How To Preserve Hot Peppers In Vinegar- Easy Recipe

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How To Preserve Hot Peppers In Vinegar- A Romanian recipe that comes from the old times, these hot peppers preserved this way last many years in the jars.

This is probably one of the easiest recipes out there.We consume the hot peppers in winter with soups and stews. Delicious and super easy to make.

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How to preserve hot peppers in vinegar

the easiest recipe out there

It is that time of year when I feel the urge of canning. The crisp air of September is here and vegetables can be found in abundance at the Farmer Market.

Here in Minnesota, we have to take advantage of the short summers. The Farmer Market opens in June and closes at the beginning of October, so if I want to can vegetables for the cold days, this is the time.

I can as much as I am able to and every year is different, based on what vegetables we have locally available. I like to can all kinds of things.

Cucumbers, cauliflower, red peppers, carrots, green tomatoes are some of my favorites. I use vinegar for some of them, but I also brine, as a healthy way to get probiotics due to the natural fermentation.

This recipe of how to preserve hot peppers in vinegar is one of the easiest recipes for canning I can think of. So simple that it doesn’t need any instructions, basically. 

The recipe is Romanian and it is an old way of preserving these type of hot peppers. I never tried other types of peppers, so I cannot advise you on what else would work.

The original recipe is made with vinegar 9% acidity, but I tried with vinegar 5% and 7% and it worked really well.

The hot peppers are washed and clean.

The jars do not need the water bath. Vinegar destroys botulism, and this recipe is pure vinegar. Just make sure the vinegar you use is at least 5% acetic acid.

I can hot peppers in vinegar every fall. My daughter loves them when the winter comes. She likes them with soups, like this traditional Saxon potato tarragon soup.

For the ones who can handle the heat, these peppers are a wonderful addition to any soups or stews.

With this method, the peppers also last years on the shelves, in case you do not eat them all in one season.

The jars make a great gift for family or friends around holidays, because they are very pretty and colorful in jars.

A few notes before you start working on these peppers:

Many asked me about the canning process for this recipe.

1. First of all, you have to start with the jars. Clean them with warm water and soap or put them in the dishwasher and give them a good bath. Then, sterilize them. Here is a link about how to do that properly.
2. When you sterilize the lids, do not put them together with the jars. I clean them in warm water with soap and dry them well, then I just boil water and add them for the last 2 minutes to sit in that hot water.
3. Try to replace any older lids that do not look good, if they are too old or have rust on them replace them. The new guideline is to not even boil the lids, but for my peace of mind, I think you should place them in hot water at least for few minutes before you use them. (here is the link that talks about not sterilizing the lids anymore: https://www.freshpreserving.com/canning-lids-101.html).
4. I would also recommend you to cover the peppers and their stems with vinegar, they should be all submerged in vinegar. 
5. Also, use at least 5% acidic vinegars. Do not dilute the vinegar unless the recipe requires that. Vinegar destroys botulism, so it is important to follow the recipe exactly.

Question that you, the readers, asked:

Once done, do you put them in a pressure canner or boiling water bath?

No, the jars do not need a pressure canner or boiling water bath as you have pure vinegar only in the jars, that doesn’t ferment. The peppers will last years in the jars with no problems.The only thing you need to do is sterilize the jars before you fill them.

Also, vinegar destroys botulism, and this recipe is pure vinegar. Just make sure the vinegar you use is at least 5% or higher acetic acid.

When you sterilize the jars do you put the lids in with the boiling water?

When I sterilize the lids, I do not put them together with the jars. I clean them in warm water with soap and dry them well, then I just boil some water and add them for the last 2 minutes to sit in that hot water. 

 The new guideline is to not even boil the lids, but for my peace of mind, I think you should place them in hot water at least for few minutes before you use them. (here is the link for that:https://www.freshpreserving.com/canning-lids-101.html).

Can you use old canning lids or should you purchase new for the canning?

I try to replace any lids that do not look good, if they are too old or have rust on them, I replace them.

How full should the can peppers be filled with the vinegar?

 I would recommend you to cover the peppers and their stems with vinegar, they should be all submerged in vinegar. It is a very simple recipe that would take 5 minutes to complete if you have the jars ready.

Does it matter if I slice the peppers into rings with this method?

No, it doesn’t matter. However, make sure the peppers are all submerged in vinegar. Use at least 5% acidity vinegar and do not add anything else to the recipe.

Do you heat the vinegar before pouring over the peppers?

No, I don’t. If I would, it would say in the recipe, right?

Should the jars be stored in the fridge?

No, there is no need for keeping them in the fridge. You need to keep them in a cool pantry, cellar or basement that is not heated, as you would do with any other cans you prepare for winter.

Would it be possible to add peppers to the jar of vinegar as I pick them? I don’t have enough ripe to fill a jar but more than I can eat before they go bad.

This is a canning method, not a quick pickling. I do not recommend it. You would end up with different stages of the pickling process as you keep adding peppers to a jar that has older peppers already marinating inside.

You also create a great environment for bacteria to develop because you keep opening the sterilized jar to add more peppers.

Solution: I would look for a smaller jar where I can preserve a small batch of peppers or find other ways to preserve just a few of them (you could dry or freeze them for example).

Can I use distilled white vinegar instead of white wine or apple cider vinegar?

Any vinegar that has 5% acidity or more can be used.

I’m wondering if you can add cauliflower and carrots with the hot peppers before adding the vinegar.

You can, but I do not recommend it. Your cauliflower and carrots are going to be very spicy as they will take the taste of the peppers. I would keep the recipe as it is.

How do you keep the peppers from floating in the jar?

They will not float if you put them right next to each other and as many as they fit without breaking them.

I am going to try your recipe but would like to add some spices and garlic. Should I boil the vinegar and spice mixture before pouring over the peppers when adding spices?

If you boil the vinegar and add spices and garlic it is not going to be my recipe anymore.

I would suggest you look for a recipe that would tell you how to do what you want and skip this one. (You are killing me, people! Why would you start messing around with the easiest, straightforward recipe that you will ever get in your life? Isn’t life complicated enough?)

Is there anything special I need to do with the peppers? I know to wash and clean them, but was curious if they need to soak somehow first?

Follow the recipe, please. It will tell you exactly what you need to do.

Do you have a recipe for “Hot Giardiniera”?

If the recipe you are looking for is not on the site already, then I do not have it. This is available for any other recipe requests you might have.

I understand that it’s not in your recipe, but would it be ok to add something like garlic or oregano to this?

Again, if my recipe says nothing about adding garlic, oregano and other spices, then don’t do it. Or do it and see what you come up with, but please do not come back to me and complain afterwards.

I take responsibility for a recipe I wrote, I cannot be responsible for what you do in your personal kitchen.

Down the road when you open a jar to get some of the pickled peppers do you need to refrigerate the rest of the jar since it has been opened? And do you know how long the open jar will last?

Yes, I would refrigerate the opened jar. I keep mine in the fridge as well, and the unopened ones in the pantry, in a cool place. They last a long time, vinegar is a great preservative.

I throw them away in the summer, if they end up sitting in the fridge for a few month and make a new batch when the hot peppers are available at the Farmers Market.

Interested in more canning recipes?

Here you have some other interesting recipes:

 Pickled Vegetables in a Mustard Sauce

Lacto-Fermented Dill Pickled Cucumbers

Romanian vegetable spread or Zacusca

How To Salt Preserve Herbs For Winter

Pickled cucumbers in vinegar- easy recipe

Enjoy!