Do Jalapenos Go Bad?

Do jalapenos go bad?

By TheWholePortion

Page last updated: 04/05/2023 | Next review date: 04/05/2025

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In this brief article, we will answer the question do jalapenos go bad, its shelf life and how to store jalapenos

Yes, Jalapenos go bad after storing for a few days in the pantry and after a few weeks in the fridge. In proper storage jalapenos can stay longer than a month or even up to two months

Jalapenos are medium sized chili peppers which are pod type when cultivated. Mature Jalapeno chili is round, with dimensions 5-10 cm long and 25-38 mm wide. The pungency of jalapeno chili is about 3500-8000 scoville heat units

Nutritional value of jalapenos:

Jalapenos are very rich in many nutrients; despite its spicy taste it is still used in many dishes. Many people use jalapenos for taste, in cooking, as seasoning, and to bring out flavors. Jalapenos are rich in flavor and spice along with many nutrients

Jalapenos have vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K. It is rich in potassium and also has carotenoids as well as folate. The antioxidant content in jalapenos helps fight damage of the cell. Jalapenos have a compound called Capsaicin which makes the pepper spicy.

Benefits of Jalapenos:

Jalapenos are anti-inflammatory, and helps in weight loss due to presence of capsaicin. It acts as a pain reliever and improves heart health and lowers the risk of ulcer in the body. Jalapenos cause burning sensation in the mouth, intestine and stomach lining.

Even though jalapenos cause heartburn sometimes, they are still very beneficial. If consumed in balanced amounts, jalapenos acts to improve our health status. That’s why it is part of many recipes, and consumed all over the world.

Shelf life of Jalapenos:

Jalapenos have active compounds called capsaicin in it and it also has a large amount of folate in it. Due to the presence of these nutrients jalapenos have a higher tendency to go bad. The shelf life of jalapenos is quite less, about 1 to 2 day if kept in proper storage.

Fresh Jalapenos as a whole last for 3-5 days in the pantry if storage conditions are maintained. In the fridge the shelf life increases to almost 2 weeks, if unopened jalapenos are stored. Sliced fresh jalapenos stay unspoiled for 3-4 days in the fridge, it starts to spoil very quickly in the pantry.

Canned jalapenos if unopened should be stored till its expiration date, which is 3 to 5 months after manufacturing date. In case the canned jalapenos are opened, you should store them in the refrigerator. When stored in the refrigerator, canned jalapenos stay for as long as 1-2 months.

How to store Jalapenos:

Jalapenos are quickly spoiled if left open on the shelf or outside. The best way to ensure long shelf life is to refrigerate them at proper temperature. Fresh Jalapenos are stored in vegetable counters in the refrigerator, in bags or without them. Fresh unopened jalapenos have the longest shelf life and they remain safe in the refrigerator.

Sliced jalapenos have exposed folates to the surrounding air, these nutrients can react and cause spoiling of jalapenos. It is best to slice only the amount of jalapenos that you want to use. If you want to store sliced jalapenos, do it in air tight container for no more than 3 days

Canned jalapenos are stored in the pantry until open, it is best to store the can in cold, dark places. After opening the can, place the can in the fridge and cover it with a lid. The quality starts to deteriorate after the can is opened. It is best to consume the canned jalapenos in 3 to 4 weeks after opening the can.

In case of chopped jalapenos, place them in freezer bags and squeeze any air out. chopped and sliced jalapenos have a higher chance of drying out or getting freezer burn. To avoid this, it is best to use freezer bags or air tight containers.

Identification of bad jalapenos:

Even after proper storing and handling, sometimes jalapenos still go bad. Jalapenos that are not stored properly go bad quickly. You can recognize a spoiled jalapeno by following tips:

Fresh jalapenos start to wrinkle after 2 weeks of refrigerator storing and after a while start to lose their spiciness. Wrinkled jalapenos are not the best quality but are still edible. You can add these jalapenos for their less spicy taste.

In case fresh jalapenos start to lose color and start to smell, they are unusable and should not be consumed. Another spoilage indicator is the change in jalapenos color to black color. It is due to oxidation of nutrients.

Canned jalapenos have a commercially determined expiration date and it should not be consumed after that. To extend the shelf life of canned jalapenos, always keep them in brine solution. In case of chopped or sliced jalapenos, discard them the moment they start to look off color.