How to Dry Cayenne Peppers in the Oven

From Garden to Spice Cabinet

My garden produced an abundance of cayenne peppers this summer, so I decided to preserve them by making homemade red pepper flakes.

Drying cayenne peppers in the oven is incredibly simple, requires no dehydrator, and gives me something I’ll use in the kitchen all year long.

I reach for red pepper flakes all the time—especially in pasta sauce, on pizza and avocado toast, but they’re also great on eggs, roasted vegetables, soups, chicken and shrimp. A little goes a long way, especially with homegrown cayenne!

How to Dry Cayenne Peppers

1. Wash and thoroughly dry the peppers. Remove the stems and slice them lengthwise. I kept the seeds for extra heat.

2. Arrange the peppers in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Set your oven to its lowest temperature—mine was 176°F—and dry for approximately 4–6 hours, checking periodically.

3. The peppers are ready when they’re completely dry, crisp and brittle.

Making the Red Pepper Flakes

Let the peppers cool completely, then place them in a spice grinder or food processor. Pulse a few times for red pepper flakes, or continue grinding to make cayenne powder.

Tip: Be careful when opening the grinder! I learned firsthand that freshly ground cayenne is potent—inhaling it sent me straight into a sneezing fit.

Store your homemade red pepper flakes in an airtight jar in a cool, dry place.

A simple way to take your harvest from garden to spice cabinet and enjoy it well beyond summer!

More Ways to Use Cayenne Peppers

• Cayenne powder — Grind dried peppers finely for chili, marinades and seasoning blends.

• Hot honey — Add cayenne heat to honey for pizza, chicken and cheese boards.

• Hot sauce — Turn fresh or fermented peppers into homemade hot sauce.

• Pickled peppers — Preserve sliced or whole cayennes in a tested vinegar-based recipe.

• Freeze them — Freeze whole peppers and grab them as needed for cooking.

• Compound butter — Mix finely chopped cayenne with butter, garlic and herbs.

• Spice blends — Combine dried cayenne with paprika, garlic, oregano and other spices.