Kitchen Hack: How to Devein a Hot Pepper

If you’re cooking with a hot pepper like jalapeno or serrano, and want to cut the heat a bit, then make sure you take out the seeds and soft inner parts. They can easily be scooped out with a spoon, but the trick is to put a baggie over your hand that touches the pepper.

How to Safely Devein a Hot Pepper

Touch the insides of a pepper with your bare hands, and then touch your eye or your nose, and you’ll never forget to use a baggie again! It burns so bad. I know from experience. And since I don’t always have plastic gloves handy, I find it’s easy to just grab a plastic baggie to protect my hands from touching the hot pepper.

One of my favorite things to make is salsa, and my favorite pepper to use is the serrano chili, which is what is shown here. It looks like a jalapeno but is usually thinner.

3 Easy Steps to Devein a pepper:

1. Use a baggie to protect the hand that is holding the pepper.
2. Cut the pepper lengthwise, making sure you only handle it through the bag.
3. Use a spoon to scrape along the insides, making sure you get all the inner parts and seeds, but don’t scrape too hard.

Why Does a Pepper Burn Your Eyes?

The burning sensation in your eyes when you touch a hot pepper is caused by the presence of capsaicin, a chemical compound found in peppers. When capsaicin comes into contact with your eyes or mucus membranes, it triggers a sensation of burning or stinging.

This is because capsaicin binds to pain receptors in the body, signaling the brain to perceive the sensation of heat or pain. Therefore, it’s important to handle hot peppers carefully and avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, after coming into contact with them.

What to Do if You Touch Your Eyes

If you accidentally touch your eyes after handling a hot pepper, it’s important to act quickly to minimize discomfort and potential damage.

Start by thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water to remove any lingering pepper residue. Refrain from rubbing your eyes, as this can exacerbate the irritation, and instead, gently flush them with cool water for several minutes.

Consider using saline solution or eye drops to help alleviate the burning sensation. If the discomfort persists or if you experience prolonged irritation, it’s crucial to seek professional medical advice to ensure proper care for your eyes.

Use Caution to Prevent Eye Damage

Hot peppers can actually cause damage to your eyes if proper precautions are not taken when handling them. The burning sensation caused by the presence of capsaicin in the peppers makes them sting and burn very badly.

If capsaicin is not promptly and thoroughly removed from the eyes, it can lead to significant discomfort and potential damage, such as irritation, redness, and temporary vision disturbances. In more severe cases, prolonged exposure to capsaicin can cause corneal abrasions or abrasions on the surface of the eye, leading to pain, blurred vision, and the risk of infection.

Properly washing your hands after handling hot peppers and taking care to avoid touching your eyes can help prevent these potential issues. If you do accidentally come into contact with a hot pepper and experience persistent discomfort or vision problems, it’s important to seek professional medical advice promptly to ensure proper care for your eyes.

Or save yourself a lot of discomfort and put a baggie over your hand!