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How to Ferment Peppers

How to Ferment Peppers

To use in hot sauce or as a condiment all on their own, here’s how to ferment peppers.

Fermenting peppers is not a difficult process. In fact, it is quite easy, and only a little patience is required. Fermenting peppers is an absolutely essential step in making hot sauce, and it makes your homemade hot sauce so much better than if you use fresh peppers.

Many of our favorite hot sauces in the United States are still made with fermented peppers, including Sriracha and Tabasco. Fermenting the peppers gives the hot sauce a greater dimension of flavors, that simply elevates the sauce to a different level.

Fermenting peppers without a salt brine allows the peppers to ferment in their own juices. This intensifies the flavor of your finished product. This method of fermentation has been employed by humans for thousands of years.

Lacto fermentation was used to preserve vegetables that would otherwise spoil. These vegetables sustained families through barren months of the year. Fermentation was traditionally done in large crocks, so that larger quantities of fresh produce could be preserved.

I include the above photo so that you know – if the top has mold growing on it – throw out that batch. It is not safe to eat. This one was contaminated because I overfilled it with peppers and when I went to burp it the first week, they started to overflow, so, I had to scoop some of them out.

Now, I did not sterilize the spoon first, which led to mold. Learn from my mistakes.

See Also

1. Wash peppers. Remove stems. Place in food processor.
2. Finely grind.
3. Place in a large bowl.
4. Add salt. About 3 tablespoons per quart of peppers. Mix very well.
5. Pack peppers and salt into quart jars. Pushing down to remove air pockets.

Let peppers ferment at least one month. I left mine for 4 months. Technically, the peppers can ferment for years, in large vats, as Tabasco does.

That is how easy it is to ferment your own peppers so that you can make your own hot sauce.

View Comments (2)
  • I am in the process of fermenting my peppers. Sorry to be so stupid, but how do you suggest I do with them after the 3 or 4 months. Mine don’t have a lot of liquid so do I add vinegar at the end. Help please I haven’t a clue. Thank you.

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