[kermit]

And don't visit the loo half way through...

Back to topic I still have dried chillis from 2 years ago. But I found I prefer the froZen ones - the dried ones can be a bit chewy unless u stew in the pot for a while, in which case u lose some heat. Frozen ones dead easy. Out of freezer. Chop when still frozen then into pan to briefly defrost.

I also read in the guardian that if u pick when still green they tend to be hotter than fully ripe red ones - didn't know that.

[arugula]

Two good tips there kermit, thanks!

[compostqueen]

After my chilli incident last year I am very careful now. That was my second chilli incident and there will not be a third 

I am going to dry them and whizz them up in my Moulinex herb mill in small batches, whilst standing well back and having all the windows open and my nose and mouth covered. Hands will be gloved!

I froze a load of chillies once but prepared them first by splitting them in half and removing the seeds. What a mistake to make  Little did I know that I would be gassed. I just about choked to death.  FREEZE THEM WHOLE, don't interfere with them other than maybe removing the stalk. 

[Silkworm]

Thanks, again everyone, would have thought that they would have been hotter when red and ripe, well you live and you learn.

Thanks Silky 

[sunshineband]

After my chilli incident last year I am very careful now. That was my second chilli incident and there will not be a third 

I am going to dry them and whizz them up in my Moulinex herb mill in small batches, whilst standing well back and having all the windows open and my nose and mouth covered. Hands will be gloved!

I froze a load of chillies once but prepared them first by splitting them in half and removing the seeds. What a mistake to make  Little did I know that I would be gassed. I just about choked to death.  FREEZE THEM WHOLE, don't interfere with them other than maybe removing the stalk. 

I feel for you --- been there, done that and never again 

[JayG]

Seem to remember something in one of Bill Bryson's books where he mentioned how many US citizens had accidents in their homes involving their underwear (or something equally unlikely!) 

If you whizz up your dried chillies in a covered coffee grinder (or similar) and tip the powder out gently (in anything less than a force 9 gale!) into a jar, I think you will avoid being a statistic in any of his future books! 

[compostqueen]

 

One year I dried them on kitchen paper above the lounge fireplace. They looked fine when I jarred them up but they went mouldy 

Since using the electric dryer I had as a gift I've had complete success. Last year's crop is still in good nick in sterilised jars in my cuboard. Not got many left though.  They still keep their heat despite being dried, or do they get even hotter once dried?