Shelf Life of Refrigerated Roasted Jalapeno Peppers

Shelf Life

• Roasted jalapeno peppers have a two-month shelf life in your refrigerator. The vegetables begin to lose flavor and start deteriorating after this time period. Place the roasted jalapeno peppers in freezer bags or wrap them in plastic wrap and store them in your refrigerator's "Vegetable" or "Produce" drawer or other storage location. When you are ready to use them, take the peppers out of your refrigerator and place them in the dish you are cooking; you don't have to let them heat to room temperature.

Handling

• Wear rubber gloves when roasting and packaging jalapeno peppers to keep any oils the peppers excrete off your hands. The oil can irritate your skin and eyes, if you accidentally touch rub your eyes, after the roasting process. When removing the peppers from your refrigerator, use a paper towel or fork to handle them.

Roasting

• When roasting jalapeno peppers, roast them over a direct flame or in an oven heated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit until the pepper's skin is charred. Place the roasted jalapeno peppers immediately on a cooling rack or clean surface, then place them in a plastic bag or wrap them in plastic wrap to finish the cooling process before storing them in your refrigerator. If you want to peel the peppers, peel them under cool running water; this results in the peppers not being as hot in flavor.

Maintaining Flavor

• If you want to maintain the flavor of your roasted jalapeno peppers, do not remove any skins, veins or seeds. Place the entire pepper in a plastic bag or wrap and store them in your refrigerator. You can also store your roasted jalapeno peppers in your refrigerator's freezer until you are ready to use them for up to 12 months. When you are ready to use them, thaw the peppers in the nonfreezer portion of the refrigerator and use them within two months.