Preserving Peppers at Home: From Fresh Chilis to Pantry Staples

Discover safe ways to preserve peppers at home, including freezing, dehydrating, pickling and canning.

Fresh peppers can be sweet, mild, smoky, or seriously hot, and there are plenty of ways to preserve them for later. Ready to spice it up?

You're invited to join UC Master Food Preserver Online Delivery volunteers to explore safe, research-based ways to turn fresh chilis into pantry and freezer staples.

We’ll look at different types of peppers, what the Scoville scale tells you about their heat, and how to handle hot peppers safely. Then we’ll explore several preservation methods, from freezing and dehydrating to pickling and canning, including what makes each method work and when to use a tested recipe.

What we’ll explore

• Pepper varieties, heat levels, and safe handling
• Freezing and dehydrating peppers
• Pickling for the refrigerator or pantry
• Safe home canning using tested recipes
• A sweet-and-spicy pepper spread

Whether your peppers come from your garden, farmers market, produce stand, or grocery store, you’ll discover ways to safely preserve them to enjoy later.

Bring your questions! UC Master Food Preservers will be available during the class to answer questions about safe home food preservation.

Photo Credit: Henry Shaw