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.

Freezing Green Peppers: without blanching

Having a garden can be very rewarding. We love green peppers to eat fresh, for stuffing and then before a frost, we harvest all the remaining green peppers and I cut/dice and freeze them to use later.

Green peppers and onions go in many of our recipes. With that said, there is never a good reason for a bell pepper to rot in the vegetable draw of the refrigerator, as freezing peppers is so easy.

Tutorial for Freezing Green Peppers 

The link above is a tutorial on freezing bell peppers as well as helpful facts about the bell pepper itself. I will share this tip; you do not need great skills in freezing peppers just time.

Supplies needed for freezing peppers:

• Green, Red, Yellow or Orange Peppers
• Plastic Freezer Bags
• Sharp knife
• Marking pen

If you enjoy green peppers as we do, eat some fresh while you can, stuff some for the freezer and then cut and or diced and freeze the rest.

Burrito Stuffed Green Peppers and Salsa

Green bell peppers eaten raw or stuffed are very good, and good for you. Combining the two tastes of stuffed peppers and wet burritos are a great combination. You will want to try this recipe.

Have you ever made stuffed peppers? Chances are if you have not, you’ve at least ordered one in a restaurant. What about a wet burrito, have you made one? This recipe will be good whether made from scratch or with the leftovers in your refrigerator. 

  Ingredients for Burrito Stuffed Green Peppers:

• Green Bell Peppers
• 1 lb Taco flavored ground turkey or ground beef; the choice is yours
• 1 can refried and chili beans
• Salsa, homemade or store purchased
• Cheddar Cheese; shredded

Instructions to make Burrito Stuffed Green Peppers:

1. Brown the taco flavored ground turkey. If you want to use ground beef or regular ground turkey, simply season it as if you would if you were making wet burritos.
2. Open the two cans of beans, put them into a saucepan, and heat on low.
3. Wash, slice in half length wise, and core the green pepper.
4.  Put a spoonful or so of bean mixture into each half of the pepper, add to it the ground meat. Pour salsa over the top.
5.  Place in the microwave for approximately five minutes or until the green pepper is slightly soft. The time will vary with each microwave used. Remove from the microwave.
6. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese and return to the microwave and heat another minute to melt the cheese.

There you have it, another good meal that is low in calorie and so easy to make. Try making Burrito Stuffed Green Peppers for your next meal.