How to Store Bell Peppers (Fridge and Freezer Guide)

Wondering how to store bell peppers? You’ve come to the right place! In this comprehensive guide, I’ll show you multiple different ways to store whole bell peppers and cut bell peppers so you can reduce food waste and get a jump on meal prep.

How to Store Bell Peppers (Fridge and Freezer Guide)

Bright, sweet bell peppers are a favorite in our house, thanks to their sweet taste and rich nutritional value.

Whether we’re snacking on raw cut peppers, roasting them for veggie sandwiches, or adding them to soups, sauces, and other family favorite recipes, they’re a fresh produce staple I can’t live without. 

I’ll show you the easiest ways to keep your fresh peppers truly fresh using simple steps. I’ll also show you a freezer storage method that I think is the best way to store peppers for later use.

Why you'll love this bell pepper storage guide

Less food waste - No more finding soft, wrinkly peppers hiding in the back of the fridge.

Faster meal prep - Pre-cut peppers make it easy to throw together fajitas, salads, stir fries and snack plates on busy nights.

Saves money - Stock up when peppers are on sale or at the farmer's market, then freeze the extras.

No special gear - All you need is a knife, a container and a few paper towels.

Works for every pepper - Red, yellow, orange, green, and even hot peppers.

Do bell peppers need to be refrigerated?

Short answer: whole bell peppers don't have to be refrigerated, but they last a whole lot longer if they are. Whole peppers keep for a few days at room temperature. In the crisper drawer, they last about 1 to 2 weeks.

If you'll use them within a day or two, a fruit bowl in a cool, dry spot out of direct sunlight is totally fine. Any longer than that, pop them in the fridge.

Cut or cooked bell peppers always need to be refrigerated. Don't leave them at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

This goes for every color - red, yellow, orange and green. Green peppers are picked before they're fully ripe, so they tend to stay firm a little longer than red, yellow and orange peppers.

First step: picking your bell peppers

How long your peppers lasts depends on the condition they are in when you purchase them. Look for firm, smooth skin with blemishes. If you see wrinkles, you'll know it is not the freshest bell peppers.

If the bell peppers you’re considering buying don't look great, it’s always a good idea to ask someone in the produce area if they have any more fresh-looking options n their back room.

As we head into summertime, maybe you're growing your own fruit and can pick directly from the vine. Use this guide to make your summer bounty last longer!

How long do bell peppers last in the fridge?

It depends on how fresh they are when you get them, but you can often store them in the crisper drawer for up to two weeks! 

The freshest bell peppers boast vibrant colors and have taut, smooth skin with no bad spots or blemishes. (This is not the only pepper variety this applies to - same goes for hot peppers, too!)

In addition, make sure you’re storing them properly, i.e. in the low-humidity drawer.

Give them some space - Store peppers away from apples, bananas and melons, which give off ethylene gas that can make produce soften faster.

To create a dry environment, the slider setting opens a window for the ethylene to escape, thus helping preserve your peppers. 

Should you use a vinegar wash, rinse, or produce spray?

I typically find that using cold running water and a bit of friction from my hands is usually sufficient to clean most produce.

That said, using a vinegar wash is an easy, cheap way to remove bacteria, pesticides, and other impurities on the surface of your fruits and veggies.

Plus, vinegar’s preservative qualities (helloooo pickles!) may help to extend the shelf-life of your bell peppers.

If you’d like to do a vinegar rinse, mix 1 part distilled white vinegar (or ACV, but that’s more expensive) with 4 parts water.

You can then either spray the solution onto your peppers or submerge them in it. Leave the solution on for about 5 minutes for it to do its work, then thoroughly rinse and dry the peppers before storing.  

What you’ll need for bell pepper prep and storage

You don’t need a ton of gear to keep your peppers fresh. For whole fresh bell peppers (or whole hot chili peppers) all you’ll need is a fridge and clean kitchen towel or paper towel to wick away any excess moisture.

For cut or cooked peppers you’ll need:

• A sharp knife (for cutting/prepping)
• An airtight container or zip-top plastic bag
• A parchment-lined baking sheet or cookie sheet (if you’re freezing them)

How to prep and store fresh peppers - 4 easy steps!

1. Remove peppers from your produce bag. They need air! I like to store my whole peppers in the fridge in reusable produce bags, that let air circulate in, while also not trapping moisture. Definitely don't keep them in plastic produce bags.
2. Rinse peppers using the method of your choice (i.e. water or a vinegar solution).
3. Dry peppers thoroughly. Bacteria loves moisture, so wick away as much as possible - especially if you want them to stay fresh in the fridge for a long time.
4. Cut peppers (optional). Remove the stem side first, then pull out the seeds and white membranes. From here, you can cut the peppers into long strips, then go a step further and dice them if you like. (It’s all about personal preference and what you’re using them for.) Make sure to cut up the top part that is attached to the stem side, too.

How to store cut bell peppers in the fridge

Once your peppers are sliced or diced, the goal is to keep them dry and sealed. Moisture is what turns cut peppers slimy, so a paper towel does a lot of the work here.

Start by patting the cut peppers dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel. Line an airtight container or zip-top bag with a dry paper towel. Add the peppers in a loose layer, then lay another paper towel on top before sealing it up.

If the paper towel gets damp after a day or two, swap it for a fresh one.

Stored this way, cut bell peppers stay fresh in the fridge for about 3 to 5 days. If they start to feel slimy, look mushy, or smell off, it's time to toss them.

Watch me prep bell peppers for the week!

The full how to video can be watched below, or on my YouTube channel!

How to freeze bell peppers

Freezing bell peppers is considered the best practice to keep them nice and fresh for an extended period. Here’s how to save your peppers for way-in-the-future use: 

1. Prep. Follow the steps outlined above to prep and store fresh peppers. Once they’re in strips or diced, you can proceed to the next step.
2. Spread the peppers out in a single layer on a parchment-lined cookie sheet or plate. Keep the pieces as separate as possible so they don’t clump up.
3. Pop the peppers in the freezer. Leave them for about an hour or two, or until they’ve frozen solid.
4. Transfer the frozen peppers into freezer bags. To prevent freezer burn, you want to remove as much air as possible. I like using the water in a large pot trick, but pressing out the air with your fingers is a decent alternative method. 
5. Label & date your bags. While they will be safe to eat after a year in the freezer, a year is a long time. Eating them within 3-6 months is a great way to ensure your peppers taste their best. I recommend adding a “best by” or “expiration date” rather than the date they were cut.

Substitutions, optional variations & dietary adjustments

Below you'll find a list of substitutions that will work well in this bell pepper storage recipe.

Zip-top bag - A glass meal prep container, mason jar, or reusable silicone bag all work just as well for cut peppers.

Paper towel - A clean, dry kitchen towel works if you're out of paper towels.

Parchment paper - Use a silicone baking mat when flash freezing peppers on a baking sheet.

Vinegar rinse - Plain cold running water and a little rubbing with your hands works fine, too.

Hot peppers - Jalapenos, poblanos and other chili peppers can be stored and frozen the same way. Wear gloves when cutting the spicy ones!

Roasted peppers - Store roasted or sauteed peppers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, or freeze them for later.

If you try something different out, please leave a comment below letting us all know how it turned out!

FAQ

Favorite bell pepper recipes

Now that you have peppers that lasts in your fridge ready to eat and use, here are some favorite ways to use them!

• Chicken pickle salad stuffed bell peppers
• Pizza stuffed bell peppers
• Sheet pan steak fajitas
• Roasted red pepper pesto
• Mango, avocado and pepper salsa
• Ground beef fajitas
• Stuffed pepper soup
• Sauted fajita vegetables

Waste less food! Here are more produce prep and storage guides:

• How to prep and store strawberries
• How to prep and store fresh broccoli for less waste

If you try my method for prepping and storing fresh cut bell peppers, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it goes for you!

XO

Heather