How to Dry Peppers Using a Ristra

 

Ristras are now normally expensive decorative items bought at overpriced stores selling cheap crap.  Traditionally they were used to both dry and store peppers in the southwest.

A ristra is simple a heavy thread that has been run through the end of multiple peppers and then left out to dry.

Last years peppers are hanging in a corner of my kitchen waiting for a batch of chili or fajitas to be made.

Watch the video to see how some tips on drying peppers using a Ristra.

I use this as an easy way to store my peppers each year.  I find that hot peppers are about the only plant I actually do well with growing so I always have a surpluse.

What does not go into the fermenter for making pepper mash goes on a Ristra.

At first the boy liked playing with it.  That was because I keep mine over in a corner that he likes to hide and play in.  However, after he got a little pepper in his eyes one he stopped messing with it.  The hot part of a pepper is in the membranes.  So he only got a small exposure from breaking one up.  However, that was enough to keep him away from my peppers in the future.