Fresno Pepper vs. Jalapeno

[JDP]

I've run out of my homemeade chipoltles and need to smoke more. I can only find Red Fresno peppers here and the the jalepnos are all green. They look identical. Are the same peppers with different names?

Thanks,

JDP

 

[JGDean]

Fresno are milder

 

[JDP]

Thanks JG that's what I thought. I will need to find a red jalapeno source.

 

[Michael in FtW]

On a scale of 1-5 ... both the jalapeno and fresno come in at 3 (medium).

On a scale of 1-10 ... red and green jalapenos hit the scale at 5.5 - red fresno at 6.5.

On the Scoville Heat Units index - both can range from as low as 2,500 on the bottom end with jalapenos going up to 8,000-10,000 ... fresnos going up to about 10,000-15,000.

A jalapeno is a jalapeno - a fresno is a hybrid based on the hotter serrano. They have similar flavors- but the red fresno is hotter.

 

[JDP]

Well thankyou Michael. I will go buy a batch, give a quick taste and let the smoking begin. I absolutely love the flavor of the home made chipotles. I even smoked off a few habeneros and the are great and still very hot.

JDP

 

[skilletlicker]

I buy dry chipotles, not the canned, but have no experience with drying or smoking peppers myself. I did see this comment at this site.

Red Fresno chiles are used only fresh; they don't dry well.

 

[Billdolfski]

The reason that they smoke Jalapenos is due to the thick flesh that doesn't dry well, correct?

 

[JDP]

The reason that they smoke Jalapenos is due to the thick flesh that doesn't dry well, correct?

From my understanding is that it's a flavor thing as well as a preservative thing. I smoked a batch last August and finally used them up. They lasted in the refrigerator with not other additions.

Smoking is a simple procedure for chipotles. 250-275 degrees for 2.5 to 3 hours. I put a pan of water in my Weber to help keep th tem down. I use hickory chips for smoke but you could use the wood of your choice.