Pepperoncinis and banana peppers are very similar in many ways, but looking deeper, you'll notice they are not the same pepper. Let's explore the differences and similarities.
There are many pods in the world of chili peppers that look alike, and two of the most commonly compared peppers are the pepperoncini and banana pepper. These two peppers are often confused for one another, and rightly so.
The peppers look very much alike, with yellow-green waxy skin, and you'll often find them in grocery stores in pickled form, though you can sometimes find them fresh.
They are also quite similar in mild-tangy flavor and heat, which only adds to the confusion, and both belong to the same chili pepper family - capsicum annuum. When you really look at them, and taste them, however, you'll notice a number of obvious differences. Let's discuss.
What's the Difference Between a Banana Pepper and a Pepperoncini?
Banana peppers and pepperoncini peppers differ in three very distinct ways: Heat, Appearance, and Flavor. Both peppers measure up to 500 Scoville Heat Units on the Scoville Scale, but some banana peppers can have no heat, whereas the mildest pepperoncinis will still have just a touch of heat. Their skins and flesh thickness are different, with banana peppers being smoother in general and with more of a pointy end.
The Heat Factor: Pepperoncini Vs. Banana Pepper
When it comes to chili peppers, the Scoville Scale rules, which is a test used to measure a chili pepper’s pungency and heat. Measuring each pepper gives a telltale difference. Pepperoncini peppers measure in at 100-500 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), where banana peppers measure in at 0-500 SHU.
This means that even though the hottest of each pepper tasted side by side will have the same heat, the mildest banana pepper will still be milder in heat than the mildest pepperoncini.
Pepperoncini Vs. Banana Pepper in Appearance
Comparing the fresh pods with one another, you'll notice both peppers are about the same size and color. The biggest differences involve the skin and pepper shape.
- SKIN DIFFERENCES: Pepperoncini skins are somewhat wrinkly and include more folds compared to banana pepper skin, which is much smoother. Banana peppers also have thicker walls, whereas pepperoncinis have thinner walls.
- SHAPE DIFFERENCES: Banana peppers have pointier ends than pepperoncinis, which have rounder bottoms. Also, banana peppers shape more closely resembles a banana, hence the name.
Flavor Factor: Pepperoncini Vs. Banana Pepper
While these peppers do have very similar flavors and are nearly indistinguishable when pickled, both fresh pods lean towards "sweet" in flavor, but pepperoncinis are not quite as sweet. In fact, some people note a twinge of bitterness in them. They do, however, tend to be juicier.
In terms of cooking with each pepper, you can use the pickled forms interchangeably. Both will offer a tangy crunch factor and can add zip to anything from charcuterie boards to topping pizza, sandwiches, tacos and nachos to snacking on them whole.
For the fresh pods, banana peppers are better for stuffing because of their thicker walls. Pepperoncinis lend themselves more to chopping and eating either raw or cooked into dishes.
Try Some of These Pepperoncini Recipes
For Further Information and Resources
- Banana Peppers: All About Them
- Pepperoncini Peppers: All About Them
- Hungarian Wax Peppers: All About Them
- Cubanelle Peppers
- Anaheim Peppers
- Learn More About the Scoville Scale Here
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me anytime.
Mike Hultquist – Author of “The Spicy Dehydrator Cookbook” and “The Spicy Food Lovers’ Cookbook“.
E. Edzards says
This article was very helpful once fully read, but the picture at the very beginning is misleading/incorrect according to your own descriptions of the peppers. The picture shows banana peppers on top and pepperoncinis on bottom, but the text says "Pepperoncini" on top and "Banana Peppers" on bottom. If someone just glanced at the article and didn't actually read it, they would almost certainly have the exact wrong idea of which pepper is which. I know it's two years old, but it's a pretty easy fix to just switch the pictures and would make the article much more helpful to other, more cursory, chile curiosos.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Agreed, I've adjusted the graphic to avoid any confusion. Thank you for visiting.