How to Dry Cayenne Peppers
I grew up in a house on a mountain. Our neighbors had kids that were the same age as my next-oldest brother and I and one of the things I remember about their house was that their mom always had chili peppers drying in her kitchen. As a child, I just thought she had chosen chili-themed kitchen decor, but now I wonder if she just really loved peppers and hung her surplus to dry in the kitchen. I guess I'll never know! Every time I sit down to prepare my peppers for drying now, I think of her.
Let's talk about how to dry your own cayenne peppers and process them for your apothecary.
What You Will Need:
Cayenne peppers
cotton thread
a sewing needle
a mortar and pestle or a stainless steel screen
INSTRUCTIONS
Clean your peppers. Rinse them with clean water and then towel dry them.
Sort your peppers. Set aside any that have bruises or blemishes. You want to choose the ones that are firm and vibrant. Any peppers that have spots or are feeling a bit flimsy don't make the cut.
Thread your needle through the green stem of each pepper, pretty close to the base. Leave a little bit of space on the string in between each pepper.
Tie the two ends of your string together to form a large loop and then hang the strand somewhere dry and away from direct sunlight for 4-6 weeks, or until the peppers are completely dry.
Once dried, you can remove the peppers from the string and crush them in your mortar and pestle or rub them through a stainless steel screen. You can either process them to the texture of red pepper flakes (like the kind used in cooking and in pizza shops) or you can grind them down into a powder.
7 Ways to Use Cayenne
In an herb-infused warming salve meant to help stimulate circulation
In your seasonal batch of fire cider
In remedies for immune support during cold and flu season
In cardiovascular support tincture formulas
In topical preparations for joint pain
In digestive stimulant formulas
In topical formulas to help relieve sharp, stabbing nerve pain
Note: Very little cayenne is needed in any recipe - use it very sparingly for best results and always wash your hands well after working with it.
About the Author
Hi there, I’m Erin! I am the main instructor here at Floranella. I am a clinical herbalist, aromatherapist, artisan distiller and organic gardener based in the Pacific Northwest. Here at Floranella, I teach people how to work with plants safely and effectively from the garden to the apothecary. Thanks for being here! I’m glad you stopped by.