Freezing ABTs

[Buck36]

Jalapenos are in full swing in Ohio. I was thinking about smoking a large batch of ABTs. I figured  I could smoke them enough to flavor and then put them in the freezer. They could be finished off in the oven at a later time. It would be great to have some ABTs in the middle of winter!

The problem would be if the jalapenos don't freeze well. I didn't know if the ice crystals would tear up the peppers. Has anyone had any luck with this?

[Hopefull Romantic]

Hi there Buck36,

I have read in a different thread (tried to find it for you but no success) that thawing the peppers after freezing would make them softer that you would like them.

I hope some one else would read this and point you in the right direction.

HR

[smokeitall]

Yep Penos here are in full swing also.  Picked 50 yesterday and made 40+ ABT's.  I have frozen Penos before.  The freezer makes the pepper very soft when thawed out (that was pre-cooked).  I would think that cooking first then freezing them would work ok.  My problem is they never last that long.

[pensrock]

I can answer this because I do it all the time. I clean the penos then stuff how I like. Then place them on a cookie sheet and put into the freezer, raw, till hard. I then vac pack them. Note: I do not wrap with bacon till I plan to use. After thawing the peppers will be a little soft, as mentioned but with the filling they are firm enough to put the bacon on and place onto the smoker rack or grill. They only need to smoke/cook long enough to crisp up the bacon and to get some smoke. I have never heard a complaint yet. As far as pre-smoking or cooking then freezing? I would be afraid they would fall apart after thawing, but I cannot say for sure because I have never tried it.

Last fall I made 12 dozen and froze them that way.
pens

[mikecorn.1]

I can answer this because I do it all the time. I clean the penos then stuff how I like. Then place them on a cookie sheet and put into the freezer, raw, till hard. I then vac pack them. Note: I do not wrap with bacon till I plan to use. After thawing the peppers will be a little soft, as mentioned but with the filling they are firm enough to put the bacon on and place onto the smoker rack or grill. They only need to smoke/cook long enough to crisp up the bacon and to get some smoke. I have never heard a complaint yet. As far as pre-smoking or cooking then freezing? I would be afraid they would fall apart after thawing, but I cannot say for sure because I have never tried it.

Last fall I made 12 dozen and froze them that way.
pens

Thanks for that info, i saw this posted on another one of you threads but couldnt find it.

[pensrock]

NP Mike.