Last week, you bought too many bell peppers on that big promo at the market. You want to make some spaghetti bolognese and use the rest of the bell peppers! Are they still good? How long do bell peppers last before they go bad?
They’re also great for a snack when in slices with some dipping sauce. Good food doesn’t need to be rocket science and can be pure and simple. The thing is, you need to do it within the right time period to get the best out of your bell pepper.
In this article, we will go deeper in bell peppers and learn more about their shelf life, how to store them, their spoilage signs and what you should look for when you buy them, and more!
Enjoy the read!
What Is A Bell Pepper
Bell peppers are seen as vegetables but are actually fruits and come in multiple colors. They start at green color and can change colors to yellow, orange or red. This happens as they grow and mature.
The bell peppers belong to the chile pepper family. When you hear the word chile pepper, you think about heat or spicy.
The bell pepper is a fruit because they are grown from a plant that contains seeds. Other examples of fruits that are seen as vegetables are tomatoes, cucumbers…
How Long Can Bell Peppers Last
We will start with a table for your convenience:
Bell Pepper | Refrigerator |
---|---|
Uncut (yellow, orange, red) | Up to 2 weeks |
Uncut (green) | Up to 3 weeks |
Cut (all colors) | Up to 5 days |
As you can see, bell peppers don’t last for a very long time. We will talk about them whether they’re whole (uncut) or cut.
The general advice is to think and buy with a plan. Use the bell peppers you need and freeze the other bell peppers for a later moment.
We will talk about bell peppers from less ripe to fully ripened or matured (green, yellow, orange, red).
How Long Do Green Bell Peppers Last
Green bell peppers can last for up to 3 weeks. Green bell peppers last a bit longer than other bell peppers. This is because green pepper is the less mature variant of bell peppers. Red peppers are matured, and we all know that the riper the fruit is, the longer the shelf life will be.
How Long Do Yellow Bell Peppers Last
Yellow bell peppers are a bit more ripened and last for a shorter period than green bell peppers. The yellow bell peppers will last for up to 2 weeks.
How Long Do Orange Bell Peppers Last
The orange bell peppers are a bit more ripened than the yellow and green bell peppers but less than the red bell pepper. They will last for up to 2 weeks.
How Long Do Red Bell Peppers Last
Red bell peppers are the more ripened and mature version of the green bell pepper and will go bad faster. Red bell peppers last for up to 2 weeks but that’s a bit long.
How Long Do Cut Bell Peppers Last
Cutting your food will make them more vulnerable and perishable compared to those in the whole form. Bell pepper pieces will remain good for up to 5 days before they’ll go bad. They should be stored in the fridge.
For the best quality, try to eat them or use the cut bell peppers within the first 2 days for the highest quality.
Of course, the above periods are if everything was stored in the right way.
We just say that you try to use all of your bell peppers in the first week and freeze all the rest.
How To Store Bell Peppers
Bell peppers should be stored in the fridge, preferably in the built-in container, where you store your other fruits and vegetables.
It is of the utmost importance that you store it in the fridge and store cut bell peppers in airtight containers or plastic freezer bags or 2 of them (double-bagging them).
Storing bell peppers isn’t all that hard, but if you don’t use them, put them directly in the fridge.
From the moment you cut the bell peppers, you should store them in a sealed container or bag(s).
We’d like to refer to our more in-depth article about how to store bell peppers.
Can You Freeze Bell Peppers
Yes, of course, you can freeze your bell peppers. You can freeze every food or bell pepper you want but the question is: should you freeze your bell peppers?
We on GoodOrGoneBad say that you should think about what you freeze and what you won’t freeze. It’s all about managing your inventory as the capacity of your freezer isn’t unlimited.
Freezing your bell pepper also means thawing your bell pepper.
Try to do the following:
- Try to freeze your bell peppers separately and store them away like this. Wrap some plastic foil or put them in separate plastic bags in an airtight container.
- Don’t forget to label it with the correct date and time of freezing. It also helps to write down the date when you bought them. This requires some effort but will enhance your decision-making when it comes to discarding them or not.
- Freeze your bell peppers.
Always check after thawing your bell peppers overnight in your fridge for signs of spoilage.
How Can You Tell If Your Bell Peppers Have Gone Bad
You can see this easily by using and trusting your senses and using some general principles or guidelines.
There’s a saying that you start eating with your senses, that’s true for the most part, and that’s why checking spoilage can be really easy.
Try to detect it before you need to taste it and avoid the bad mouth taste.
Some guidelines when checking for spoilage signs:
- Does the bell pepper have an off-color? If yes, you can try to cut away the “bad” pieces. Think about the period you have and make your decision. Discarding isn’t a wrong choice here.
- Are there any black spots on the bell pepper? This can be a sign of mold. Throw it away immediately!
- Does the bell pepper have a sharp smell? If you smell something funny or unpleasant, discard it straight away.
- Is the taste somewhat off or unpleasant? Please rinse your mouth with water and discard the bell pepper.
Just when you notice something weird about your bell pepper, don’t hesitate to get rid of it. On GoodOrGoneBad, we always say to trust in your senses and don’t be afraid to get rid of your bell peppers. It’s better to buy new bell peppers as they’re fairly cheap and it’s not worth it to risk your health or well-being.
Enjoy your bell peppers!