If you love the fiery flavor of Hatch Chiles as much as we do, you don't want the season to be over! But don't worry, Hatch Chiles don't have to disappear after the season is over. Checkout our tips and instructions on preserving the Southwest's favorite pepper for spice year round.
The first step in preserving the fresh, fiery flavor of Hatch Chiles year round is to pick, roast and prep them while they are still in season, before freezing. Click here for our Hatch Checklist on picking the best Hatch Chiles.
While you can just toss your whole or diced chiles in the freezer, we recommend roasting the chiles first, before freezing, to preserve their deep, smoky aroma, as well as make peeling them a breeze. There are many ways to roast Hatch Chiles, all of which we talk about here, but make roasting a breeze and let us roast them for you in-store for free!
If you're not roasting your Hatch Chiles, simply toss them, whole or diced, into a sealed plastic bag and place them in the freezer to enjoy later. If you are roasting them, you may also choose to freeze the chiles as is, or you can peel and seed the chiles while fresh. From there you can freeze them whole or choose to dice them into small pieces.
Once your chiles are ready for freezing, place them into plastic freezer bags or shallow freezer-friendly containers to prevent freezer burn. If you are using plastic freezer bags, try to remove as much air out of the bag as possible before placing in the freezer.
Store your Hatch chiles in the freezer for up to a year and thaw in the refrigerator before using.
Looking to learn more about Hatch Chiles? We have everything you need to know about summer's favorite pepper including more recipes and tips on how to hack Hatch Chile season.
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