Learn how to dehydrate chili peppers in a food dehydrator so you can preserve them for years, make crushed red pepper, or grind them into powders for your own special seasoning blends. Full video instructions below.
How to Dry or Dehydrate Chili Peppers
Dehydrating chili peppers is one my favorite ways to preserve our chili pepper harvest. With so many peppers coming out of the garden, it can be difficult to keep them all, but once you start dehydrating, you start to realize you could grow so much more.
I fell in love with dehydrating so much that I wrote an entire book on the subject. Yes, I am the author of "The Spicy Dehydrator Cookbook". I hope you will check it out.
Once you've dehydrated your peppers, they will last an incredibly long time, pretty much indefinitely if you keep them sealed in protected bags.
You can dehydrate them whole and use them for decorating purposes, or seal them and grind them up as needed. Keeping them whole will keep their overall heat and flavor longer, as the heat does tend to fade over time.
How to Dehydrate Chili Peppers - the Method
NOTE: The full instructions with measurements are listed in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Wash and dry your chili peppers. Choose only fresh peppers. If they show any signs of rotting, throw them away.
Wearing gloves, remove the stems and slice the thicker peppers into rings and thinner peppers in half. Leave them whole if you prefer, but they will take much longer to dehydrate.
The gloves are important when working with peppers because the oils from the peppers can burn your skin, and the pain can linger. Need help? How to Stop the Chili Pepper Burn On Your Skin.
Place the peppers on the trays of the dehydrator. Spread them out evenly so the heat can distribute properly.
Turn on the dehydrator at 135-140 degrees F, or whatever setting your dehydrator recommends.
Drying Tip
I like to place my dehydrator in the garage because it will release fumes over time and you will notice the odor. Let the dehydrator sit anywhere from 5 hours to overnight.
It will very likely take longer than 5 hours, but much depends on the thickness of the pepper walls and how many peppers you're working with.
I personally turn mine on when I go to bed and check it in the morning. The peppers are usually dried by morning, but if not, just leave them in longer until they are dried.
Safety Advice When Drying Peppers
When working with hotter peppers, including superhots, it is important to wear gloves when handling peppers both in raw and dried forms. The oils can get on your skin and cause burning sensations.
Need help? How to Stop the Chili Pepper Burn On Your Skin.
Also, if making powders from dried peppers, the powders are quite fine and may get into the air if you are not working in a well ventilated room, so you may want to wear a mask and goggles. They can cause you to cough and sneeze.
Superhot chili peppers, truly, are called superhots for a reason.
Yield
1 pound of fresh chili peppers will yield about 4 ounces of dried chili pepper pods. The 1:4 ratio is usually one you can rely on.
See my post on Chili Pepper Measurement Conversions.
How to Store Dried Chili Peppers
Once your chilies are dried, remove and store them in baggies or containers, or use as you wish. Keep them in a dark place, like your pantry, for freshness.
How Long Do Dried Chili Peppers Last?
Dried chili peppers will last for many years when properly stored. They will begin to lose some potency after 6-12 months, but can still be used.
How to Use Dried Peppers
How do you use dried peppers? Here are several ways I used them.
- Make Chili Flakes. Simply add the dried peppers to a baggie and crush them by hand to make your own chili flakes. See my post on Homemade Chili Flakes.
- Make Chili Powders. Grind your dried peppers into powder form for sprinkling over foods or making your own unique chili powder blends.
- Make Your Own Spice Blends. Mix your fresh chili powder with other dried ingredients to make your own unique, personalized seasoning blends. See my Homemade Seasonings/Spice Blends for a few ideas.
- Make Hot Sauce. You can make hot sauce from both dried peppers and chili powder. See my post on How to Make Hot Sauce from Dried Chilies. Works great for other sauces, too.
- Pepper Grinder. Add them into a pepper grinder and use them to grind over your favorite foods, like pizza.
- Make Chili Paste. Dried peppers can be rehydrated in hot water or liquid and blended with other ingredients to make chili paste and other sauces.
Cookbook & Product Recommendations
These are the products that I use to dehydrate chili peppers and make blends, and I personally recommend them. They are affiliate links - just an FYI. If you enjoy spicy cooking and dehydrating, I hope you'll check out my cookbook!
- The Spicy Dehydrator Cookbook, by Mike Hultquist (affiliate link, my friends!)
Recommended Products
- COSORI Food Dehydrator (Great Dehydrator!) (Paid Link)
- Buy a Food Dehydrator
- Nesco Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator FD-75A
- For Dehydrating peppers and other foods. - Magic Bullet MBR-1701 17-Piece Express Mixing Set - For Grinding down the peppers for powders.
- For Dehydrating peppers and other foods.
- For Grinding down the peppers for powders.Amazon Affiliate links, my friends! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe and instructional post, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.
How to Dehydrate Chili Peppers (Recipe Method)
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh chili peppers
Instructions
- Wash and dry your chili peppers. Choose only fresh peppers. If they show any signs of rotting, throw them away.
- Wearing gloves, remove the stems and slice the thicker peppers into rings and thinner peppers in half. Leave them whole if you prefer, but they will take much longer to dehydrate. The gloves are important when working with peppers because the oils from the peppers can burn your skin, and the pain can linger. Need help? How to Stop the Chili Pepper Burn On Your Skin.
- Place the peppers on the trays of the dehydrator. Spread them out evenly so the heat can distribute properly.
- Turn on the dehydrator at 135-140 degrees F, or whatever setting your dehydrator recommends.
- Once they are dried, remove and seal them in baggies or sealable containers, or use as you wish. Store them in a dark place, like your pantry, for freshness.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
This post was originally published on 10/7/2016. It has been updated to include some new information, photos, and video. Enjoy!
OSOKTx says
Great video, Mike! My dehydrator is identical to yours however, I have not yet mastered it as you have.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks so much!! Practice makes perfect! Have fun!
CJ says
I just dehydrated several hatch peppers, turned them into powder, fabulous! Thanks Mike!
Mike Hultquist says
Awesome!! Thanks, CJ! Glad to help!
Peggy Snider says
I don’t own a dehydrator. Can I use my oven to dry my huge cayenne pepper harvest?
They won’t stop growing!
Mike Hultquist says
I have a post you can refer to here, Peggy: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/preserving-chili-peppers/drying-chili-peppers/
Lorna says
We got a frost the other night and we still had peppers on the plants. Some of the peppers did get touched and are a little soft in places. Can I still dehydrate them to make spices out of them?
Mike Hultquist says
Lorna, yes, you can still dehydrate them. I would dry them right away, though.
Miroslav Klouda says
I keep part of my chili peppers in the freezer because some dishes (eg salads) need fresh peppers. I think it is a good idea not to dry them all.
By the way, I like your recipes and have enjoyed many of them. Thanks, Mike!
Mike Hultquist says
Agreed, Miroslav. I actually do the same, as well as preserve them in jellies, sauces, pastes, etc. I do love a variety! Glad you're enjoying the site! Cheers!!!
Todd says
Mike, what about freeze drying?
Mike Hultquist says
You do that, Todd, though I haven't done a post yet on how to freeze dry peppers.
Lisa says
My husband and I have been drying jalapeño peppers. They come out great. I grind them into a powder and make all sorts of things. Our favorite is white chocolate jalapeño candy bars.
Mike Hultquist says
Sounds delicious, Lisa! I'll a candy bar!! Haha. Thanks!
Kathy Beeston-Downs says
how would you suggest to do them in the oven?
Thank you
Mike Hultquist says
Kathy, the best way is to dry them per the dehydrator recipe, but use baking sheets and keep the oven as low a temp as you can go. Most don't go as low as the dehydrator, so you can keep the oven cracked for reduced heat and air flow. Too much heat will cook the peppers, so keep an eye on them. You can also review this page: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/preserving-chili-peppers/drying-chili-peppers/
David Blackburn says
I've been growing hot peppers for a while now but am new to dehydrating. My long red chillis and ghost peppers all dehydrated great and have produced some quite hot powders that I have been using in various dishes.
However I was disappointed with the hot hungarian peppers. Used fresh they had quite a bit of heat - more than my jalapenos - but once dehydrated that heat was nonexistant. I did remove the seeds and veins beforehand, but still expected some heat from the skins.
Is this normal for hot hungarians, or did I do something wrong with the dehydrating? 60C for about 12 hours.
Mike H. says
Hi David, yes, it can be normal for hot Hungarian peppers to lose some of their heat when dehydrated, as the drying process may reduce the concentration of capsaicin, especially if the heat is primarily in the flesh rather than the seeds and veins. However, ensuring your dehydrator maintains a consistent temperature of 60°C and that the peppers are thoroughly dried without overcooking can help preserve more of their spiciness. Additionally, some pepper varieties naturally lose heat more during dehydration, so experimenting with different drying times or methods might improve the heat retention for your Hungarian peppers. Hope it helps!
Dan says
I prefer dehydrated whole peppers but as you mentioned they take WAY longer to dry. So what I do is take a narrow pointed knife and make some stabs in each pepper. A classic jalapeño I will make two, sometimes three punctures. This allows the water vapor to escape much quicker and significantly cuts down dehydrating time.
I make the cuts parallel to the axis of the pepper as it makes the finalized dry pepper look intact and whole. Transverse cuts sometimes tend to gap open once dried.
Long narrow peppers I make sure get a cut both near the base and one not far from the tip, so it dries evenly.
Mike Hultquist says
Perfect way to do it, Dan! I love it. Cheers!
Steph says
Hi Mike,
I have tried to dehydrate a variety of hot peppers after finding this page of yours. I cut them into rings at your advice, and have had them on high for about 10 hours total with the aim of grinding into powder like you have. However, my rings still seem quite moist compared to yours - I put a handful into a grinder and they're now just smaller chunks of peppers rather than dust. Can you advise on what I'm doing wrong?
Mike Hultquist says
Hi, Steph. It sounds like they needed more time to dry/dehydrate. Times can vary, so it is best to just keep dehydrating until they are completely dry, zero moisture, and brittle enough to grind. You can place them back in the dehydrator at this point. Let me know how it goes.
Costas Giannakenas MD, PhD says
Hi Mike,
Spicy Food Lovers' Cookbook was great. Also chilipeppermadness.com is an excellent resource and played an important role in getting me addicted to hot peppers.
Browsing your site I discovered so much fascinating stuff and wanted more of the same. So I stocked my bookshelves with books about peppers, read about germinating, planting seed trays, LED lights and warming mats, transplanting and cultivating peppers. This season I have 36 varieties of peppers growing in my veggie garden.
Latest acquirement was a dehydrator 30-70 degrees Celsius (86-167F) and... here is my question:
If I dehydrate whole peppers will the seeds be viable if collected after the peppers have been dried? I will be bisecting peppers and collecting seeds too prior to dehydration and I read somewhere that as long as I keep the temp below 120F the seeds should not be affected but I would appreciate you view on the matter.
Thank you!
Mike Hultquist says
Thank you, Costas. It's best to grow peppers from seeds from fresh peppers. I have a post on this - Saving Chili Pepper Seeds For Growing Later: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/cooking-with-chili-peppers/saving-chili-pepper-seeds-for-growing-later/
Costas Giannakenas MD, PhD says
Much obliged Mike! You give "on-line resource" a whole new meaning 🙂
I do save seeds from fresh or naturally dried peppers as my objective - beside my spicy addiction - is to collect seeds from various species which I then send to a seed-saving and seed-sharing group (non-profit) where we seek too preserve heirloom seeds.
Keep it up!
PS: like your sense of humor too... great videos 🙂
Mike H. says
Thank you. I appreciate your kind words and love what you're doing with seed-saving - keep up the amazing work! And I'll definitely keep the videos (and the humor) coming!
Jamie says
Hi Mike
Thanks lots of great info…just dehydrated a few reapers and chocolate morgue scorpions..outdoors,goggles, mask gloves etc all good. One thing that shocked…tried washing the racks with soap and water the next morning…the fumes were surprising amazingly potent…may want to add a warning…apologies if it’s there and I missed it
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks for sharing this, Jamie. I appreciate it!
Doug Parsons says
Thanks for the info and inspiration. I just bought a dehydrator like yours and am currently attempting my first batch of Carolina Reapers and Scotch Bonnets. This is my first experience with using a dehydrator and with Super Hots! I've got it cranked to between 135 and 140 on my screened porch to keep the fumes at bay. I've pickled hot peppers for years but this is a new adventure for me. Keep up the good work!!
Mike Hultquist says
Great, Doug! Welcome to the awesome world of dehydrating!
Jennifer says
Hi Mike. I'm getting ready to dehydrate some Apocalypse peppers. I have the Excalibur dehydrator. Do you use different trays when dehydrating hot peppers? I don't want to ruin my only set of trays!
Thanks,
Jennifer
Mike Hultquist says
Hi, Jennifer. I do not use separate trays, as they do wash off easily, but you might want to get some dehydrator sheets you can dedicate specifically to superhots if you're concerned.
Tarn says
Jennifer,
I use plain, white paper towels, cut to the side of my trays. The oils don't seem to get through the towel (maybe a little) to stain or leaves a permanent oder, while the water does. Also, the paper towels seem to wick the moisture out of and away from whatever I am drying. I can't say how much this reduces the drying time, but everything seems to get more completely dried when using them. This thorough drying is really evident when drying powders (less clumping).
Plus paper towels are cheap and disposable.
Thom Richards says
Rather new to growing and dehydrating my peppers.
I have several Thai and Tabasco peppers that have dried on the vine. Still rubbery, not completely dried. Can I dehydrate them still to finish the drying process. Or is it to late?
Thanks
Mike Hultquist says
Thom, yes, you should be able to dehydrate them as long as they aren't showing any signs of rot.
Melynda S Zeek says
Do you have the instructions to do this in an oven please? I do not have a food dehydrator. thank you
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Melynda, the best way is to dry them per the dehydrator recipe, but use baking sheets and keep the oven as low a temp as you can go. Most don't go as low as the dehydrator, so you can keep the oven cracked for reduced heat and air flow. Too much heat will cook the peppers, so keep an eye on them.
Stephen says
Great help. I just got into growing last year and got a cayenne seedling to make crushed red pepper for pizza and pasta. As I type this I got my entire cayenne harvest, a ghost, a peach ghost, a hab, and a reaper dehydrating to make a crushed pepper blend.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Glad to be helpful, Stephen!
Lynn Huntley says
Love your site and ideas. Can you dry the plant leaves? We just pulled all our plants (frost hit them) and was looking at all the beautiful leaves. Left them on the lawn for the deer.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Lynn, you can dehydrate plant leaves. They will crumble and disintegrate.
Nik Sutton says
I've just put on a nice mixed batch of, Habaneros, Trinidad Scorpions, Komono Dragons and Carolina Reapers. This is definitely not an indoor mix, so it's off out to the shed! I can't wait until it's ready tomorrow 😉
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Yes, good idea to do this outside. I usually dehydrate in my garage. Enjoy!