Green Bell Peppers – All You Need to Know | Instacart Guide to Fresh Produce

What are green bell peppers?

Green bell peppers are a type of vegetable. They’re a savory type of sweet bell pepper, and they typically stay fresh a little longer than red and yellow bell peppers. These peppers go with pretty much anything. People eat them as sides and stuff them with beans, brown rice, veggies, and more.

They also dice them up and add them to their pizzas before baking them, add them to stir-frys, use them to add texture to certain dishes, and toss ‘em in their chilis. You can even eat them right off the grill.

Where did green bell peppers originate from?

Green bell peppers have been a staple of Latin American cuisine for a long time, but they originated in South America in Peru, showing up as early as 5,000 BCE. They were cultivated in Central and South America, and then colonists brought them to Europe in 1493, where they were quickly adopted and cultivated.

The Europeans are the ones who actually gave the peppers their names. The only pepper they’d been introduced to at the time was actual pepper (the spice). When the colonists brought dried peppers back from the West Indies, the Europeans said that the fruit was “hotter than the pepper of the Caucasus”—a table spice.

The name “pepper” stuck, and we’ve been calling it that ever since.

What are the benefits of eating green bell peppers?

Eating green bell peppers offers tons of health benefits. A few of them include:

• Prevention of anemia
• Strengthening the immune system
• Skin, heart, teeth, eye, and bone health
• Fighting infection, inflammation, and cancer
• Speeding up metabolism
• Aiding in weight loss

They’re a great source of vitamins B6, K, E, and A, as well as potassium, folate, and fiber.

If you are looking to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for green bell peppers via Instacart. After adding a product to your cart, use the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best products. Shop for green bell peppers.

How are green bell peppers grown?

Green bell peppers are typically grown in warmer climates, so put them in a place that gets full sun.

When growing your green bell peppers, don’t worry too much about the soil. But keep in mind that they like a good amount of organic matter, good drainage, and a neutral soil pH of about 6.0 to 6.8.

If you’ve got a long, warm growing season, direct seed peppers once the ground is warm and not too wet. In shorter season zones, start seeding indoors or buy seedlings.

Peppers are slow to start growing. Start the seed 8 to 12 weeks before your last frost date. They can take some time to germinate, but sweet peppers are usually quicker than hot peppers. By about 6 weeks old, seedlings should have their first real leaves. That means it’s time to transplant them into bigger pots (probably about 3in) and keep growing indoors.

Make sure to harden off the seedlings before you transplant them into the garden. When transplanting them, do it 1in deeper than they were growing in their pots. Space them 14 to 18in apart. You may have to stake some pepper plants until they’re sturdy enough to stand on their own. Don’t forget to water your peppers regularly. Drought stress can cause the flowers to drop.

Most plants will begin producing within 65 to 75 days from transplant. Green bell peppers can be picked at any time. In fact, the more you pick, the more the plant will set. Also, be aware of pests that might interfere with growing your green bell peppers.

When are green bell peppers in season?

Green bell peppers are available all year long. But they’re usually less expensive during the summer months when they’re in season.

What should I look for when buying green bell peppers?

When shopping for green bell peppers, look for unbruised, firm peppers. You should see 3 or 4 points on the bottom of your bell pepper. The peppers with 3 bumps are male, and the ones with 4 bumps are female.

If you’re planning on eating the green bell pepper raw, get the female pepper. Even though they have more seeds, the flesh is sweeter than the flesh of the male. The male pepper has fewer seeds, but it’s slightly more bitter in flavor and makes for a better pepper to cook with.

Instacart customers can use these tips to provide their shopper with great instructions for choosing fresh produce. Shop for green bell peppers now.

How to store green bell peppers

If you want your green bell peppers to stay as fresh as possible, you’ll want to store them uncooked in the fridge. Do that, and they’ll stay fresh for more than 2 weeks.

If they’re already prepared, you can only store them for about 3 to 5 days in the fridge. If you’re going to freeze them, your green bell peppers will last about 10 to 12 months.

How to tell if green bell peppers are bad

Pay attention to how the pepper looks, feels, and smells. Overripe bell peppers will have sagging skin over softer flesh. They might also have a sickly sweet smell to them—the result of too much sugar.

You’ll also know they’re bad if you see bruises on the flesh and if they don’t snap when you try to break them. Leave these types of peppers at the grocery store.

What can I substitute for green bell peppers?

If you don’t have green bell peppers, you can always substitute them with the following:

• Onions
• Bok choy
• Poblano peppers
• Sichuan peppers
• Cubanelle peppers
• Anaheim peppers
• Pimiento peppers
• Jalapeno peppers
• Spices
• Other bell peppers

Get fresh green bell peppers quickly and easily

Reading about all of the amazing benefits of green bell peppers sparked some creative juices, and now you’re thinking about dinner, huh? Kick back and relax and get fresh produce delivery with Instacart.

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