How to Pick Italian Roasting Peppers

Picking peppers at the right stage can make the difference between bland and flavorful roasted peppers. Italian roasting peppers are made from ripe Italian sweet peppers. The peppers, coated with olive oil and oven-broiled, darken and soften, at which point the skin is peeled to reveal the roasted fruit of the pepper. Roasted Italian peppers are consumed as appetizers, bread spreads and salad or entrée toppings. Examine the Italian sweet peppers in your garden to assess their readiness for roasting so you can create farm-to-table dishes.

Tape measure
Gardening shears
Water
Airtight container

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the length of the Italian sweet pepper with a tape measure to determine if it is ready to pick. Pick Italian peppers when they are 6 to 8 inches in length.
- 2
  Examine the color and brightness of the Italian pepper. Young peppers are bright green while mature peppers are bright red--indicating ripeness. Red peppers are sweeter in flavor than the green ones; yet, peppers in both stages can be roasted.
- 3
  Move the leaves around the Italian peppers so you have a clear view of the peppers. Cut the pepper from the bush 1/4 inch up the stem with gardening shears.
- 4
  Rinse the peppers under cold water to remove dirt and pesticides. Store the Italian peppers in an airtight container in your refrigerator or freezer to ensure freshness until you are ready to roast them.

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