This method is great when you need to prep just a few peppers for a dish. You can use roasted habanero peppers in salsas and hot sauces. You could also add a small amount to pasta or pizza, or toss a few strips onto a sandwich for a spicy addition. Keep roasted peppers in your fridge for 5 days or pop them into the freezer for 2 months.
This method works great if you don’t have a gas stovetop or if you need to prep a whole batch of habaneros at once. These peppers will last for about 5 days in the fridge or up to 2 months in the freezer.
Sautéed habaneros go great in fajitas, tacos, or quesadillas. You could also add them to chili, soup, or other dishes that need some spice.
Keep the oil covered in the fridge for up to 1 week.
The consistency of dried peppers wouldn’t work well in a pureed hot sauce, which is why it’s important to soak them before adding them to your recipe.
Always wear gloves when working with habanero peppers. Otherwise, you might get hot oil on your hands or face, which would be super painful.
Even though everything will end up going through the food processor at the end, the garlic and onion skins wouldn’t puree well and would mess up the hot sauce’s texture.
Rehydrated habanero peppers can go straight into the food processor because they’re already softened. Fresh habaneros need time in the oven, so their flesh starts to break down, making them easier to puree.
The freshness of these veggies adds a nice depth to your recipe, but you can totally skip this part if you want to.
You could also add a pinch of cumin or some lime juice for a varied flavor. A lot of habanero hot sauces have a little grapefruit juice or orange juice mixed in. Don’t be afraid to get creative and mix brighter and sweeter acids with the heat of the habanero. [12] X Research source
In addition to adjusting the salt level, you could also add lime juice, more vinegar, or other spices to the mix.
Wait and do this step last since your sauce should thin out from the addition of the white wine vinegar.
Get rid of your hot sauce if you see any mold or if it starts to smell strange.
Hot peppers, like habaneros, have a lot of capsaicin. Capsaicin is what makes the peppers hot, but it can also get on your hands, in the air, and anywhere you touch. [17] X Research source
The white membrane is also referred to as the pith. It’s what holds all those hot little seeds in place.
If you cut up more habaneros than you end up using, pop the leftovers into an airtight container and keep them in the fridge. Use them within a week. [20] X Research source
You could also use lemon juice for burns on your skin. [22] X Research source
Label the date or put a reminder in your phone, so you use them or transfer them to the freezer in time.
The peppers will still be safe to use after 1 year; they’ll just taste the best the sooner you use them.
Dried habaneros are a great option to keep around if you don’t always have access to fresh hot peppers.
