Chillies

[blissa]

I bought, what I thought to be, 3 pepper plants from the garden centre. Turns out they were chilli pepper plants and now I have lots of small red chillies.

I've picked them all today, any ideas of how to store them?

I freeze mine whole and defrost the amount if and when needed.

I freeze mine too - works great.

I am drying some at the moment - they look like Xmas lights dangling from my kitchen shelf.

Just use a thin green garden wire and thread through the pixie hat top bit ( not the fruit or it will rot ), they will dry out within a few weeks. They make great Christmas decorations too.....

I am also going to make some chilli oil. And freeze some.

Thanks everyone, think I'll try both!

So for freezing I just wash them and freeze them in bags as they are?

Yes, just wash then freeze. Preferably in easy-resealable bag then you can just take out one or two when needed... We still have a 3/4 full bag from last summer which still seem to taste fine!

I don't even wash them. I never use chemicals on them so why bother. Just put them in a bag in the freezer. When you want to use just chop up while still frozen, no need to defrost.
I just finished last years crop as this years started to ripen.

All of the above + try blending some with generous amount of olive oil (with seeds) and freeze in ice cube tray. When making curry or whatever that is an instant ingredient. Experiment with garlic added etc. And/or store in small sterile jars with a covering of oil, that makes a nice present or offering when visiting.