2 questions, what are they like when you defrost them? are they a bit soft/squishy? Also, what do you use them in. I rarely cook with chillies, but would like to more, so not sure what to make with them?
We cook a lot with chillies and only tend to use one or two in a recipe, so they last us quite a long time. They are not as crisp once defrosted, but I wouldn't go so far as to call them mushy. Just softer. And we've not noticed any loss of flavour. Why not pop a ripe one (bought or harvested) in the freezer, then bring it out to use it and see what you think?
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There are different ways of drying them @LG You can dry them in a food dehydrator or string them and hang them somewhere hot and sunny or in an airing cupboard if you have one. When they are dry they feel dry and papery and start flaking. You can then whizz them in a grinder and put into jars.
If you have only a few fruit, I would hang them on threads to dry and then make garlands for the house. They hold their colour well. If you want to use them at any point later on, just wash them under the tap. They make good Christmas decorations.
You can simply pick the ripe ones and dry them - use a needle and cotton thread - pierce the top green part ( not the fruit itself ) and hang up to dry in a warm and airy place ( A C is ideal ). When thoroughly dry, store whole in an airtight container somewhere cool. You can grind the fruit as and when you need it. Personally, I find it very useful to add a pinch here and there whenever you want to spice something up a bit - a good example being Baked Beans - far too sweet these days and a pinch of Chilli and Black Pepper makes all the difference Plenty of other uses as well. If you want to make Chilli oil then just slit the ripe fruits open, don't discard the seeds. Place the fruit in a jar, fill with Olive oil and leave for several weeks. When it reaches the level of flavour that suits you, strain off and store the clear oil for future use. I've been using this method for years and it works well.
I pick the chillies when they are still green and freeze them in a Ziploc bag. When needed, I take 2 or 3 chillies at a time, chop them for use. I use them mostly in stir fried dishes and curries.
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I pick mine as they ripen. If I do not want to cook with them straight away I wash, dry, and put them into a small jar of vinegar in the fridge. They keep for 2/3 years. I use an empty spice jar as the container. I have also threaded mine on cotton thread to dry then hung them on a cupboard handle in the kitchen to use as and when. Because they keep so well I only grow one plant every 3 or 4 years. Chilies need to be sown in heat early, Jan/Feb. to get a full growing season in, they also need heat whilst growing, they are wind pollinated so if indoors in a greenhouse you should give the plant a shake each day, if they are growing outdoors wind will usually do the job for you. I have one in a pot in the garden at present and it is thick with fruit, really enjoying the heat, which I am not!
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They are not as crisp once defrosted, but I wouldn't go so far as to call them mushy. Just softer. And we've not noticed any loss of flavour. Why not pop a ripe one (bought or harvested) in the freezer, then bring it out to use it and see what you think?
If you want to make Chilli oil then just slit the ripe fruits open, don't discard the seeds. Place the fruit in a jar, fill with Olive oil and leave for several weeks. When it reaches the level of flavour that suits you, strain off and store the clear oil for future use. I've been using this method for years and it works well.
I use an empty spice jar as the container. I have also threaded mine on cotton thread to dry then hung them on a cupboard handle in the kitchen to use as and when. Because they keep so well I only grow one plant every 3 or 4 years.
Chilies need to be sown in heat early, Jan/Feb. to get a full growing season in, they also need heat whilst growing, they are wind pollinated so if indoors in a greenhouse you should give the plant a shake each day, if they are growing outdoors wind will usually do the job for you. I have one in a pot in the garden at present and it is thick with fruit, really enjoying the heat, which I am not!