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

What are red bell peppers?

Red bell peppers are green bell peppers that are fully ripe. Yes, that’s right: green peppers left on the vine long enough to ripen completely turn red. Most people don’t realize that when pepper is growing on the plant, they all start green and change to shades of orange or yellow before finally becoming red.

However, there are a few key differences between the obvious one, their color. Green peppers have less flavor and can even have a bitter taste. Yellow and orange varieties are riper and have a sweeter taste. But it’s red peppers that are the sweetest since they are fully mature.

Red bell peppers are technically a fruit, but they are often found amongst the vegetables in the produce department.

Red peppers can be eaten raw, baked, roasted, or stir-fried and lend themselves to various recipes across multiple types of cuisine. Did you know that paprika is just dried, ground red bell peppers?

How hot are red bell peppers?

Red bell peppers are not hot at all. In fact, red bell peppers are a bit sweet and sometimes called sweet peppers. They rank 0 on the Scoville scale because they do not have capsaicin, the compound responsible for adding heat to other varieties of peppers.

Where did red bell peppers originate from?

Bell peppers originated in Mexico, Central America, and South America and made their way to the rest of the world from there. It’s said that Christopher Columbus and his entourage of explorers introduced the red bell pepper plant to Europe. From there, seeds made their way across Europe, Africa, and Asia.

What is the nutritional value of red bell peppers?

Red bell peppers pack a nutritional punch, even more so than their green counterparts. A 3.5-oz serving (about half of a fresh red pepper) contains just:

• 31 calories
• 1g protein
• 6g carbohydrate
• 4.2g sugar
• 2.1g fiber
• 0.3g fat

They are 92% water, resulting in a very large and heavy pepper that cooks down to a small amount when you sautee them on the stove. Red bell peppers have 11 times the vitamin C of green bell pepper, making them a better option if you want the most nutritional bang for your buck.

When it comes to vitamins and minerals, red bell peppers have vitamins C, A, E, B6, K1, potassium, and folate. One red bell pepper has 169% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C.

How are red bell peppers grown?

All pepper varieties require warm soil, between 65 and 75°F, for optimal growth. They need regular sunlight, fertilization, and watering. Pepper plants produce between 5 and 10 peppers and require 60 to 90 days to reach maturity.

When are red bell peppers in season?

Most of the red bell peppers in the United States are grown in Florida, with Texas, California, North Carolina, and New Jersey also growing many peppers. In the northern part of the United States, red peppers can grow during the summer months, and in the southern states, the peak growing season is between July and November.

During the winter months, red bell peppers are imported from Mexico and Holland to supplement the domestic supply.

How do you pick red bell peppers at the grocery store?

When choosing a bell pepper, you want to find a vibrant color and shiny skin. If it’s heavier than it looks, that’s a good sign. The skin should be firm and smooth. You want the stem to be green and appear to be relatively freshly cut.

If you are looking to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for red 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.

How to store red bell peppers

Stored properly, unwashed, and uncut red peppers will last for around 2 weeks.

Red peppers should be stored in the crisper, or produce, drawer in your refrigerator to ensure freshness. Leaving them unwashed and stored in a plastic bag is also optimal.

For peppers that are already cut in half or slices, keep them in an airtight container. Add a paper towel to absorb moisture and keep them fresh.

For those times when you get a great deal on peppers and have too many to use now, you can wash, cut, and freeze them to cook with later. There’s no need to blanch them. Just wash them well, remove the stem and seeds, and cut them into the desired size before placing them in freezer containers.

How to tell if red bell peppers are bad

When bell peppers start to go bad, they will shrivel up and lose the sheen and firmness they had when fresh. When a pepper starts to get mushy and then slimy, throw it out immediately. The same holds if it is moldy or starts to smell bad.

What can I substitute for red bell peppers?

The most basic, simple substitute for red peppers is an orange or yellow pepper. If you’re making a stir-fry that calls for one pepper of each color, just add a bit more of another color bell pepper. Using green pepper is usually a suitable sub, but remember the flavor will be altered a bit due to it being less sweet than its red counterpart.

In most cases, you do not want to substitute a red bell pepper with spicy pepper. These can be bright red and look like they would be the perfect substitute, but these smaller, spicier peppers will potentially add some unwanted kick to your meal.

Find red bell peppers near me

If you are looking to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for red bell peppers via Instacart. After adding an item to your cart, select the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best fresh produce. Shop for red bell peppers.

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