If properly preserved, bell peppers can be kept for more than 2 weeks.
Most people usually put the peppers directly in the fridge or in plastic wrap until use. This method helps preserve the peppers for about 1 week, but they are no longer fresh and the flesh of the fruit becomes soft.
To preserve bell peppers best, you should wrap them with a layer of paper towel and then put them in a zip-lock bag or container.
Before doing so, it is important to thoroughly wash and dry the water on the surface of the fruit. Then, place the peppers in the vegetable compartment of the fridge to maintain the desired crispness.
Food experts suggest that “when preserved this way, bell peppers can last up to 2 weeks. Green bell peppers will stay fresh longer than red or yellow bell peppers.”
In addition, like most fresh vegetables, whole bell peppers will last much longer than pre-cut ones. Chopping the flesh of the fruit will shorten the shelf life because it damages the plant tissue and causes the loss of moisture in the vegetable.
However, you can slow down the spoilage process of these chopped bell pepper pieces by keeping the stem and seeds of the slices. This is effective as the stem and seeds contain important nutrients that help maintain the overall quality and freshness of the peppers.
Humidity is another factor that causes the chopped bell peppers to lose their crispness and food quality. Therefore, in addition to keeping the stem and seeds, you should use an airtight container along with a paper towel, similar to how you would with whole peppers.
Properly preserving bell peppers will help your dishes maintain their delicious flavor, as well as save money and time on shopping.