So I live in the middle of a bunch of farmland. I'm on good terms with one of my neighbors. They told me that they're done for the season with the peppers, and everything out in the field was basically going back to the land. In fact, they ran a tractor over it to help the process along.

…this is maybe 0.001% of the peppers that were just going to rot.

I have no idea what I'm going to do with this amount of peppers.

I took a bag earlier before I understood the scale with the idea of just making a few jars of red pepper sauce. And then I thought oh I guess I could also make some red pepper jelly. But this is a monumental amount of peppers. This is like a few hundred pounds of peppers. My dumbass that can't stomach waste literally filled every single bag I had in the house with them.

If anybody has any easy ideas, I'm all ears.

I have two air fryers, a giant microwave, a two chamber oven, and instant pot, a small dehydrator, and two slow cookers. And a pretty standard electric range. I could have quite a few things going concurrently. What I do not have is freezer space.

Thank you for any input.

by SpadesHeart

47 Comments

  1. Additional-Sense7433

    Homemade paprika should use a good chunk of those peppers for a small return. Also, donating some to a food bank would be a good deed

  2. BoobySlap_0506

    Are there local food banks that accept fresh produce?

  3. alanthiana

    I am jealous of your bounty! Suggestions – Roasted red pepper pesto! Soup!

  4. Proper-Nobody-1727

    I would pickle them, fill them with ground beef, cheese…but hurry up.

  5. Melodic_Local_4385

    Roast them slice them and can them!

  6. giantpunda

    You kind of already have the idea. Red pepper sauce for some, Roasted red peppers stored in oil or brine. Dehydrate & turn into powder.

    Also, consider making stuff to take to a small market or gifting to others.

    Worst case scenario, donate to local food bank, shelter or even turn into compost.

  7. phammirage

    Where are you located? I’m sure people would come by to pick some up or you could always donate.

  8. DM-Disaster

    – Fire roasted red peppers. You can can them in oil and they’re amazing on sandwiches.

    – Dice a ton and freeze them for recipes.

    – You can make a few batches of stuffed peppers/capsicum and either freeze them (prior to cooking, so you just pull them out and cook them) or gift them to friends/family. I make mine stuffed with hamburger, rice, and whatever else suits me. They’re great with taco seasoning.

  9. Ryoko_Kusanagi69

    That game should host a pepper fair / pick your own peppers day to the community and just have people come ransack the leftovers, and then some food vendor can make pepper themed foods all day serving them

  10. fuller316

    Do what most people do. Make a plan, set them on the counter, and let them shrivel up to the point they attract a TON of gnats, then finally throw them away. 😆

  11. sunflwerfieldsforevr

    My husband and I make a “discard soup” with the last of our harvest every year. It’s always a large majority of peppers like you have here, with maybe some tomatoes or eggplant as well. The recipe is always different, but always delicious. We aim to make it thick so we can use it as a pasta sauce too. We make it in bulk and bring containers to our families so it all gets eaten. It keeps for about 2 weeks in the fridge (maybe a little longer). Donate anything you don’t use to a shelter, they are almost always ecstatic to receive produce.

  12. NorthernLightxxxix

    Harissa. Shakshouka. Jar them to make blended red pepper pasta sauce.

  13. Abystract-ism

    Get a dehydrator?
    Contact a restaurant?

  14. spatialdiffraction

    Peppers freeze surprisingly well, I would slice up a bag and freeze if you have space.

  15. djiemownu

    If you are willing to give some to your local bank food they will be very happy i’m 100% sure !

  16. Walrusruckus

    Lots of chili, stuffed peppers, great food to share with the community if you are able to!

  17. Secret-Bobcat-4909

    Great haul! I wish I were there!
    Many ovens can dehydrate (140-170 and prop the door open a crack for moisture to leave). You could also cut them open into strips and dry them in the sun on string.
    Then store them (with silicone moisture absorbing packets is even better). Then can be rehydrated to cook later – fajitas, romescu, roasted red peppers.

  18. EridaniHesper

    Salsa, freez them, dry some, roast some, donate some.

  19. External_Bandicoot37

    Dehydrate and powder them use it as a spice.

  20. shenyeng

    If you cook often you can also slice and freeze to use as dish bases everytime you cook

  21. Grasshopper419

    I make stuffed bell peppers and freeze them. Dead of winter I pop them in the slow cooker with sauce.

  22. Traditional_Car_8219

    If you have room, invite a bunch of friends with paring knives to come over and make hot pepper jam/jelly which everyone could then gift their friends and family. A lot of the peppers could be donated to soup kitchens and other organizations that feed those in need.

  23. LNinefingers

    Ajvar ajvar ajvar

    Find an Eastern European and they’ll happily do a project with you.

  24. Ok-Award2473

    Pickle them!! Someone may have already said it but I only wish I had that many to make the delicious pickled peppers I made last month!!

  25. Artistdramatica3

    We’ve talked about you in math class.