You can dry bird's eye chillies efficiently by using an oven at a low temperature setting.
Drying Bird's Eye Chillies in the Oven
A simple and effective way to preserve bird's eye chillies is by drying them in your oven. This process concentrates their flavour and heat, making them perfect for storage and later use in recipes.
Here's the straightforward method:
- Preparation: Simply place whole chillies directly onto a baking tray. There's no need to slice or prepare them further for this drying method.
- Oven Setting: Heat your oven to its lowest possible temperature. Consistency in low heat is key for drying without cooking or burning the chillies.
- Drying Time: Keep the chillies in the oven until they become dry. You'll know they're ready when they have shrivelled significantly and have darkened in colour. The time required can vary depending on the oven and the size/freshness of the chillies.
Alternative Oven Functions
Some modern ovens, like NEFF models mentioned in the reference, offer specific functions that are ideal for this task. If available, you can utilize the 'low temperature cooking' or 'drying' function for a more controlled drying process.
Once dried, these concentrated flavour bombs can be stored in an airtight container and used whole, crushed, or ground into chilli flakes or powder.
