Drying cayenne peppers is quick and easy, and there are several different ways to do it. From hanging them, to dehydrating, or using your oven, I’m going to show you all the different methods you can use.
I’ll give you step by step drying instructions, tell you how to keep them from molding, and test them for doneness. Then I’ll give you tips for storing them too.
If you’ve ever grown cayenne peppers in your garden before, you know first hand that the plants are very prolific – which means you end up with a LOT of them.
While this is a good problem to have, and I personally love using the fresh ones in my recipes, it’s pretty much impossible to use them all up before they go bad.
Well, the good news is that it’s very easy to dry them, and you don’t need any special equipment. It’s the best way to preserve their flavor, and keep your pantry stocked all year long.
How Long Does It Take To Dry Cayenne Peppers?
Since they have thin skins, they dry fairly quickly. But the exact time it takes will vary depending on the method you use.
It only takes a few hours to dry cayennes in the oven or dehydrator, and it can take several days If you hang or air-dry them.
You’ll know they’re dry when they become very lightweight, brittle, and break apart easily. If they feel soft or pliable at all, then they’re not done.
Related Post: How To Grow Your Own Peppers
How To Dry Cayenne Peppers
There are 4 methods you can try: hanging, air-drying, dehydrating, or using your oven. Below I’ll give you detailed steps for each of them. Choose the one that’s most convenient, or experiment with all of them to find what works best for you.
1. Hanging Cayenne Peppers To Dry
This method can take a week or more. It works best, and will be much faster, if you live in a dry climate.
If it’s very humid, then it can be challenging to hang-dry your cayennes without them molding inside. Here are the steps:
- Cut a slit in the side of each cayenne pepper, and/or cut off the tops (this is optional, but helps prevent mildew).
- Either poke a hole in the top and put the string through it (using a needle and thread makes this much easier), or tie the string to each of the stems.
- Be sure to leave one end of the string longer for hanging.
- Hang them in a sunny window where they are protected from moisture.
- Check them every few days to make sure they aren’t molding.
2. Dehydrating Cayenne Peppers
Depending on the type of dehydrator you have, it can take several hours or a couple of days for them to dry out completely, but it’s still one of the faster methods.
If your machine is like mine, and the racks have holes in them, then I recommend using liner sheets. Otherwise, the seeds will end up making a mess in the bottom.
Here’s how to make dried cayenne peppers in a dehydrator:
- Cut off the tops and slice each cayenne in half (I recommend wearing disposable gloves while doing this).
- Spread them out evenly on the dehydrator racks, it’s best if they aren’t touching each other.
- Turn the temperature to medium (my food dehydrator has a “vegetables” setting that I use, which is 125° F).
- Check for doneness every few hours, and remove them once they are completely dry.
Related Post: How To Grow Peppers From Seed & When To Start
3. Drying Cayenne Peppers In The Oven
This is by far the fastest way to do it, and only takes a few hours, so it’s my preferred method when I’m in a rush.
But keep a close eye on them, because it’s very easy to overdo it, and end up burning them! Here are the steps for using your oven to dry cayenne peppers:
- Preheat your oven to the lowest temperature you can (I use 200°F for mine).
- Slice the tops off of each pepper, and cut them in half (wear disposable gloves for this).
- Spread them out on an ungreased cookie sheet, and put them into the oven.
- Check on them every 10 minutes, and remove any that are completely dry – leaving the soft ones in longer.
4. Air-Drying Cayenne Peppers
This is definitely one of the slowest methods, and it will take several days. The exact amount of time depends on how humid the air is.
If you choose to try doing it this way, you should cut the tops off and slice them in half, otherwise they will probably mold inside.
Here’s how to air-dry cayenne peppers…
- Cut off the tops and slice each one in half (be sure to wear gloves when handling them).
- Spread them out on a drying rack or paper plate so that they’re not touching each other.
- Place them in a dry and warm location that gets good air circulation.
- Check them every few days to make sure they aren’t molding, and also test for dryness.
How To Store Dried Cayenne Peppers
You can store them in the pantry in a glass jar, paper bag, or any container that you want, as long as it’s airtight.
But make sure your dried cayenne peppers have no moisture left in them before storing. They won’t keep well, and can mold pretty quickly if they’re even slightly moist.
They also freeze very well, and that way you won’t have to worry about mold. Just be sure to use a freezer-safe bag, or other sealed container.
Related Post: How To Preserve & Store Peppers Long Term
How Long Do Dried Cayenne Peppers Last?
You can keep dried cayenne peppers for many years, but the flavor and potency doesn’t last forever, and will fade over time.
So, to ensure you always have the freshest and spiciest supply, it’s best to replenish them every year, and toss out the old ones.
FAQs
Need a bit more information? Here are a few common questions about drying cayenne peppers. If you can’t find an answer here, ask me in the comments below.
Can you dry green cayenne peppers?
You can dry green cayenne peppers, they don’t have to be completely ripe. However, just keep in mind that they won’t be as spicy when they are green.
How can you tell when cayenne peppers are dry?
It’s easy to tell just by touching them. Dried cayenne peppers are brittle, and easy to break apart. If they’re soft at all, then they need to dry longer.
What can you do with dried cayenne peppers?
Dried cayenne peppers are a staple in every kitchen. There are tons of great uses for them, especially if you love spicy food. Add a little heat to your homemade recipes and sauces, infuse oils and vinegars, grind them into powder, or make crushed red pepper flakes to refill your spice rack – the possibilities are endless!
How do you prevent mold on dried cayenne peppers?
Mold is a common problem when you hang or air-dry cayenne peppers, especially when it’s humid. To prevent it from happening, you can cut slits along the length of each pepper and/or cut the tops off first.
Drying cayenne peppers from your garden is easy, and there are so many ways to do it. Once you get the hang of it, you will have plenty to use in your recipes all year long.
More About Food Preservation
Share your tips or favorite method for drying cayenne peppers in the comments below.
Marlene Landsburg says
I dry my cayenne peppers in the dehydrator for up to three days at 115 Fahrenheit. Anyhow, they are dried when I pulled them out then I put them through my food processor and then grind them down further with my magic bullet. After that I put them into bowls, and let them sit around and dry even further. But even after a week in the bowl so they can drive further they are clumpy. Is that bad? It’s the same with my habaneros and my red jalapeño peppers
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, unfortunately any type of humidity can make your dried cayenne peppers soft and sticky. I recommend keeping them in a sealed container so they stay as dry as possible.
Joe Kapelewski says
A trick I learned for Thai peppers that can also apply to cayenne. Paper egg cartons! 16 egg is better than 12. The paper absorbs moisture I set by a sunny window for a month or so. Works for trying and keeping. Keep the lid closed and shakem up every other day or so.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great, thanks for sharing how you dry cayenne peppers and giving us your tips for success.
Maria Litterer says
Hi thanks for the information. I was wondering if doing cayenne peppers in the oven stinks up the house. TIA Maria
Amy Andrychowicz says
I haven’t had any issue with them stinking up the house when I dry my cayennes in the oven. They have a mild smell as they’re drying, but not strong at all.
Don says
Thanks for the tip. Going to try oven drying tomorrow!
colleen says
Hi, I hang my cayenne peppers in my kitchen, they look festive and dry well. I string them and no mold, thanks for all the uses to dry peppers. colleen
Amy Andrychowicz says
I love it, sounds like a beautiful way to dry your cayenne peppers! 🙂
Ken Falk says
1. Cutting Cayenne Peppers for drying in the oven. Your article says cut in half before placing in oven. Is that half lengthwise (top to bottom) or in the middle? Your article doesn’t show any photos of peppers cut in the middle. 2. And typically how long at 200 degrees in the oven?
Thank you.
Amy Andrychowicz says
In half the long way (top to bottom). It can take anywhere from 10-30 minutes to dry cayenne peppers in the oven. Some will take longer than others, so check on them every 10 minutes and remove the ones that are done.
cecile says
Great article, thank you! I live in Minneapolis too and love your blog, it helps me a lot. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could air dry peppers in the winter when it’s so dry!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome! Yes, if the timing worked out, air-drying cayennes in the winter would be wonderful!