How to Make Dried Jalapeño Peppers

Dehydrated jalapeño peppers are great for adding flavor to your recipes and meals. You can even spice up your dishes by adding a little bit of heat!

Drying these spicy peppers allows you to add peppers to your favorite dishes later as well. This makes it easier to save the peppers if you need them later. You can keep these peppers for up to a year if stored properly.

Jump to:

• Can you dehydrate peppers?
• Key ingredients
• Recommended Dehydrating Equipment
• Oven drying Peppers
• How to dehydrate jalapenos
• Expert tricks & tips
• how to rehydrate dried peppers
• how to use dehydrated jalapenos:
• Batch and Storage information
• FAQ
• 📖 Recipe
• more preserving recipes to love 
• 💬 Comments

Dehydrating them only takes a few minutes before placing these peppers into containers, so there's not much preparation needed either.

Can you dehydrate peppers?

Yes, you can dehydrate peppers if you use a food dehydrator or oven. It's an easy way to preserve your summer pepper haul or save them for long-term storage.

Key ingredients

The most crucial ingredient to dehydrating jalapeno peppers is the peppers themselves. Please make sure they are fresh and unblemished.

Recommended Dehydrating Equipment

You're in for a treat if you've decided to dehydrate jalapeño peppers! Jalapeños have a wonderful spicy flavor and are just tasty enough to add some heat when you need it.

To dry your jalapeño peppers, you'll need a few essential pieces of equipment.

Food Dehydrator

First is your dehydrator itself. If you haven't purchased one before, there are many excellent guides out there that can help you figure out which dehydrator is suitable for your needs.

Next is the knife and cutting board—you can use any kitchen knife that's sharp enough to slice through peppers without tearing them up too much.

Glass Jars

A glass mason jar or a sealable plastic bag will come in handy for storing your finished product, as will a label, so you don't forget what's inside! Finally, a pen or marker completes the list of required tools.

Oven drying Peppers

If you’re looking for a way to preserve your jalapeños peppers and you don't have a dehydrator, oven drying is a great option them is a great way to do so. It’s also a great way to prepare for making delicious homemade jalapeño powder

Place your oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 150°F (65°C) if you have an oven thermometer. If you do not have an oven thermometer, preheat to the lowest temperature setting possible. Place your peppers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Bake for 2-3 hours checking every 15-20 minutes after the first hour to make sure they are not burning.

After 2-3 hours, depending on the size of your peppers, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool completely.

To store, place in an airtight container or zip-top bag and store in a cool dry place for up to 6 months.

How to dehydrate jalapenos

You can dehydrate jalapeños two ways: in an oven or a dehydrator. You can also sun-dry jalapeños, but this method takes a very long time and isn't recommended unless you live in a dry and hot climate.

Wash the jalapeño peppers

Wash the jalapeño peppers well under warm water. Remove dirt (if any) from the surface of the peppers. Rinse the jalapeños thoroughly and dry them with a clean paper towel.

Remove stems from the jalapeño peppers

First off, you're going to want to use a sharp knife. A dull blade won't get the job done. You'll also need a cutting board and some gloves. To remove the stems from the jalapeño peppers, you'll want to slice them off at a 45-degree angle with your sharp knife while they are still whole.

If you want to remove the seeds, cut each jalapeño in half lengthwise before slicing it into rings. Or, if you're going to leave the seeds in, slice each whole jalapeño pepper into rounds on your cutting board using your sharp chef's knife, and wear protective gloves for this part!

Slice the jalapeño peppers into rings

Slice the jalapeño peppers with a mandoline that is adjustable to ¼ inch. Ideal for dehydrating, the mandoline will allow you to cut each pepper into consistent discs. If you don't have a mandoline, slice your peppers with a sharp knife and try to make them as even as possible. This will ensure that they dry evenly in your food dehydrator.

Add pieces onto Dehydrator Tray

Place the slices or rings in a single layer in a food dehydrator tray or directly onto an oven-safe screen if your dehydrator has an open design that allows for airflow from all sides. Make sure they are not touching as they will shrink during drying. 

Dehydrate the jalapeño pepper slices

Make sure they are not touching as they will shrink during drying. Place the pepper slices on a dehydrator tray. Put the tray into your dehydrator and dry at 125F for about 10 hours.

Condition peppers to check for moisture

Checking for excess moisture is very important. You don't want your peppers to mold or rot. To check for moisture, I like to add dried peppers into a jar and check on them for the first week. If any moisture appears on the sides of the jar, it's time to re-dehydrate your peppers. Place them back in your dehydrator for another day.

You can also use your oven and place them in an oven at 200 degrees F until they are completely dry (this will only take about 10 minutes).

Expert tricks & tips

It's essential to keep some best practices for working with hot peppers. First and foremost, wash your hands thoroughly after handling hot peppers. They contain oils that can irritate the skin and eyes, so you'll want to wear rubber or plastic gloves when handling them. Wearing gloves is a good idea when handling hot chiles - pepper burns on your hands can linger for days. 

Make sure you have a sharp knife; this will help prevent you from cutting into the spongy pepper tissue and releasing more burning compounds.

Eye protection if any spicy vapors escape while you're slicing. No one has ever complained about a little extra caution when protecting themselves from these fiery fruits!

One final tip: be careful when rehydrating jalapeño slices—especially if they're especially spicy—as they can become hotter once rehydrated due to their increased surface area!

how to rehydrate dried peppers

To rehydrate peppers, soak them in warm water for about 30 minutes. You may need more water to cover the peppers if they are large or don't completely sink in the water.

how to use dehydrated jalapenos:

You can use jalapeño peppers to make your chili powder, hot sauce, salsa, or jalapeño jelly! You can also make jalapeño pickles and jalapeño salt.

Dehydrated jalapenos are fantastic for use in cooking as well. They can spice up a salad or any other dish where you might want to add a little heat and flavor.  

Batch and Storage information

This recipe makes approximately 1 cup of dehydrated jalapeño pepper slices.

To store the dried jalapeños, place them in a glass jar or plastic container with an airtight lid and keep them at room temperature for up to 6 months.

If you want to freeze the dried peppers, place them in freezer bags or other safe containers. The peppers will keep for up to one year in the freezer.

The dehydrated peppers can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored at room temperature until ready to use.

Dry jalapenos can be used in various recipes or eaten as a snack. They are available year-round in most supermarkets, but it is easy to dehydrate them yourself. If done correctly, the dried peppers can be stored for a long time.

FAQ

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