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Home » Frequently Asked Questions » Chili Pepper Measurement Conversions

Chili Pepper Measurement Conversions

by Mike Hultquist · Feb 17, 2023 · 16 Comments

When certain recipes call for fresh chili peppers, can I used dried peppers or chili powder instead? What about vice versa? How much should I use?

Chili Pepper Measurement Conversions

I receive this question very frequently here on the Chili Pepper Madness web site in some form or another.

People want to know if they can use fresh chili peppers when a recipe calls for dried pods, or if they can use chili powder. The answer is "Yes" in most cases, and it really depends on the recipe.

The big question, though, is how much?

I use the following conversion factor when choosing to substitute fresh peppers with dried peppers or chili powder, or vice versa:

4 Ounces Fresh Peppers = 1 Ounce Dried Peppers = 3 Tablespoons Chili Powder

Chili peppers lose much of their weight from dehydration, which removes all water/moisture from the pods. Drying pepper is a great way to preserve them, allowing you to keep them all year long, so you'll always have peppers on hand.

You can use them whole by rehydrating them, or by crushing or grinding them into powders to make chili powder and other seasoning blends.

Dried peppers for making mole poblano

Flavor Variations

Not all recipes are good for substituting fresh for dried, or vice versa. For example, fresh peppers are ideal for cooking with onions and celery as a flavor base for making soups and stews. Dried peppers shouldn't be cooked down in this way, but can be lightly toasted then rehydrated, or ground into powders.

However, substituting dried for fresh, or fresh for dried, can work great when making sauces and hot sauces.

See these related posts:

  • Making Hot Sauce from Dried Pods
  • Making Hot Sauce from Chili Powder
How to Make Hot Sauce from Dried Peppers

Please note that there are big flavor differences between fresh peppers and dried peppers. Dried peppers often have a richer, earthier flavor that fresh peppers, which are much more vegetal.

Substituting them will usually result in different flavors from the original recipe, but they are still worth considering.

Chipotle Powder

Related Posts

  • Chili Powder Substitutes
  • How to Make Hot Sauce - a Guide
  • How to Dehydrate Peppers
  • How to Make Chili Powders from Dried Peppers
  • Making Seasonings from Strained Hot Sauce Pulp
  • How to Rehydrate Dried Chili Peppers

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  1. M. Anderson says

    October 19, 2024 at 8:58 am

    Recipe calls for one Tablespoon of Chipotle chili powder. I have Chipotle chili pepper on hand. How much pepper should I substitute for the powder that’s called for?

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      October 19, 2024 at 9:04 am

      A wet chipotle pepper from a jar? You can probably use 1-2 of them.

      Reply
  2. val ottenbreit says

    August 26, 2024 at 6:49 am

    I am pickling okra and each jar calls for 1/2 small red pepper. I don't have any so could I use pepper flakes instead and how much would that be to equal the 1/2 small pepper?

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      August 26, 2024 at 7:15 am

      Val, yes, you can use pepper flakes. Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon for a bit of a spicy kick. Enjoy!

      Reply
  3. 2WhlWzrd says

    April 30, 2024 at 12:50 am

    Hi,
    Your page suggests that "1 Ounce Dried Peppers = 3 Tablespoons Chili Powder".
    Therefore 28.35 grams divided by 9 teaspoons would = 3.15 grams per teaspoon.
    This may possibly rounded up to 3.2 grams. Does that sound like the correct weight for a teaspoon of red pepper to you?

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      April 30, 2024 at 5:23 am

      Amounts can vary. I just did a recent batch and 1.9 ounces dried pods yielded 7 tablespoons. I did not weigh the results.

      Reply
  4. Jeff says

    November 02, 2023 at 5:39 pm

    Any idea how well ancho chilli powder would substitute for dried ancho chillis? I have a recipe that calls for 2 dried ancho chillis but I can’t get any locally. I have ancho chilli powder. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      November 02, 2023 at 9:02 pm

      Jess, ancho powder is the perfect substitution for dried pods in most recipes. Go for it!

      Reply
  5. Dana Rule says

    September 18, 2023 at 10:10 pm

    Hi Mike, I have a recipe that calls for 2 tsp finely chopped, canned, chipotle chile peppers in adobo sauce.
    I don't have canned chipotle chile peppers, but I do have both Adobo spice blend powder, & Chipotle chili pepper powder.
    Could you please advise how much of each of these powders I could use to substitute for the 2 tsp finely chopped, canned chipotle chile peppers in adobo sauce? I have tried googling it every which way, but can't find an answer.
    Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      September 19, 2023 at 5:44 am

      Dana, you can use 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of the spice blend for a pot of something. If you feel that's too much, use 2 teaspoons, but I think it will be good. Let me know how it turns out. The flavors will be slightly different, though.

      Reply
  6. Shane Keene says

    September 15, 2023 at 4:43 pm

    Okay, if you see my other comment asking about conversions in the Louisiana Hot Sauce recipe comments, disregard. This is the info I was looking for. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      September 16, 2023 at 7:11 am

      No problem, Shane! Thanks!

      Reply
  7. Benjamin says

    February 17, 2023 at 4:57 am

    Awesome dishes, got my mouth watering, all I need to go with them is an ice cold six pack of beer!!!!!!!

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      February 17, 2023 at 6:46 am

      Thanks, Benjamin! Cheers!

      Reply
  8. John says

    February 17, 2023 at 4:13 am

    Great tips! Thanks.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      February 17, 2023 at 6:46 am

      Thanks, John!

      Reply

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