How to Buy, Store, and Cook Peppers, In Season in September
September is the best time for produce—we get the tail end of summer’s fruits and veggies, and the beginning of fall’s. Right now, we’re be taking you through the seasonal ingredients you should be cooking with this month. Today: Peppers.
While bell peppers are available year-round—like almost all other vegetables, for better and for worse—the ones you can find at your farmers' market right now are the absolute best. Fresh and crunchy when raw, and sweet and bold when cooked, peppers contribute their unmistakable flavor to sausage sandwiches, panzanella, spreads, and more. Bonus? They make dishes look gorgeous with their rainbow of vibrant colors. Read on for tips on buying and storing these late summer fruits (yes, fruits!), and check out the slideshow above for recipe inspiration.
HOW TO BUY
At the market, look for firm, glossy peppers that are brightly colored and feel heavy for their size. Pass on any with soft spots or wrinkling.
HOW TO STORE
Store red peppers in the fridge, loosely wrapped in plastic. Use them within a week.
