Dried Bell Peppers VS. Fresh (2024)

Bell peppers are nutritious vegetables that add delicious flavor to many types of dishes–but fresh peppers spoil so quickly that keeping them on hand can be tricky. That is why many cooks stock their pantries with dehydrated bell peppers. Only need a tablespoon for a recipe? You can rehydrate the exact amount you need without running to the store or wasting food. But how do dried bell peppers compare to fresh peppers? This post will show you how Harmony House Premium Dehydrated Peppers stack up against their fresh counterparts.

Fresh and Dried Bell Pepper Nutrition

A little sweet pepper packs a lot of nutrition–this is true for both fresh and dried peppers. Bell peppers contain more vitamin C than oranges, in fact, green peppers contain up to twice as much vitamin C as oranges, and red bell peppers contain about four times as much. Also, red peppers are a source of lycopene, the same pigment that gives tomatoes their color. Some studies have suggested that eating lycopene-rich foods could lower the risk of cancer, heart disease, and age-related eye disorders. Red peppers also have high levels of vitamin B6, vitamin A, vitamin E, and folate.

You will not sacrifice any of the nutritional benefit of eating peppers by cooking with dried peppers. Our peppers are not cooked–they are fresh picked and then immediately air dried at a low temperature to retain nutrients. The lower the temperature you dry vegetables at, the more nutrients they retain. This is why Harmony House Dried Mixed Peppers and all of our dehydrated vegetables retain their nutritional value, while staying fresh on the shelf for years.

Compare the nutritional data for yourself:

Take a look at the nutritional fact sheet for Harmony House Mixed Bell Peppers. Then, compare those numbers to nutritional data from the United States Department of Agriculture’s own National Nutrient Database:

USDA Basic Report: 11821, Peppers, sweet, red, raw

USDA Basic Report: 11333, Peppers, sweet, green, raw

How to Safely Store Bell Peppers

For longest storage, fresh peppers should be kept in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. If stored properly, bell peppers will stay fresh for five to seven days.

Dried peppers should be kept in a cool, dry, and preferably dark space like a cabinet or pantry. If stored in this manner, dried mixed peppers from Harmony House stay fresh for up to 24 months.

Our dried mixed peppers contain only premium quality red and green bell peppers. They have been washed, seeded, and diced before dehydrating–so they are ready to cook with straight out of the package.

Volume and Measurement

• One, whole medium-sized bell pepper will yield one cup of chopped, fresh bell pepper.

• One cup of our dehydrated Mixed Bell Peppers yields 2 ½ cups of peppers when rehydrated.

Want more info about rehydrating other types of vegetables? The Harmony House Rehydration Chart shows, by volume and by weight, the amount of food you can get out of many types of dehydrated vegetables and fruits.

Cooking with Bell Peppers

Both fresh and dried peppers are delicious in a variety of recipes. In cooked recipes, you will not be able to tell the difference between dehydrated mixed peppers and fresh peppers. Soups, chili, sauces, egg dishes, meatloafs, meatballs, sloppy joes, hash browns, casseroles—pretty much any recipe that calls for finely diced bell peppers can be made with our dehydrated mixed bell pepper.