Freezing Bell Peppers: a Tutorial

Freezing bell peppers: a tutorial is for people with an abundance of bell peppers in their garden, or who purchase bell peppers in their local grocery stores when they are on sale. There is never a good reason for a pepper to rot in the vegetable draw of the refrigerator, as freezing bell peppers is so easy.

Freezing bell peppers has heath benefits:

Bell peppers added to any recipe will add a mere 24 calories, however, will add oh so many vitamins. Bell peppers whether sweet or fiery hot, add over 100% of your daily need of vitamins A and C in just 1-cup. Freezing bell peppers whether fresh from your garden, a farmers market or even your local grocery store simply makes nutritional sense.

According to WebMD, “Go for a variety of colors in peppers to get the biggest bang for your buck. Red bell peppers are a good source of fiber, folate, vitamin K, and the minerals molybdenum and manganese. And, they're especially rich in nutrients and phytochemicals such as:

• Vitamin A, which may help preserve eyesight, and fend off infections
• Vitamin C, which may lower cancer risk and protect against cataracts
• Vitamin B6, which is vital for essential chemical reactions throughout the body, including those involving brain and immune function
• Lutein and zeaxanthin, which may slow the development of eye diseases, such as cataracts or macular degeneration
• Beta-carotene, which may help protect against certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer in women before menopause
• Lycopene, which may decrease the risk for ovarian cancer”

Freezing bell peppers a nightshade plant:

The downside according to Ygoy.com is that peppers are part of the nightshade family of plants and people having arthritis may find joint flare-ups when eating nightshade plants such as green peppers. Ygoy explains, “Nightshade vegetables contain solanine which is a glycoalkaloid. Properties of this compound are given below
This compound is toxic if consumed in high doses

·       This compound is toxic if consumed in high doses

·       It has the potential to affect the enzymatic reactions which involve calcium hence resulting in weakening of the bones and joints.”

 

 Things needed for freezing bell peppers: a tutorial:

• Garden/Farmers Market/Sale shopping skills
• Green, Red, Yellow or Orange Peppers
• Plastic Freezer Bags
• Sharp knife
• Marking pen 

Instructions for freezing bell peppers: a tutorial:

1. Pick the bell peppers from your garden as they come on or ripen and especially if you have heard the hard freeze is coming over night. Peppers will freeze very easily.
2. Place the bell peppers in the kitchen sink and wash them well. Even if they are organic peppers they need washed.
3. Cut your bell peppers in ½ length wise and removing all the seeds and the rinse them again.washed.
4. Take the bell pepper halves and cute in bite size pieces or slices. The size of the pieces will depend on how you will use them in your recipes.
5. Put the pepper chunks in freezer bags; mark the freezer bag with the month and year. Place the full bags whether quart of gallon size in the freezer in manner so they will freeze quickly.
6. Making your favorite recipes just became easier, instead of running to the store, just go to your freezer. It is a little extra work freezing bell peppers now; however the work will pay off later.