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Friday 30 October 2020

What Is the Difference Between Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red Bell Peppers?


Have you ever wondered, what is the difference between green, yellow, orange and red peppers?

Well, "firstly, all bell peppers have a somewhat similar nutrient profile regardless of their colour.

However, the main point that some people don’t realize is that every colour of bell pepper comes from the same plant. The colour just represents different stages of ripeness.

For example, a green bell pepper is simply one that has been picked from the plant before reaching maturity. In contrast, red bell pepper is at the final stage of maturity.

Since red bell peppers have the longest time to develop, they tend to have a better nutrient profile and sweetness level.

Studies that have looked at the nutritional differences show that vitamin C slightly increases depending on the maturity stage from green to yellow and orange to red.

Likewise, the carotenoid content of red bell peppers is significantly higher than in other colours. Based on research that has analysed the exact amounts, red bell peppers may contain anywhere from two to nine times more carotenoids than green/yellow bell peppers.

So to re-cap, different coloured bell peppers are all from the same plant, but they become slightly sweeter and more nutritious as they ripen. Red is the final stage of maturity.

How To Use Bell Peppers
Bell peppers taste delicious however you eat them, and they are quite versatile too. These crunchy peppers can be eaten raw, where their sweetness and crunchy texture dominates. But they also work well in various dishes and recipes.

Stuffed Peppers With Beef and Cheese
more details here

Here are a few of the best ways to eat bell peppers:
Eat them raw: just cut the bell pepper in half, remove the seeds, wash it, and then eat.

Stuffed bell pepper “boats”: Cut a large bell pepper in half, add your preferred source of meat/protein, vegetables, and perhaps some cheese on top. Then bake in the oven until ready: the finished version should look similar to the above.

Stir-fry: make a stir-fry using long-sliced bell peppers, beansprouts, mushrooms, snow peas, and baby corn. This common ingredient mix works well with some soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Add meat if desired.

Bell peppers come in all different colours and sizes, and they are all nutrient-rich options.

For those looking to maximize their nutritional benefits, the red varieties contain the most nutrients.





Bell peppers provide substantial amounts of vitamin C, and they may offer further benefits through its provision of carotenoids and polyphenols. As a bonus, bell peppers offer all these nutrients for very few calories, and they taste delicious too. Read more about peppers including research links here

Some other pepper recipes
Feta Cheese Stuffed Bell Peppers - see here
Red Peppers Stuffed With Cod - see here

Dear reader, a variety of articles, studies and recipe ideas are in this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues please take these into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use a reliable meter.

All the best Jan

33 comments:

Mary Kirkland said...

They all taste pretty much the same to me.

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Hi Jan. I did know that about bell peppers. My grandmother always grew them in her garden, but I never remember any other than green. It was such a treat when she fixed green peppers, cheese and big thick slices of crusty french bread with homemade butter (and I got to have a very small cup of coffee with it with cream straight from Old Bossy). I have become fond of the red ones now..Stay well..xxoJudy

Tom said...

...our growing season isn't long enough for them to turn red.

Elephant's Child said...

I knew about the ripeness.
Like carrots I much prefer them raw - and given my druthers don't eat them any other way.

Louca por porcelana said...

Very interesting,I didn't know it. I love peperonata,an italian recipe with red and yellow peppers. Thank you for those yummy recipes. Hugs!

happyone said...

I learned that about peppers from growing them and not picking them off the plants when they were green.

Martha said...

I didn't realize that, interesting!

Christine said...

Well I never...a green pepper is really just green, hasn't matured yet! Thank you!

Rose said...

I live bell peppers... I like them best while still green, but always liked to let some get red judt because they add color.

Victor S E Moubarak said...

What they all have in common is that they taste delicious however you cook them or even raw.

God bless.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I've always tried to wait for my peppers to turn red when I grew them. I also found they were the sweetest and tastiest, too. Thanks for this review, Jan.

Stevenson Q said...

Jan!!! This is very new learning for me! We do have peppers in the garden, the chili peppers and the larger chili Peppers that we call "pampaksiw" but I just found out from you now that the different colors are just stages and phases and not different species! Thank you for the new learning :)

Justcherry said...

I would likely choose red peppers because red is the final stage of maturity, red peppers are sweeter and have high vitamin C, the carotenoids of red peppers are much higher than other colors. more nutritious when ripe.
Have a nice weekend
Regards

Bob Bushell said...

I love bell peppers, but, much I love the Ramiro Peppers.

Margaret D said...

Use them a lot in cooking and we call them capsicum. Also use in salads to a bit more flavour and colour.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
I love peppers, except for the green ones. The green pepper leaves an aftertaste that I do not like. I do love the orange, yellow and red colored peppers. Great post.
Have a happy weekend!

Hootin Anni said...

My father always had gardens & I knew that about peppers.

Ana Mínguez Corella said...

Very interesting explanation... I did not know this!!! Thanks for sharing .. Of course!!! I love the taste of the pepper...

Regards

Sara - Villa Emilia said...

Thank you for this post, dear Jan!
Good heavens, I knew green peppers are unripe but I never realized ALL colours are just different stages of ripeness!
Also for us, peperonata is perhaps the favourite recipe.
Stay safe and well!

CJ Kennedy said...

I never knew that! I thought the different colors were different varieties.

Conniecrafter said...

I grow peppers in my garden every year and freeze what I can't eat fresh, I knew they were more ripe when they changed colors but didn't know they are more nutritious.

Jenn Jilks said...

They all go well with cheese!

Elderberry-Rob said...

interesting: they dont' grow for us, we need a greenhouse. I love red and yellow peppers and stuff then with quorn mince/onions/mushrooms sauteed with a little Dunns River everyday seasoning, tomato puree and water to make a nice meal to stuff with then bake in the oven - yum. Interesting to learn about the different nutritional values. thanks.

Bill said...

I love stuffed peppers! We always get the red ones but I like green every now and then too.

carol l mckenna said...

Great vegetable recipes ^_^


Live each moment with love,

A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

carol l mckenna said...

Great post about the difference of peppers ~ all are delish ^_^


Live each moment with love,

A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Divers and Sundry said...

I like them all. It's good to have some new recipes. Thx!

Lisabella Russo said...

I did not know that, thanks for the info!

Sondra said...

I like them in all stages and grow my own! They are pretty easy to grow...I slice them and place then in the freezer so I have them to use in my favorite recipes. Another favorite is hot peppers, they also are easy to grow. Have a super weekend.

My name is Erika. said...

I love stuffed peppers. Interesting read today too!

Snowbird said...

The nutrient levels was interesting. I love growing peppers, they are always so sweet.xxx

Martha said...

I enjoy all of them! That stuffed peppers recipe is yummy.

Jeanie said...

I love raw peppers -- not th ecooked ones so much. I wondered why the green and red taste so radically different. Now I know!