Hot Pepper Question

[freedhardwoods]

I broke off a large branch on one of my habanero plants.

It was loaded with peppers. Can they still be used? Are they hot before they ripen?

 

[Lavender2]

I had to pick some habaneros early one year when frost was about to hit. The peppers that already showed a hint of turning quickly ripened. I do not like mouth burning peppers but the guys at Dh's work said they were very hot.
We usually just use a few to heat up the salsa.

 

[Hal]

I broke off a large branch on one of my habanero plants.

It was loaded with peppers. Can they still be used? Are they hot before they ripen?

View attachment 4358

They are fine to be used, no different to using bell peppers at the green stage.
They will still be hot even when green.

 

[freedhardwoods]

Thanks to both of you.

 

[catjac1975]

I find with peppers they are "ripe" as soon as they are formed. Meaning you can eat them at any size. That's nice when you just can't wait for that first pepper!

 

[baymule]

Ummmm......ripe? Unripe? Pop one in your mouth, chew it up and report back to us on that!!

 

[freedhardwoods]

Ummmm......ripe? Unripe? Pop one in your mouth, chew it up and report back to us on that!!

I'll do that right away.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Darn Bay, that was my answer. A taste test will answer that question real quick.

 

[catjac1975]

I would never just "pop" one in my mouth if it was a hot pepper. I did that last summer. Took a tiny bite in the garden last summer , determining that it was sweet. It the house I cut a chuck and popped it in. It was a sleeping inferno. The fumes went up my nose and singed my eyes. I drenched with water, which of course is the worst thing to do. As I recall I did not have milk so I slathered my mouth with yogurt. It took while for the burn to subside but the memory lingers. Not a fan of the heat.

 

[freedhardwoods]

Not a fan of the heat.

Me either.