John M

You need gloves to cut jalapenos, especially if you’re handling a lot of them or have sensitive skin.   The heat in jalapenos comes from capsaicin, an oil that can linger on your fingers long after you’ve put the knife down.   If you’ve ever chopped a few peppers and then rubbed your eye an … Read more

You do have to refrigerate pickled jalapenos after opening, and it’s the best way to keep them crisp, tasty, and safe to eat. If you’ve ever wondered whether you have to refrigerate pickled jalapenos, the short answer is yes, once that jar is opened. Keeping them cold slows down fermentation and prevents spoilage, so your … Read more

You do have to refrigerate jalapenos if you want them to stay crisp and fresh for weeks, but leaving them on the counter is totally fine for short-term use.   The answer really depends on how quickly you plan to eat them and what texture you’re after.   If you’ve been wondering whether you have … Read more

You do not have to pressure can jalapenos, but you absolutely can if you want shelf-stable jars that last for years.   The real question is whether you’re chasing long-term pantry storage or just a few months of fridge-ready goodness.   For many home canners, water bath canning is the go-to method for pickled jalapenos, … Read more

Yes, you should cook jalapeños before pickling if you want a softer texture and a more mellow heat.   But you don’t have to cook them at all, because raw jalapeños pickle beautifully when you prefer a crunchy bite with bold spice.   The real answer to whether you cook jalapeños before pickling depends on … Read more

You don’t have to pollinate jalapeno plants, but doing so can dramatically boost your harvest. The reason is that jalapeno plants are self-pollinating, meaning each flower contains both male and female parts. That said, nature doesn’t always get the job done perfectly on its own. If you’ve ever wondered whether you have to pollinate jalapeno … Read more