Do Jalapenos Need to Be Refrigerated?
Jalapeno peppers are one of the most commonly used vegetables in Tex-Mex and Mexican-style cooking. They add smoky, earthy flavor and vibrant heat to anything from salsa to soups, and their iconic shape makes them a popular garnish for everything from margaritas to bloody marys.
If you intend to use fresh jalapenos within a day or two after purchase, then there’s no need to refrigerate them. You can store them at room temperature for the time being. Just make sure to keep them out of direct sunlight. However, if you wish to preserve fresh jalapenos for more than a few days, you will need to refrigerate them.
To keep your jalapenos in the best condition, it is important to store them at a temperature that is slightly below room temp and keep them away from direct sunlight. Storing them in room temps tends to cause them to soften up and become less pungent and flavorful.
Refrigeration helps to slow this process down drastically with minimal loss of flavor and keeps them in great shape for longer amounts of time.
Jalapenos stored in the refrigerator can stay fresh for at least a week. The crisper drawer or vegetable drawer of the fridge is the ideal place to store them. Be sure to place them in a brown bag or plastic bag so they can breathe.
Here are 6 Reasons Why Jalapenos Need to Be Refrigerated
- They’ll Spoil Quickly Without Refrigeration – Jalapenos will spoil quickly if they’re left at room temperature. This is because, as with any food, jalapenos will attract bacteria if left out for too long, making them unsafe to eat. Since jalapenos can only last two-five days before going bad at room temperature, it’s best to store them in the fridge so that you can enjoy them longer.
- To Retain Nutrition – the shelf life of jalapenos can be extended with cold storage. When you keep jalapenos in the refrigerator, their vitamin C content will remain stable for at least three months. Vitamin C is important for everything from collagen synthesis and iron absorption to immune system support and cancer prevention.
- Maintain Their Flavor – Once jalapenos are picked from their plant, they begin to lose flavoring compounds and volatile oils. Storing them away from heat helps maintain their taste and prevents them from rotting or softening too quickly.
- Prevent Shedding Off Moisture – To preserve jalapeno’s freshness, it should be placed in an airtight container or plastic bag inside the refrigerator. This will help prevent moisture loss that occurs when the pepper is exposed to air at room temperature. Dehydration can result in wrinkled skin.
- They’ll Stay Crisp and Crunchy Longer – A jalapeno straight from the store is bright green, firm, and crisp — a perfect addition to any recipe calling for fresh jalapenos or sliced into rings for topping your favorite Mexican dishes. A refrigerated jalapeno will retain its crunch much longer than one left out on the countertop or in the cupboard. This same rule applies to other peppers, including bell peppers and banana peppers.
- They Don’t Freeze Well – Jalapenos do not freeze well by themselves; they become mushy and their flavor changes when frozen raw. However, they can be frozen if cooked first, such as roasted or pickled. This is because freezing stops the enzymes that cause food spoilage, which is why freezing meat prevents bacteria growth but doesn’t keep it from going bad.
Do Jalapenos Go Bad if Not Refrigerated?
Yes. Fresh whole jalapenos have a short shelf life. If left at room temperature, they will last for about a day or two. After that, they will go bad. The may go bad faster if the ambient temperature is warmer. That’s why it is important to keep them in a cool place, such as the cabinet or the pantry.
Put them into a paper bag and close it loosely. Keeping them away from direct sunlight is also recommended. However, you will need to refrigerate them if you want them to last longer than a few days. When refrigerated, whole jalapenos can last for at least a week.
How Long Can Jalapenos Sit Out?
Jalapenos stored at room temperature have a very short shelf life. If they are fresh and stored in ideal conditions, they can sit out for 2-5 days. However, if they were not very plump when you bought them, then they will likely go bad within 2 days at room temperature.
Jalapenos keep fresh and maintain their smell and taste at room temperature when they are kept away from other vegetables and fruits. But don’t let them sit out for too long and use them as soon as possible. Sliced or chopped jalapenos have can only sit out for 8-12 hours at room temperature before going bad.
The longer you allow jalapeno peppers to sit out, the more likely it is that the flesh will become soft and mushy. This is because once jalapenos ripen and begin to soften, they release ethylene gas which hastens decomposition.
Do Store-Bought Jalapenos Need to Be Refrigerated?
It depends on the type. Generally, fresh store-bought jalapenos need to be refrigerated only when they are chopped or sliced. If you have bought fresh whole jalapenos from the store, you can keep them at room temperature for a few days.
If you wish to preserve their freshness for longer, you will need to refrigerate them. Dried jalapenos don’t need refrigeration. You can keep them at room temperature. Just make sure to keep them away from insects and moisture.
Store-bought unopened canned jalapenos can be stored in a moderately cool, dark area in the pantry or kitchen cupboard. Keep the jars away from heat sources and areas where the temperatures fluctuate, e.g. near the oven or stovetop.
Do You Refrigerate Jalapeno Peppers?
Yes. Freshly pickled jalapeno peppers should be placed in a plastic bag and then stored in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. When refrigerated this way, they will preserve their freshness for at least a week, if not longer.
For optimal results, keep the jalapeno peppers dry because moisture will cause them to degrade quickly. Alternatively, you can also dry the jalapeno peppers to store them for longer.
To do that, thoroughly wash them after picking to remove any dirt or dust, then dry. Next, place them on a wire rack or plate in a well-ventilated, dry room.
How Do You Know if Jalapenos Are Bad?
Jalapenos start to get wrinkly after two weeks of storage. The wrinkles indicate that the peppers have lost their moisture but it doesn’t necessarily mean they are not safe for consumption. You can use wrinkled jalapenos but they won’t have the crispiness that certain dishes require. Furthermore, jalapenos will also be less spicy when wrinkled.
Some common signs of bad jalapenos include the following:
- Major changes in appearance
- Off-putting smell
- Mold
- Brown spots
Changes in appearance, discoloration, and off-putting smells are signs to look for in fresh jalapenos. In case of pickled jalapenos, you should inspect the container and peppers. If there is any mold on the container, throw it away. Similarly, if the unopened jar is leaking and damaged, discard it.
Why is My Jalapeno Red Inside?
Just like other peppers, jalapenos start as green and then turn red when they ripen. So, basically, the key difference between green and red jalapeno is time. Red jalapenos mean they are older than green ones.
The ripening process allows jalapenos to develop more capsaicin, which means they will be relatively spicier. They turn red the longer they are on the vine and ultimately fall off.
Red jalapeno peppers also tend to be sweeter than green ones. They can be pretty hot, particularly if they have lots of striations. While the ripening process does change the flavor, the effect on the hotness of peppers varies depending on other variables, e.g. the genetics of the particular plant, weather conditions, etc.
So, the next time you choose your jalapeno peppers from the grocery store, expect some heat variety.
In summary, when properly stored, jalapenos can maintain their crispness for up to two weeks. To store jalapenos, lay them on the counter and keep them out of direct sunlight. If you want to prevent your jalapenos from going soft and moldy, place them in a brown paper bag and store them in the refrigerator.
You may also be interested in… Do Cherries Need to Be Refrigerated? (How Do You Store Cherries?) and 11 Ways to Dry Dishes Without a Dish Rack
Allan Wilson who in the offline world has an extensive background working in research, analyzing statistics, improving work processes, team leading, and implementing training to improve results and now thanks to more than 3 years dedicated to this site is now also a highly regarded researcher of brands.
Allan has a long history of developing brands online way back before blogging existed creating websites using HTML code in Notepad. Allan established brands in the Info Product Marketing arena such as infoproductmarketing, ebookresellerkit, reprintrightsmarketing, along with many other successful websites (and a few failures along the way). Allan has also authored numerous ebooks, owned and operated membership sites, created eLearning courses, and more.
