Orange Bell Peppers Delivery or Pickup

Orange bell peppers are just one color variant of bell peppers, also known as sweet peppers or as capsicum in other parts of the world, which are a cultivar group in the species Capsicum Annuum. This species also includes various mild and hot peppers, such the Mexican chili, jalapenos, and cayenne peppers. 

Since bell peppers do not contain capsaicin, the chemical that causes the burning sensation when you eat hot peppers, they are mild peppers that score very low on the Scoville scale. In fact, they are rated 0 SHU, whereas jalapenos, which are also quite mild as far as hot peppers go, score a rating of between 2,500 to 8,000 SHU.

Peppers are native to the southern parts of North America and the northern parts of South America. Europeans and Asians were introduced to the various pepper species for the first time after the Spanish took pepper seeds back to Europe from the Americas in 1493. The mild bell pepper, however, wasn't cultivated until the 1920s in Hungary. 

While many people regard bell peppers as vegetables and tend to use them in savory dishes such as garden salads, they are technically fruits and are botanically classified as berries. They come in many different colors, including red, yellow, orange, green, white, and purple. 

Generally, green peppers are the unripe fruits, which then turn into one of the pepper colors as they mature. The Permagreen variety, though, remains green even when fully ripe. Since green peppers are typically unripe, the colored versions, such as red or orange peppers, are generally sweeter and contain more nutrients.

Although bell pepper season runs from July to November, they're available throughout the year at grocers and farmers' markets. When you're out shopping for orange bell peppers, you want to go for specimens that feel heavy for their size and are firm to the touch. Opt for peppers that have glossy, bright-colored, taut skin. Stay away from peppers that contain blemishes, soft spots, or wrinkling, since these are all signs of rot and aging.

As soon as you bring your orange bell peppers home, you want to put them in the fridge. Don't wash them beforehand, though, as moisture will cause them to deteriorate faster. Simply place them in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer of your fridge. Keep the plastic bag open to allow the peppers to breathe. Stored this way, your orange peppers will last between one to two weeks. Once you've cut into a pepper, wrap the remainder in a paper towel, place it in a sealed container in the fridge, and eat within three days.

Bell peppers freeze well without having to blanch them first. Wash the peppers well, cut them in half, and remove their seeds and membranes. You can then slice or dice them whichever way you want and freeze them for an hour in a single layer on a tray. Transfer the frozen pieces to a freezer bag and let out as much air as possible from the bag and store it in the freezer. You can keep frozen pepper pieces for up to a year.

At Instacart, our grocers stock a variety of orange bell peppers throughout the year! If you want some fresh bell peppers, simply visit our website and place your order online. One of our friendly Instacart shoppers will hand-pick your order for you and deliver it to your doorstep within 2 hours!