Nobody’s Got Time For Blanching! How To Freeze Peppers In A Snap
Now is the perfect time to freeze peppers! Farmers’ markets and gardens are bursting with sweet, colorful peppers — and freezing them is one of the easiest ways to preserve that summer flavor for months to come.
Here’s the best part: peppers don’t need blanching. Just wash, slice, and pop them into freezer bags. It’s a fast, no-fuss method that locks in their vibrant color and rich flavor.
While frozen peppers won’t have that fresh-from-the-garden crunch (so skip the salad), they’re absolutely perfect for cooking. Toss them into fajitas, stir-fries, pepper steak, or any recipe that loves a little sweet heat.
You’ll be so glad you saved some for cozy meals all winter long! Frozen peppers are great to have on hand for so many recipes; they are well worth the freezer space!
Follow These Simple Steps To Freeze Peppers
Wash anddry peppers, and keep them dry. Don’t rinse them after you cut them up! It will help prevent freezer burn.
Cut away any bad spots
Remove the stem, core, and seeds.
Decide what shape you want your peppers to be. You can cut them into rings, strips, or chop them. It depends on how you plan to use them and how much freezer space you have. You can even leave them whole and use them to make stuffed peppers. So let’s get busy and freeze peppers!
Lay them out in a single layer on a cookie tray you have covered with parchment paper. This way, they will freeze fast and stay separated, so you can grab what you need.
Pack in freezer bags, squeezing out as much air as possible. Or use containers made for freezing, not butter tubs or cottage cheese cartons; as tempting as it is, they are not designed for freezing.
I also like to freeze long strips of peppers in wide-mouth mason jars if I have space! That way I can easily pull out a few strips.
Store in your deep freeze. The colder the better, zero degrees is ideal. They will stay fresh and ready to use in your favorite recipes for six to eight months, time enough for a new crop of peppers!
All winter long, you can enjoy recipes like Chicken Fajitas, Pepper Steak, and a family favorite, Blanche Matthew's Sloppy Joes.
Yes! Bell peppers are one of the few vegetables that freeze beautifully without blanching. Simply wash, dry, chop or slice them, and freeze in airtight freezer bags or containers. They'll keep their best quality for up to 10 months.
Do I need to thaw frozen peppers before cooking?
No. Frozen peppers can go straight from the freezer into soups, stews, casseroles, fajitas, stir-fries, omelets, and pasta dishes. There's no need to thaw them first.
What can I make with frozen peppers?
Frozen peppers are perfect for everyday cooking. Add them to chili, spaghetti sauce, pizza, scrambled eggs, fried rice, stuffed pepper filling, or slow cooker recipes. They're best used in cooked dishes rather than fresh salads because freezing softens their texture.
Other Great Ways To Use Your Frozen Peppers
Stir-fry: Use your favorite fresh or frozen vegetables, adding peppers towards the end to warm through. They don’t need much time to cook, and they add such great color to wintertime stir-fries!
Soups: Roasted red pepper soup can be made using frozen peppers! Wonderful flavor!
Fajitas: Slice and sauté onions until they just begin to brown, then toss in frozen pepper strips and sauté lightly. Boom! You are ready for fajitas!
Italian sausage sandwiches/subs: Sauté onions and peppers as you would for fajitas, then put them on a hoagie bun with Italian sausage!
Pizza topping: Use chopped frozen peppers on a pizza! Easy and adds a touch of sweet flavor!
Chili: Add frozen chopped peppers to the pot of chili towards the end of cooking time.
Egg dishes: Scramble frozen chopped peppers with eggs, or in a quiche or frittata!
Here’s some great news! You can use the same technique to freeze onions, spinach, kale, and celery, too! Everything you need for delicious hot dishes will be ready at your fingertips! Now’s the perfect time to stock your freezer with nature’s bounty!
If you enjoyed a post, I'd love it if you would leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review or a comment. It really helps my little business connect with other people like us who love to eat well without a lot of fuss! ❤❤
Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free gift! A printable sign that would look great in your kitchen, framed above your sink, or just placed anywhere to remind us how lucky we are to have dirty dishes!
Sign up now!