[cudders]

Hi,

Got a huge pile of chillis I need to store.

I guess they need to be dried so at what temp and how long in the oven?

Ta,

Cudders

[breathecosse]

60 degrees for around 5 hours.
If they are thick walled varieties cut them in half before drying.

You could also freeze some.

[compostqueen]

I tried drying mine but not sure I've managed it and some feel soft. I dried mine in the oven, on the lowest setting with the door spragged open, as suggested.  They weren't dry after hours in there so I finished them off on kitchen paper . They feel quite dry so I've packed them into a screw top jar. I'll keep my eye on them in case they start to mould

I've got some in the fridge in a Tupperware box, frozen some whole and the rest are still on the plants in the greenhouse, ripening hopefully  

I fancy one of those dehydrators. Might ask Santa to buy me one  

[Brambles]

I usually keep my harvested chillis in a paper bag or in a cardboard box, they dry out naturally and keep indefinitely (at least until next seasons fruits.. if they last that long!)  Never had any trouble with mould, though have to say I do have an aga and my "chilli cupboard" is right next to it .
This year had a poor crop, though peppers were in abundance... those I froze

[compostqueen]

Ah !   I gave my nephew some of my Lemon Drops and he kept them in the paper bag I put them in. He says his have kept very well so far

Ta for the tip

[Val H]

You might find this article of interest Drying Fruit and Veg
Just stringing the long ones works for me. I tend to cut jalapeno ones in half, remove the seeds, open tray freeze them and, once frozen, tip them into a bag.

[cudders]

Many thanks chaps.

Didnt see the area with all the storing info etc! What a great read and so uch usefull info!

Thx again,

Cudders

[cawdor2001]

i just hung mine up in the kitchen and left to dry out over a long period, 1 month or so and then crushed them all up together, seeds and all, in a mortar and pestle and now have a jar of fantastic chilli flakes.   final harvested lot just been hung but also put a bag full straight into the freezer as fresh, take out and use as needed.

Cawdor

[TECC2009]

that if you tie the stems onto a sturdy piece of twine, placing chilies close together and making the strand as long as you wish. Hang in dry area with the air circulating freely around the strand.

Hope this helps

[titch]

we chopped some of ours fresh, put them inot ice cube trays, bit of water to cover and froze them - i now have chilli wheneve ri need one and we put one chilli to cube, roughly - but they were only little ones - fiery little suckers though
also dried and crushed some - warning - do not smell them once they are dried - its amazing how far up you nose one little smel can go  :shock:

[Sadgit]

I dried my joes long and the rest got stuck in a hand blender and wizzed to a pulp, then put it in freezer bags. whneI want some I chip a chunk of it off and pop that into chilli/curry etc.

[feuillesrouges]

I had a glut of chillis this year (funny that, as the peppers did really badly).   I dried some on strings by the cellar door, roasted some in the oven and put them in a jar with olive oil (in the fridge), pickled others whole (not yet tried them so will report back) and made this jelly with the rest:

http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/?p=470

I used apples rather than crab apples and the result was fantastic - great with cold meats and hard cheeses.    I'd  heartily recommend this recipe, and the blog is great, too!

I've tried freezing chillis in the past but have never been that impressed with the texture when they come out of the freezer.

[SpudtheBinx]

I tend to use an electric food dehydrator, but I found the best dried chillies I made were ones I left in my drawer at work. If you have access to an aircon office just tuck em in your drawer in a paper bag for a few weeks

Don't ask why I had a load of chillies at work becasue I have no idea.

[blulagoo]

After giving mne a wipe I put them in the fridge door (covered shelf meant for cheese). They dry ou lovely over a period of time and are fantastic in cooked dishes.

Only found this out by error  :oops:

[sunshineband]

Yes I have found dehydrated chillis in the fridge door, and so this year I put a few in to try it out --- good stuff. Wonder why so many of us had such great crops this year and yet my peppers were a disaster?