Sheldon wrote:

> Gregory Morrow wrote:
> > Steve Sqwertz cluelessly wrote:
> > > Sheldon wrote:
> > > > Peppers no longer continue to ripen once picked.
>
> > > I guess that's why all my jalapeno and serrano peppers from the
> > > grocery store turn from green to red at home after a few days.
>
> > And you don't even have to put them in a bag to ripen, do you,
> > Sqwirtz? That's because the BAG is on yer HEAD...as it is most of the
> > time when you post.
>
> > Read the subject header, the subject at hand is BELL peppers...next
> > you'll be trying to interject snarky comments about ground black
> > pepper, etc....
>
> Even hot peppers don't ripen once picked. With some varieties if
> picked when almost fully ripe they may ripen further some almost
> imperceptible amount, but they will definitely rot before they ripen
> noticably. Peppers are a fruit and ripening fruit means an increase
> in sugar content, not a change in color... color change is an
> indicator of ripeness ONLY while still on the plant. Peppers may turn
> color while dehydrating but that is not ripening, that's oxidation...
> if peppers are kept moist they will rot (rotting peppers change color
> too). Some fruits continue to ripen after picking but peppers are not
> one of those.



Yep, I notice that with jalapenos...I like to keep them out for a
little whiles in my big white fruit/vegetable bowl on the kitchen
table. If it's hot and steamy (like our current weather) I don't dare
leave them out more than a day, just like I don't leave out bell
peppers - they'll rot. In the winter when the humidity and temp are
low I can leave them out for a few days, eventually some will turn
orange - ish, and if I leave them for a long time they will just
eventually shrivel up...

--
Best
Greg