You can freeze them with stems and seeds still inside. The stems pop off easily after freezing, and the seeds stay put until you’re ready to cook. But if you’re planning to stuff them with cream cheese later, remove the seeds first using a paring knife.
Side note: wear gloves if you have sensitive skin. I once scratched my nose after gutting jalapeños, and my face burned for an hour. Not a good look.
How long do they last?
Frozen whole jalapeños stay decent for 6 to 8 months in a standard freezer. After that, they start losing color and flavor, but they won’t turn poisonous. If you see a lot of ice crystals or the bag smells weird, just toss them.
But let’s be real—you’ll use them way before that because you’re going to put jalapeños on everything. Pizza, eggs, tacos, even mac and cheese. Don’t argue with me.
