the peppers!!!  Do I pull the whole stem that the pepper is connected to off of the plant?  Or pick it right at the top of the pepper?
 
Also, once they're dried. What do I do with them?  Freeze them?  Obviously cook with them, but what to do with them to store them for future use?
 
Thanks!!!