Do the peppers need to be refrigerated?

There is a surprising amount of controversy surrounding vegetables. And not just the “a tomato is technically a fruit” thing.

One of the biggest conversations is about whether different fruits and vegetables should be kept at room temperature or in the fridge.

Everyone has heard advice from someone, somewhere on how to store everything under the sun.

The problem is that some vegetables need to be fresh and dry, others need to be fresh and moist, and some just don’t like being fresh at all. There is a lot to remember!

It may seem confusing, but it is really worth learning and memorizing. Produce represents some of the most perishable items in your kitchen.

Learning to store everything correctly can reduce waste, save you money on food that goes bad too quickly, and save you time going to the store for more.

Do the peppers need to be refrigerated?

Whole peppers do not need to be refrigerated and can be safely stored at room temperature for 3-7 days. However, peppers keep much longer if stored in the fridge, up to 2 weeks.

Read on for the ins and outs of properly storing peppers.

How long a pepper can last in the fridge depends on a few factors. Each color of pepper lasts a different time. Also whether the pepper is whole or sliced, raw or cooked.

Whole, uncooked peppers will last 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator if stored properly. In general, red bell peppers start to soften the soonest, closer to the 1 week mark on our time window.

Yellow peppers will last a bit longer, about 10 days. 

Green bell peppers stay fresh longer than yellow or red ones. They can last about 2 weeks in the fridge before they start to go bad. This is also true when the peppers are cut.

Cut green peppers will last longer than cut yellow or red ones. Once the peppers are cooked, the color will not cause one to last longer than another. Cut peppers usually last 3-5 days.

The green peppers last the longest, about 5 days, while the yellow and red ones last about 3 days.

This is so as long as they are stored properly; in the next section we will talk about how to properly store peppers in the fridge.

If you store cooked peppers in the fridge, they should stay fresh for 3-5 days.

How to properly refrigerate bell peppers

To keep bell peppers fresh, it’s important how you store them.

Not only do you have to make sure that they go in the fridge and not on the counter, but that they are not near certain other foods and that they do not have too much or too little moisture.

Peppers can lose moisture and wilt easily. They can also become slimy if left in direct contact with moisture.

This is what happens when you find them at the bottom of your fridge after a month, still in that plastic bag from the produce section of the supermarket and 50% slime.

For cut peppers, store in an airtight container with a slightly damp paper towel. Since cut peppers lose moisture faster, this controlled environment will help keep them fresh longer.

Whole peppers should be stored in the refrigerator, away from any fruit.

Many types of fruit produce a gas called ethylene that makes fruits and vegetables ripen. Peppers are sensitive to this gas and exposure to it can cause them to rot prematurely.

If your fridge has drawers for vegetables, that is where you should store the peppers. Most crisper drawers have a slide that says “low - high” or is labeled with pictures of fruits or vegetables.

Turn crisper drawer to “high” or “vegetable”; this helps keep more humidity in the drawer to preserve the peppers.

What happens if the peppers don’t keep in the fridge?

If, for whatever reason, you cannot store the peppers in refrigerated conditions, it is possible to store them at room temperature.

However, this will have a negative effect on its shelf life and possibly its texture.

Peppers stored at room temperature will start to spoil more quickly due to the warmer temperature.

If possible, when storing them at room temperature, consider storing them somewhere that doesn’t get very hot, such as a cupboard or pantry shelf.

Being at room temperature can also affect the texture of the peppers . Also, the hot counter in your kitchen is likely to be less humid than the inside of your fridge.

The combination of warmer air and less humidity causes the peppers to lose moisture more quickly. This makes the peppers softer and not crunchy.

The peppers will still be usable, just for a shorter time. The texture will start to soften more quickly, and the meat inside will start to break down.

Sometimes the seeds will even germinate if you leave a pepper out on a warm counter, especially if it gets a lot of sun!

If storing at room temperature is absolutely necessary, there are a few things you can do to help protect the pepper. This will prolong its shelf life and keep its texture longer.

For best results, store in a cool, dry place. Leave the stems attached, as they will help regulate moisture levels within the pepper. If possible, store it in a linen or paper bag.

Storing in this type of bag will help regulate humidity in the pepper’s immediate environment and keep it firmer.

Related questions

Now that we’ve gone over how to store peppers to ensure maximum longevity, let’s look at some related questions that may have come up while reading this article!

Can bell peppers be kept at room temperature?

Yes, the peppers can be kept at room temperature. However, it is not recommended. Storing the peppers at room temperature will cause them to spoil more quickly and will affect their texture.

Do carrots need to be refrigerated?

Unless you plan to use them within a few days, carrots should be kept in the fridge . Carrots dry out very quickly and shrivel, soften and eventually rot.

This all happens much faster at room temperature, so carrots keep best in the fridge, preferably in the crisper drawer.

Do onions need to be refrigerated?

The onions do not need to be refrigerated, but it can help make the preparation less painful. Pro Tip: Cold onions are less tear-inducing than hot ones!

The reason onions make us cry is because they give off a gas that burns our eyes. At cold temperatures, the gas stays mostly liquid when you cut the onion, so your eyes don’t sting as much.

Another way to use this trick is to put the onion in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before peeling and dicing.

Should tomatoes be refrigerated?

Tomatoes do not have to be kept in the fridge, but they will last longer that way . You’ll also want to make sure to store tomatoes away from fruit, as some give off a gas that can cause tomatoes to go mushy too quickly.

If you want to store the tomatoes on the counter, you can, but they will start to rot faster. Its texture is also firmer when stored in the fridge. The skin still has a bit of a snap to it when you bite into it, so it feels much fresher in the mouth.

How long do peppers keep unrefrigerated?

The shelf life of unrefrigerated peppers depends on several factors. Ideally, store unrefrigerated, uncut peppers in a breathable bag in a cool, dry place.

If you follow these conditions, you can reasonably expect a pepper to last 7-10 days before going bad. If you didn’t do any of this, it would last anywhere from 3-7 days, depending on conditions.