What is banana pepper? It is not just a pickled chili pepper. Here are more about the best recipes, the best storage options, the fun facts, and its heat units.
It's called banana pepper for its resemblance to a banana’s shape and bright color. Apart from that, both are not associated with their characteristics, such as flavor, texture, or taste.
Banana peppers are renowned for their pickles. Furthermore, it is a popular topping for pizza or burgers worldwide.
What is banana pepper?
Banana peppers are named for their banana’s look-alike shape and are classified as mild pepper. The other side of the globe also calls them banana chilies or yellow wax pepper.
It is a popular ingredient to toss in a salad, as a topping in a burger or sandwich, and as a pizza topping. It also tastes delicious when consumed raw or pickled.
An intro to the banana pepper
The matured banana peppers are conical-shaped with a pointed tip. They measure about 4-5 inches long and 1 inch wide and thin down at the end.
It has firm, glossy skin and is bright in color. The white membrane in the center and hollow at the end hold clusters of seeds.
These taste like a complex combination of tangy, mildly sweet, and mild heat. They mature as a bright greenish-yellow color and turn orange and red as they ripen. The sweetness develops and intensifies as they ripen.
The different types of banana peppers
There are two types of banana peppers available in the market nowadays. Hot banana pepper and sweet banana pepper. The hot version is referred to as Hungarian wax pepper.
Apart from their heat, matured peppers are also classified according to their color. Generally, grocery stores in the United States carry the perfect matured pepper, which is bright greenish-yellow.
Rarely do you find them in orange or red. Ripe red-colored banana peppers are usually sweet with no heat, but you may find some hot surprises as well.
Are banana peppers hot?
As we have discussed, banana peppers are mild peppers. Compared with bell peppers, they are slightly hot.
The heat will not hurt the palate; instead, it leaves out a tingling feel. The pepper's heat depends on the environment, the weather, and the soil. So, the heat may vary slightly from each other.
Banana peppers Scoville scale
The heat ranges from 0-500 SHU on the Scoville scale.
Some banana peppers have no trace of heat, like bell peppers, making them an absolute delight for everyone. Some have recorded up to 500 SHU, meaning they are mildly hot.
To make a comparison, the Scoville heat units of, bell pepper measured at 0 SHU, jalapeno measured between 2500-8000 SHU, Cubanelle peppers are between 100-1000 SHU.
Banana pepper vs. pepperoncini pepper
These banana peppers are often confused with their look-alike partner, pepperoncini. Though they look similar with similar heat properties, they vary in other aspects.
The skin of banana peppers is firm and smooth, but that of pepperoncini is slightly wrinkled like that of a hot chili pepper. Banana peppers are pointed at the end, but pepperoncini have a rounded tip.
The most minor heat banana pepper generates zero, whereas pepperoncini starts at 100 SHU. Banana peppers originated in Northern America, while pepperoncini are native to Italy.
Both do taste similar. Hence, pepperoncini can be used as a substitute for banana peppers and vice versa.
The common uses
Fresh peppers. It is commonly used in salsa for its sweetness and tanginess. It enhances the taste of salsa or salad with its rich, peppery flavors.
Pickled. Pickled banana peppers are marketed around the world and are highly popular as a topping for pizza. Besides, it enhances the flavor of burgers, sandwiches, and hotdogs.
Stuffed. Another banana pepper recipe worth your time is stuffing this pepper. Like this stuffed jalapeno, delicious fillings are multiples like cream cheese, ground chicken, and beef.
Natalie
I love learning new facts on food and all the ingredients. Thank you for this informative post on banana peppers!
Jovita
Thank you for the information on banana pepper. Very informative 🙂
kushigalu
Another interesting post on peppers. I love banana peppers. Thanks for sharing.
Ieva
This is brilliant! Never knew that Hungarian peppers also go by the name of Banan peppers! Really interesting read!
Mahy
I LOVE banana pepper. They are so fun to cook with and they taste absolutely amazing!