How to Freeze Bell Peppers the Easy Way!

4.89 from 9 votes

Did you know bell peppers freeze beautifully for use in all your favorite recipes? I’m walking you through the very easy steps to learn how to freeze bell peppers!

Close up of a serving spoon full of frozen diced bell peppers.

Preserving the Harvest

So why do I freeze bell peppers? Well, like clockwork, spring brings about the mad dash to eat, gift, or preserve all the goodies that come from our garden. And bell peppers are no exception! We always eat our fill of raw peppers dipped in hummus, fajitas, soups, salads, but we can’t ever seem to eat them quickly enough!

The solution? I learned how to freeze bell peppers! Even if you don’t have a garden, though, you might find your bell peppers are starting to “go” before you’ve gotten to eat them. Even if they’re getting a little wrinkled and soft, they’re still perfectly fine to freeze.

Any time I use frozen bell peppers in a recipe in my Instagram stories, I get this question: “How do I freeze bell peppers?!” So I’m laying it out for you and sharing a few simple tips and tricks to preserving them in the freezer. Keep reading!

You may also like: How to freeze strawberries, How to microwave sweet potatoes.


Step by Step Instructions

Bell peppers can be frozen in three easy steps: First, wash and slice the peppers in the desired way, either in long strips or diced. Next, par freeze the bell peppers for an hour, spread on a parchment lined baking sheet. Last, transfer to a freezer bag and store until you’re ready to use.

Once you learn how this method, you’ll be able to freeze most other types of peppers, even hot peppers like jalapeños!

A cutting board topped with diced and sliced bell peppers.

Step 1: Prep the Bell Peppers

First things first, make sure to wash the bell peppers well. Use a sharp knife to cut the flesh away from the seeds and stems.

You can then slice the peppers into thin strips or dice them into bite sized pieces, depending only on your personal preference. I sometimes do a little of both! The longer strips are good for fajitas and stir frys, the diced pieces are better for omelets.

A collage showing bell peppers on a parchment lined baking sheet, before and after freezing.

Step 2: First Freeze

Good news: Unlike other vegetables, you don’t need to blanche the peppers first! They freeze wonderfully when they’re raw.

Gently pat the peppers dry with a paper towel, then lay the peppers on a parchment lined baking sheet, and separate the pieces as much as possible. A little bit of touching is just fine!

Set the pan in the freezer for just an hour. This will start the freezing process. Why do we do this? Keep reading!

Partially freezing the peppers while they’re separated from each other will prevent you from ending up with a giant frozen clump of frozen peppers all stuck to each other and hard to cook.

Close up of a zip lock bag filled with diced bell peppers.

Step 3: Transfer & Freeze

Last but not least, transfer the peppers to a freezer bag or air tight container. Squeeze as much air out as you can, seal, and store in the freezer until you’re ready to enjoy!


Frozen Bell Peppers FAQ

How do I cook frozen bell peppers?

Frozen bell peppers can be used interchangeably with fresh bell peppers in any recipe that requires cooking. Some of the best ways to use frozen bell peppers are in soups, stews, fajitas, stir frys and omelets. Cook them exactly as you would if they were fresh, but allow for slightly more cooking time.

How do I store frozen bell peppers?

Store bell peppers in an airtight bag in the freezer.

How long can I freeze bell peppers?

For best quality and freshness, use frozen bell peppers within 3-4 months.

Recipes that use Bell Peppers

There are endless ways to use bell peppers during your meal prep! Once you have them frozen, add a handful next time you’re cooking an an omelet, zucchini stir fry, soup, and more to add some extra veggies and flavor! Here are more of my favorite uses:

Collage of images showing recipes that use peppers.

More bell pepper recipes: Kung Pao Chicken, Roasted Bell Pepper Dip, Stuffed Pepper Casserole.

A large serving spoon scooping frozen bell peppers from a bag.

How to Freeze Bell Peppers

The easiest way to freeze bell peppers and preserve them for cooking later on!
4.89 from 9 votes
Print Pin Rate Text Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Freezing Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Laura Miner

Ingredients

  • 2 bell peppers

Video

Instructions

  • Wash the bell peppers. Cut away the flesh from the stem and the seeds. Dice, thinly slice, or half the bell peppers, however you prefer them cut for eating later. Pat them dry with a paper towel.
  • Transfer the peppers to a baking sheet, spreading the pieces apart so they touch as little as possible. Place in the freezer for 1 hour.
  • Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and transfer the peppers to an airtight bag or container. Squeeze all the air out of the bag and seal. Set back in the freezer until you're ready to use them.

Notes

For best quality, store bell peppers in a zip top plastic bag, reusable silicone Stasher bags, or an airtight container in the freezer, and use frozen bell peppers within 3-4 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 18kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 126mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1863IU | Vitamin C: 76mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you try this recipe? Share it with us on Instagram! @cookathomemom!
4.89 from 9 votes (7 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating





16 Comments

  1. Can you just chop and freeze in a freezer bag? I don’t have space in my freezer to do it on cookie trays

    1. You can do it that way safely, but the pieces will all stick together as they freeze and you’ll end up with clumps of frozen bell peppers.

      1. I just laid mine flat in a thin layer in the freezer bag with as little air as possible and they didn’t clump up. I broke them up the next morning.

  2. 5 stars
    This is a great way to freeze bell peppers! I love how easy it is and that I can just grab what I need when I’m ready to use them.

    1. Hi Aman, I’m so glad you enjoy this method! I think having the bell peppers ready to go is great, too! 🙂 -Laura

    1. Hi Kathy! Great question! I wouldn’t recommend using foil. I’ve always found foil tends to tear up a bit when you pull par-frozen food off of it, and tiny pieces can end up sticking to the food. I’d recommend skipping the liner and setting the peppers directly on the sheet pan during that step. -Laura

  3. I’m planning on using some frozen bell peppers in a chili recipe. Do I need to thaw them before I add them to the pot!

    1. Hi Debbie! No you do not need to defrost them- bell peppers can be cooked straight from frozen. 🙂 -Laura

  4. Will they thaw well for batter/deep frying ? In other words, will they be somewhat crunchy when thawed ?

    1. Hi Genevieve, Once bell peppers defrost from frozen, they’ll definitely lose crispiness, but in my opinion, they’ve still got enough life left in them to be suitable for cooking. It’s a preference thing, though, so maybe experiment with this a bit to see if you still enjoy them for that purpose once they’re defrosted. 🙂 -Laura

    2. 4 stars
      i do a bit of blanching by putting the cut bits of pepper in a zip bag and microwaveing for 2min on low.

    1. Hi Joe, the nutrition info is per 1/2 bell pepper. Depending on how you cut the peppers (diced or sliced), it’d be approximately 1/2 cup. -Laura