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Scotch Bonnet Pepper for Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to Scotch bonnet pepper products
About Scotch bonnet peppers
Scotch bonnet peppers flourish in West Africa and the Caribbean Islands. On the Scoville scale, they range anywhere from 100,000-350,000 Scoville heat units. For reference, this is the same range as a habanero pepper. The Scotch bonnet is actually a cultivar of the habanero, which means it was created through selective breeding.
Both the habanero and the Scotch bonnet came from a Chinese chile plant. The habanero originated in the Amazon and made its way to Mexico, where it has become a go-to pepper. The Scotch bonnet became domesticated in Jamaica and quickly became an integral part of Caribbean cuisine.
Aliases for the Scotch bonnet pepper include Bahama Mama, Bahamian, Jamaican hot, and goat pepper.
How to pick out Scotch bonnet peppers
Scotch bonnets are generally around 1.5 inches long but often have a rotund, amorphous shape. They actually got their name from their shape — reminiscent of a classic Scottish bonnet. The bottoms of these peppers often have four round ridges on their bottoms. If a Scotch bonnet doesn't have this shape, it may have been picked before it was done growing.
However, the best way to tell if a Scotch bonnet pepper is ripe is to look at its color. Like most peppers, the Scotch bonnet is unripe when it's green. When they ripen, Scotch bonnets are most often red or yellow. As some varieties of the Scotch bonnet ripen, they can turn orange or yellow.
Cooking with Scotch bonnet peppers
The Scotch bonnet pepper is most often found in Caribbean cuisine, in dishes such as jerk chicken. You'll also find it in abundance in Guyana and the Maldives.
Habaneros and Scotch bonnets are not generally thought of as interchangeable, despite their relation. Scotch bonnets have a fruitier taste than their habanero cousins. Because of this fruity taste, you might find the Scotch bonnet used in dishes with fruit to create a spicy sweetness that can make a dish unforgettable.
As we mentioned above, Scotch bonnet peppers are an important part of making a true Jamaican jerk chicken. Scotch bonnets are often made into a pepper or hot sauce to season meats, fish, and fruits. Since these peppers are so hot, they're generally not eaten whole or sliced unless someone is trying to show off. A well-made Scotch bonnet pepper sauce has ingredients such as lime, mango, brown sugar, and more. You can also pickle these peppers to spice up soups and stews.
Scotch Bonnet Peppers Near Me
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FAQS about Scotch bonnet peppers
Carefully! You can prepare a Scotch bonnet pepper just like you would any other pepper, but you should take special precautions to make sure you don't accidentally spread its fiery hot capsaicin — what gives chile peppers their burn — to other surfaces.
You should wear gloves while you handle Scotch bonnets. Do not touch your face or any other body part until you have thoroughly washed your hands and anything else that came into contact with the pepper. Take special care to vigorously clean your gloves, knives, and cutting board when you are done so that the next time you cut your dinner vegetables, you don't get a spicy surprise. Hot soapy water should do the trick, but some experts say even this isn't enough.
You should keep your Scotch bonnet peppers in the fridge in a sealed bag. We suggest putting them in the vegetable drawer at 40-45 F. You don't have to wash your peppers before storing them. However, if you decide to wash them anyway, make sure they're completely dry, so you don't accelerate the rotting process. Peppers should maintain their freshness for two to three weeks, but you should still look for signs that they've gone bad such as dark or squishy parts.
If you want to make your Scotch bonnet peppers last even longer, you can use a brining method to preserve them with salt. Simply cut them in half and submerge them in water in a jar. Add a tablespoon of salt per cup, stir, seal, and stick them in the refrigerator. Peppers will also last for months in the freezer as long as you properly seal them.
The next time you're feeling like making some seriously spicy food, check to see what stores in your area offer Scotch bonnet peppers through Instacart. With Instacart, you can shop at some of your favorite local stores from the comfort of your own home. You simply fill your virtual cart with the products and supplies you need and let an Instacart shopper handle the rest for you! Though it's often nice to walk through the grocery stores yourself, sometimes you just don't have the time. Instacart has your back when that happens.