Do Chilis Ripen "off the vine"?
In light of the question Are chillies hotter when they're ripe?, in particular – @ElendilTheTall's answer. I am wondering if chilies continue to ripen after picking? If so, does capsaician continue to build up.
What is the 'peek of freshness/ripeness' for chilies? (assuming it is different for each type of pepper, but are there 'commonalities' to look for?)
Best Answer
Yes, they will ripen off the vine (and gain capsaician in the process) because they are a climacteric fruit. They do this best in a paper bag, like most peppers. However, there is a limit to this because they will eventually wilt.
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Will chillies ripen off the plant?
Chillies can be harvested when they are green or red, however, there are some varieties that will not turn red in our climate. If your plant has unripe chillies, you can ripen them off the plant. Try placing them in a bag with a ripe banana as the ethylene given off the ripe fruit will encourage ripening.Will my green chillies turn red?
"A chilli when full size and green has maximum heat," Plumb say. "When it goes red, it is as hot, but it goes sweeter, like the difference between a green and a red sweet pepper." Don't worry if your chillies turn black \u2013 this is simply part of the ripening process and the fruits will turn red in a few days.Do chilis get hotter as they ripen?
Most hot peppers turn red when they are mature but they can also be eaten when raw. Hot peppers also get hotter as they mature. Peppers can be eaten at most any stage of development, but if you want to be picking peppers that are as hot as they can get, wait on your hot pepper harvest until they are red.Will bell peppers ripen off the vine?
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Images: Annie Spratt, Brett Jordan, Brett Jordan, Brett Jordan