Q: Dear Dave,My sister sent me homegrown habanero peppers five or six years ago. I have kept them double bagged and only opened the bags every six months or so. Do habaneros go bad, spoil, etc.? Do they pose a health hazard?–Alan A: Hello Alan:I assume that you have them frozen. If so, they won’t go bad or spoil, but …
Marinated Red Jalapeños
Q: Hi Dave,About four years ago I was served some marinated red jalapeños in a restaurant. They were great… slightly sweeter and milder than the typical marinated green jalapeños. I finally was able to find out that it was an experiment by ConAgra, and had just been discontinued. Since then I’ve been trying to find another source, or to get …
Why Boil Peppers?
Q: Dear Dave,I have a recipe for salsa using serrano peppers. I was told to boil the peppers—what might be the reason for this?Thanks, Craig B. A: Hello Craig:No need to boil the peppers. Use them raw.–Dave
How to Dilute Vindaloo
Q: Dear Dave,I made a delicious Vindaloo but it is unbearably hot. Is there anything that I can do to this already prepared dish to make it edible? What would happen if I added a bit of milk or yogurt to this dish?–Theresa A: Hello Theresa:The only thing you can do is add more of the non-chile ingredients to dilute …
Heat: Pickled vs. Fresh Peppers, Effects of Alcohol
Q: Dave:When making sauces with chiles, do fresh chiles add more heat than pickled peppers? Also, does alcohol enhance the heat of chiles?Thanx, Bill A: Hello Bill:Fresh vs. pickled, it depends entirely upon the variety. Vinegar does not affect the heat level. Alcohol has no effect on the heat of the sauce.–Dave