I store my dried peppers in glass bottles and recently when i reached for my peppers i saw fuzz and a few insects inside the bottle. I live in Montreal and this winter the heaters are always on. Maybe too humid or should i store them some other way.
I got the peppers ~6months ago.
although i am no expert on peppers last fall i took my g/f to an apple orchard that had habaneros jalapenos and some other peppers paid 1.09 a pound. came home dehydrated them then put them in zip lock bags took all the air out of them then placed the bags in a tupperware container then stored them in basement fruit cellar (its cool dry and no light) they are still good you might be gettin to much moisture and light
but i could be wrong i am no expert
Tom
I agree with Bent and Potawie they must not been dry all the way .Been drying for year and all ways store in air tight bags till I need to grind ,never had that problem and the bugs like Bent said had to be in the pods or on them.
Dan
Were the bugs alive or dead?
When I dry my pods now, I cut each open or in half to see if there are any nasties. There is always one or two varieties for me every year that have high percentage with moldy innards or bug yuk.
The bugs inside the peppers could have been pepper maggots that matured to adults...the drying process may not have been hot enough to kill the buggers to begin with.
Were the bugs alive or dead?
When I dry my pods now, I cut each open or in half to see if there are any nasties. There is always one or two varieties for me every year that have high percentage with moldy innards or bug yuk.
The peppers i have are aji amarillo and ancho but came from the same company. I Have other peppers from india that are still fine. Maybe as you all said could be a bad batch.
thanks
Last year I had a problem where moths got into some of my stock and just decimated it. Have no clue how they got in there in the first place....bastard at my peppers!