Red peppers were one of my favorite veggies growing up. My mom used to slice them into strips, sprinkle them with salt and serve them as a snack before dinner. So sweet and delicious!
6 Fun Facts About Bell Peppers:
- Low in calories (only about 40 calories in a standard-sized red pepper, according to a Google search)
- Peppers are a fruit, not a vegetable, even the spicy ones! Yup, it’s true!
- Bell peppers come in lots of colors. Red, yellow and orange ones are sweeter, green and purple have a slightly more bitter taste
- Sweet bell peppers are on the “Dirty Dozen” list, which means it is recommended to buy them organic if possible
- Red peppers are an excellent source of VITAMIN C (3 times the amount of an orange!)
- Red paprika is a dried powdered form of red bell pepper
How To Buy:
- Look for deep, vivid colors
- Skin should be tight, not wrinkly
- Avoid buying peppers with soft spots or blemishes
- Stems should be bright and green all over
- Peppers should feel heavy for their size
- Available all year round, but best during the summer or fall seasons
How To Store:
- Store unwashed in fridge (in crisper/veggie drawer)
- Keeps for 7-10 days
- After 10 days, a ripe bell pepper loses 15% of its vitamin C content
How To Prep:
- Wash under cold water and dry well before cooking
- To slice, cut around the stem (check out my Periscope replay for a demo)
- You CAN eat the white ribs, which are rich in flavonoids
Click Below to Catch The Replay!
SOURCES:
- http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?dbid=50&tname=foodspice
- http://www.fullcircle.com/goodfoodlife/2012/07/21/5-reasons-to-eat-more-peppers/
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