On Fri, 21 May 2021 23:20:19 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>On 2021-05-21 11:08 p.m., US Janet wrote:
>> On Fri, 21 May 2021 19:30:52 -0500, Sqwertz >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On Fri, 21 May 2021 18:08:53 -0400, Dave Smith wrote:
>>>
>>>> I like to have Thai birds eye chili on hand but use the stuff only in
>>>> small amounts. Around here they sell them only in packages of 30 or
>>>> more, so they go bad before I use them up.
>>>
>>> I keep them in the freezer in a small ziplock for up to a year.
>>> Sure, the texture suffers, but it's not you're eating them like
>>> popcorn. And all the flavor remains. I think those and habaneros
>>> have the most flavor, but quite a but of heat, of course.
>>>
>>> -sw
>> One of the chefs on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives commented on a show
>> last week that if you want the flavor of a chili but not the over
>> powering bite, you put the chili in whole and just poke a hole in the
>> skin for cooking. Remove the chili before serving.
>> Janet US
>>
>
>I Like some heat, but not as much as I get in one of those. I Have been
>making a simple sort of Thai style soup using broth, low sodium soy
>sauce, lime juice, a star anise, some basil and a some birds eye chili.
>I would very finely chop half a chili but my wife found it to be way too
>hot for her taste. The last few times I made it I used half a pepper
>simmered in the soup and then removed for serving and it is much easier
>to handle.
>
>This incident caught me off guard. I have been using these peppers once
>or twice a week for months and had no problems handling them. I had
>chopped one tonight and handled it with my thumb and forefinger with no
>problem. It was only when I slopped a bit of that very briny fluid
>between my third and fourth finger that I had a problem. I have scrubbed
>my hands thoroughly four times and there is still an uncomfortable burn.

Chili peppers do not have the same heat one from the other of the same
kind. The growing season affects them so that some can be way hotter
than their brothers and sisters. I always taste as I go, particularly
at the end and can add a bit more if needed.
I have had the problem of having to wash my hands for more than a day
and still could feel the burn. Then I got smart and got a box of
medical laytex gloves for use when preparing peppers. I'm a sissy, as
I said.
Janet US