Air fryers have become increasingly popular kitchen appliances in recent years due to their ability to make fried foods with less oil. Some people have started using air fryers for more than just frying, such as drying foods like peppers. But can you really use an air fryer to dry peppers and other produce? Let’s take a closer look at whether air fryers can be an effective way to dry peppers at home.
How Do Air Fryers Work?
Air fryers are small countertop convection ovens that use a rapid air circulation system to cook foods. A heating element and fan quickly circulate hot air around the food at high speed, cooking the food thorough and crisping the outside. This rapid air circulation mimics deep frying, allowing foods to cook and brown using little to no oil. Air fryers reach temperatures between 200°F and 400°F during the cooking process.
Benefits of Drying Peppers
There are a few key reasons why you may want to dry peppers at home:
- Dried peppers last longer – Fresh peppers usually only last about a week in the refrigerator. Drying them removes moisture so they can be preserved for months.
- Intensifies flavor – As peppers dry, the flavors become more concentrated and intense.
- Makes spices – Dried peppers can be easily ground into chili powder, paprika, and other spice blends.
- Saves money – Drying your own peppers at home costs just pennies compared to buying pre-dried spices.
- Customizable – You can pick exactly which types of peppers you want to dry.
Can You Dry Peppers in an Air Fryer?
So can you use an air fryer to dry peppers and chilies at home? The short answer is yes!
An air fryer creates the perfect environment to dry peppers, herbs, fruits, vegetables, and other produce. The main requirements for successful food dehydration are:
- Consistent low temperature between 130°F and 155°F
- Good air circulation
- Low humidity
Air fryers can provide all three of these requirements in order to properly dry food. The consistent temperature range prevents the produce from cooking while still removing moisture. The circulating hot air provides even drying and odors or flavors do not concentrate in one area as they might in an oven. Finally, the low humidity environment created by the air flow allows moisture to effectively evaporate from the food.
How to Dry Peppers in an Air Fryer
Drying peppers and chilies in an air fryer is a simple process. Here are some tips for success:
- Wash and prep the peppers – Clean the peppers, slice them open lengthwise, and remove stems, seeds, and membranes.
- Place in a single layer – Arrange the pepper slices in a single layer on the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd them.
- Low temperature – Set the air fryer to the lowest temperature, usually around 130°F to 140°F.
- Dehydrate for 6-12 hours – Drying time can vary based on humidity, thickness, and pepper type. Expect at least 6-12 hours.
- Check periodically – Occasionally open the air fryer and flip the peppers so they dry evenly.
- Consider pre-drying – For thicker peppers like jalapenos, you may want to partially dehydrate them in the oven at 225°F first before finishing in the air fryer.
The peppers are fully dried when they are shriveled and leathery but not brittle. They should still have some flexibility when bent but snap cleanly when broken. When in doubt, it’s better to over-dry peppers than under-dry them.
Tips for Air Fryer Pepper Drying Success
Follow these tips to get the best results when using an air fryer to dry hot peppers or other produce:
- Use mesh basket liners – The small holes in mesh liners allow airflow while preventing small items from falling through.
- Try racks instead of basket – Sitting produce directly on racks maximizes air circulation from all sides.
- Rotate trays – Switch tray positions partway for even drying.
- Pat off moisture – Lightly pat peppers dry before placing in air fryer so excess moisture doesn’t drip.
- Preheat first – Preheating the air fryer helps remove ambient moisture.
- Keep door closed – Resist opening the air fryer door too frequently to maintain temperature and moisture levels.
- Use desiccant – Add moisture-absorbing desiccant packs to the air fryer to aid drying.
Best Peppers to Dry in an Air Fryer
Almost any type of fresh peppers and chilies can be successfully dried in an air fryer. Some good options include:
- Jalapenos – Mild but flavorful peppers perfect for chili powder.
- Habaneros – Be careful with these super spicy peppers!
- Serrano – Bright and tangy flavor.
- Poblanos – Larger, heart-shaped chili peppers.
- Cayenne – The classic spicy red pepper used in many cuisines.
- Pepperoncini – Mildly spicy and a bit sour, makes a zesty chili flakes.
- Banana peppers – Sweeter pepper well-suited to drying.
- Paprika peppers – Specifically grown for making paprika powder.
How to Store Dried Peppers
Proper storage is crucial for getting the most out of your home dried peppers. Here are some storage tips:
- Cool, dark place – Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place like a cupboard or pantry.
- No sunlight – Light can damage flavors and colors over time.
- Use within 1 year – Maximum shelf life for best flavor is about 1 year.
- Freezer for longer storage – Dried peppers can last several years frozen in airtight bags or containers.
- Watch for moisture – Check periodically for condensation or moisture and remove any damp peppers to prevent mold growth.
What You Can Make
Don’t let those dried peppers go to waste! Here are some of the many things you can make with your air fryer dried peppers:
- Chili powder – Grind them into a homemade version of this versatile spice blend.
- Flakes – Crush into flakes to sprinkle on pizza, salads, eggs, avocado toast, and more.
- Paprika – Mild, sweet paprika powder made from dried red peppers.
- Cayenne powder – Ground cayenne peppers add spicy heat to dishes.
- Harissa – Blend into this spicy North African chile paste.
- Hot sauce – Rehydrate chiles and blend into your own signature hot sauce.
- Rubs – Mix with herbs and spices to make your own dry rub for meat.
- Pepper jam – Cook into a sweet jam with onions, garlic, and vinegar.
- Ristras – String up whole dried peppers into festive ropes of chiles.
Should You Buy a Dehydrator Instead?
While air fryers can dry peppers, dedicated food dehydrators are designed specifically for dehydrating with features like tiered trays, temperature controls, timers, and large capacity. Dehydrators can dry larger batches more evenly and give a higher quality result. They are a worthwhile investment for anyone wanting to regularly dry significant amounts of produce. However, an air fryer can certainly work for occasional small-scale dehydrating.
Advantages of using an air fryer over dehydrator:
- More affordable – Good air fryers cost $100 or less while dehydrators can run $200 and up.
- Multipurpose – An air fryer can also be used for its namesake air frying along with baking, roasting, broiling, and reheating.
- Compact size – Air fryers take up minimal countertop real estate.
- Faster preheat – The concentrated heating element allows air fryers to preheat quickly.
Advantages of using a food dehydrator:
- Designed for dehydrating – Dehydrator features like vents, trays, and thermostats give better results.
- Bigger capacity – Most dehydrators can hold 5 or more trays of food.
- Consistent temperature – Dehydrators maintain optimal low temp throughout.
- Timer function – Dehydrators have timers that shut off when done.
- Circular airflow – Dehydrators dry food evenly.
Conclusion
Drying peppers in an air fryer is certainly doable! While air fryers don’t quite match the performance of a true dehydrator, they can absolutely be used to make homemade dried peppers with a bit of patience and care. For best results, slice peppers thinly, keep temperature low, rotate trays, and dry thoroughly over 6-12 hours. Use dried peppers within a year for optimal flavor. And consider investing in an electric dehydrator if you find yourself wanting to dry peppers and other produce frequently.