Cooking Peppers: Tips with Jalapeno Peppers

Jalapeno peppers are the perfect addition to just about any dish and recipes, and are even great as the main course of the meal. Here are a few cooking tips to spice up your favorite recipes, and to make your next meal a phenomenal one.

Cooking Peppers Tip #1

Wear Gloves When Cutting Jalapeno Peppers

I've posted this tip in the Jalapeno FAQ section as well because I get many many emails from folks who have burned their skin when cutting jalapenos. Or they've cut chili peppers and rubbed their eye, resulting in a stinging burn. The best way to avoid getting the jalapeno oils on your skin is to wear rubber or latex gloves when handling the peppers. Personally, the oils do not bother my skin at all, but I have felt the burn in the eye on occasion, and it isn't pleasant.

Cooking Peppers Tip #2

Remove the Seeds and Innards for Less Heat

If you love the flavor of jalapeno peppers but not quite the heat, you can easily remove the seeds and innards, or placenta, from the cut pepper to reduce the heat. Most of the jalapeno pepper heat resides in the seeds and placenta. Removing them and only eating the fleshy part of the cut pepper will still add a bit of kick, plenty of flavor, but will avoid that heat that you can't handle.

Cooking Peppers Tip #3

What is the best way to properly wash a jalapeno pepper?