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Home » Preserving Food

Published: Jul 18, 2019 · Modified: Aug 10, 2022 by Kathy

Roasting and Freezing Chili Peppers

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A variety of green chili peppers and one red chili pepper.

Roasting and Freezing Chili Peppers - How to roast and preserve peppers to last year round. Step by step directions on how to roast chili peppers on a gas grill and how to freeze roasted peppers.

Fresh jalapenos, anaheims and poblano peppers in a white bowl.

Harvest season is a busy time of year for us. Everything seems to ripen at the same time.

We are busily trying to get everything picked, cleaned, canned, dried or frozen. This week I picked the last of our peppers; jalapenos, anaheims and poblanos. Since we can't possibly eat all of these peppers fresh, I roast and freeze them to last throughout the year. I often use the poblano peppers when making this Chili Relleno Casserole.

Another great recipe for using up the peppers is making pickled peppers!

Anaheim peppers, jalapeno peppers and poblana peppers in a pile.

Why roast chili peppers?

Roasting peppers brings out an amazing flavor of the pepper. It also makes it easy to remove the outer layer or skin of the pepper so you are just left with the meaty part of the pepper.

If you've ever been to a farmer's market in the southwest you may have seen and smelled roasting peppers. New Mexico is famous for their Hatch green chilies. They are roasted in a huge caged drum over a hot fire. The drum rotates slowly so that all the peppers are evenly roasted.

The smell of these chilies roasting is amazing. Since I don't have such a contraption, I've had to improvise. I use my gas grill, but I can achieve delicious results.

A BBQ grill filled with chili peppers.

What type of peppers can I roast and freeze?

You can roast just about any type of pepper. Make certain the pepper isn't too small or there may not be enough meat on the pepper.

Some of my favorites include:

  • Jalapenos
  • Pablanos
  • Anaheim peppers
  • Sweet bell peppers
Jalapeno peppers on a gas grill.

Roast on a gas grill

  • Turn all burners to high
  • Allow grates to heat up for at least 5 minutes
  • Place chilies on grate
  • Turn every 3-5 minutes
  • Continue rotating until peppers are charred on all sides

To use right away

To use fresh, roast the chilies. When they are done, place them directly into a paper bag (lunch bag size) and fold bag closed.

Roasted jalapeno pepper being placed into a paper bag.

Leave peppers in bag for about 10 minutes. This allows the chilies to sweat which makes the skins easier to remove.

A paper bag on a white board with a a pair of tongs next to the bag.

To remove skins place a roasted pepper on a cutting board, cut off the top and slice the pepper open lengthwise. Scrape off all the seeds. Then peel off the skins with your fingers or a small knife. It's okay to leave a bit of skin on the pepper.

How do I freeze roasted chili peppers?

To freeze, leave peppers whole and freeze on a lined baking sheet.

A tray full of roasted chili peppers.

Place the entire tray in a freezer for at least 1 hour until frozen solid.

Frozen chili peppers in a pile on a white board.

Then move the peppers to a freezer bag.

Roasted peppers in a freezer safe bag.

How do I use frozen peppers?

When you need a pepper, just take the amount you need out of the freezer and run each pepper under warm water.

A roasted anaheim pepper held under running water in the sink.

The skin  just slips away and you're left with just the meat of the pepper. Pull off the top of your pepper and slice the pepper open (often you can do this with your fingers and you don't need a knife.)  Continue rinsing until the seeds are removed.

Anaheim pepper with roasted skin peeling off pepper.

Recipes with roasted peppers

Some of my favorite recipes include Tortilla Pinwheels, Enchilada Bake, Green Chili Sauce and White Chicken Chili.

roasted anaheim peppers on a baking sheet.

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Roasted anaheim pepper without skin or seeds.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

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Listen to the recipe

You can listen to all the steps on how to roast peppers on the podcast Preserving the Pantry! Just click on the play button below to listen now!

An assortment of green chili peppers and one red jalapeno.

Roasting and Freezing Peppers

Kathy Berget
Tips on roasting and freezing fresh chili peppers
5 from 28 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Freeze Time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
Course Vegetable
Cuisine American, Mexican
Servings 1 batch
Calories 16 kcal
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
  

  • 5-10 whole Chili Peppers (you can use any amount of peppers you have on hand.)

Instructions
 

  • Place whole peppers on a hot gas grill over high heat.
  • Rotate peppers every couple of minutes so you achieve a char, but not a burn. You want to achieve a char on all sides.
  • Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and place baking sheet directly in the freezer for 1-2 hours until peppers are frozen,
  • Remove frozen peppers from baking sheet and place in a freezer bag.
  • To use, remove desired amount of peppers from freezer.
  • Place under warm running water. The skins will slip right off and the seeds will rinse out.
  • Cut off the top and use the meaty part of the pepper.

Notes

You can use any kinds of chili pepper. Roast the amount you have on hand.

Nutritional Disclaimer:

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cupCalories: 16kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 5mgPotassium: 94mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1325IUVitamin C: 1.6mgIron: 0.3mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @BeyondTheChickenCoop or tag #beyondthechickencoop!

Update Notes: This post was originally published in September 2015. The post and pictures have been updated.

 

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laura says

    September 15, 2022 at 3:20 am

    How long will these stay good when frozen?

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      September 15, 2022 at 5:21 am

      Hi Laura,
      When stored in a deep freezer, they will maintain their quality for up to a year. Longer than a year, they start to lose their quality, but they are still edible.
      Enjoy,
      Kathy

      Reply
  2. Stacy says

    August 18, 2022 at 6:46 pm

    5 stars
    I live in southern CA and buy hatch chili peppers from NM at the end of summer but I usually just buy what I can cook. I roasted and froze a few pounds this time around and used a few tonight in some mac n cheese. This makes peeling and seeding roasted peppers so easy!! I am excited to have real hatch chili peppers for autumn months ahead. Thanks for great recipe! 🙂

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      August 19, 2022 at 8:55 am

      Good job on stocking up the freezer and making certain you have some to use all year long! I have not added to mac and cheese before but that's one I'll have to try soon! Sounds delish!!! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Dee says

    September 03, 2021 at 7:06 am

    5 stars
    Just followed your instructions for Anahein, Ancho and Jalapeno peppers from my garden. Thank you for the clear, complete steps!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      September 03, 2021 at 7:07 am

      Thanks, Dee!!!

      Reply
  4. Suz says

    October 26, 2020 at 6:43 am

    Don't forget to wear gloves! I processed a bushel of roasted medium hatch green chilies yesterday and my hands literally burned for hours afterward. I won't make that mistake again!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      October 26, 2020 at 4:18 pm

      Thanks for the tip! Some peppers are hotter than others and some people are more susceptible to the heat. Gloves are a good idea!

      Reply
  5. Michelle Severe says

    October 04, 2020 at 4:34 pm

    I pull the skins when cool enough to handle, clean the seeds out scraping with a knife, then chop them up & freeze on a lined cookie sheet using an ice cream scoop! Throw in a gallon zip lock bag, perfect portions or freeze spread out, then use what you need!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      October 04, 2020 at 5:02 pm

      Great idea! Thanks 🙂

      Reply
  6. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

    July 22, 2019 at 8:56 am

    5 stars
    So many great tips! Love roasted peppers and love the idea of freezing some to have all year long 🙂 !

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      July 26, 2019 at 5:20 pm

      There's nothing better in the middle of winter than finding a bit of summer in your freezer!

      Reply
  7. Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes says

    July 18, 2019 at 9:16 pm

    5 stars
    What a fantastic idea! I never would have thought to freeze the chili peppers. Roasting them sounds delicious, too!
    I do love chili 😉
    Thanks for all of the information, this is such a useful post!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      July 19, 2019 at 6:26 am

      They are so easy to use frozen and you can just pull out the amount you need.

      Reply
  8. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

    July 18, 2019 at 6:32 am

    5 stars
    Great idea for a post Kathy! Thanks for all the valuable info!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      July 19, 2019 at 6:29 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  9. Jane says

    October 23, 2018 at 11:34 am

    5 stars
    Are the frozen peppers mushy when you use them, or do they remain sliceable? Any tips where to find recipes to use the frozen peppers? Thank you for this interesting post. I grew a plant for the first time this year and have so many to harvest now!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      October 23, 2018 at 6:50 pm

      How lucky for you to have a bunch of peppers to harvest! These peppers don't turn mushy, but they are soft. They are very similar to peppers you buy in a can. I have a few recipes that use the peppers. Check out Mexican Tortilla Pinwheels or Enchilada Soup. Good luck with roasting and freezing the peppers!

      Reply
  10. Maya @ Treats and Eats says

    September 29, 2015 at 10:28 am

    Wow- that's a TON of peppers! What a genius idea to roast and then freeze!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      September 29, 2015 at 7:20 pm

      I love making them last way beyond the growing season!

      Reply
  11. Senika @ Foodie Blog Stalker says

    September 28, 2015 at 3:36 pm

    They all look SO gorgeous! I think Anaheims are my new favorite 🙂 A friend gifted me a bunch of roasted hatch chilis a few weeks ago that I froze. Love having them ready for me!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      September 29, 2015 at 4:31 am

      Lucky you! What a wonderful gift!

      Reply
  12. Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says

    September 28, 2015 at 11:19 am

    This is an awesome post, Kathy. I need to go and grab some chili peppers, so that I can savor them year long. Thanks for this lovely share.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      September 29, 2015 at 5:47 am

      Thanks, Anu!

      Reply
  13. Laura says

    September 28, 2015 at 5:55 am

    We have the exact same problem Kathy, too many peppers to use fresh and not knowing what to do with. Awesome post! And I don't really eat too many peppers (I know, so why do I plant so many, dunno!). But my husband LOVES them in salads and soups and I throw them on his pizza to get his veggie quota in. This is great!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      September 29, 2015 at 5:48 am

      On pizza!!! What a brilliant idea!

      Reply
  14. David @ Spiced says

    September 28, 2015 at 5:43 am

    This post is perfect! I'm about to go pick the last few peppers in our garden since the mornings are getting quite chilly now. I've never roasted peppers before freezing them...but this is a great idea. I bet they would be the perfect addition to winter soups! 🙂

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      September 29, 2015 at 5:51 am

      I hope you had a great crop of peppers. I love the idea of adding to soups. I will have to try it!

      Reply
  15. Danielle @ So Munch Love says

    September 26, 2015 at 9:54 am

    I'm doing a happy little dance over here while reading your post. I LOVE chiles and have a glut of jalapenos in my garden right now, so this is super cool. I love eating them so much when they're fresh, I didn't think to roast and freeze them. Great idea! Hopefully, I can get a few to turn red before then. ��?��???

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      September 26, 2015 at 5:35 pm

      Roasting and freezing them lets you enjoy them all year long.

      Reply
  16. Cakespy says

    September 26, 2015 at 7:40 am

    It being that I live in New Mexico, this is particularly useful!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      September 26, 2015 at 5:34 pm

      Lucky you! You have access to the very best chilies!

      Reply
5 from 28 votes (22 ratings without comment)

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I'm Kathy, and I love to create delicious recipes from scratch utilizing many ingredients that we grow and raise. I'm a recipe creator, food photographer, and cookbook author!

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