Red bell peppers are sweet, crisp and easy to use raw or cooked. One pepper can become a snack, a stir-fry ingredient, the base of a roasted sauce, or the filling for a stuffed dinner.
This guide covers what red bell peppers taste like, how to choose and store them, how to tell when they have gone bad, and what you can use instead. It also explains how to store cut peppers, freeze extras, and use them up in everyday meals.
Ready to stock up? Shop red bell peppers on Instacart.
What are red bell peppers?
Red bell peppers are sweet peppers from the Capsicum annuum species. Botanically, they are fruits because they develop from flowers and contain seeds, although they are usually treated like vegetables in the kitchen.
They can be eaten raw, baked, roasted, or stir-fried and work in everything from salads and sandwiches to pasta and fajitas.
Bell pepper color depends on variety and maturity, so not every pepper follows the exact same green-to-yellow-to-orange-to-red path. Different cultivars can mature into different colors.
What do red bell peppers taste like?
Red bell peppers taste mild and sweet, with a crisp, juicy texture when raw. They become softer and a little sweeter when cooked.
Compared with green bell peppers, red peppers generally have a sweeter, less vegetal flavor.
Are red bell peppers fruits or vegetables?
Red bell peppers are technically fruits because they develop from the flower of the pepper plant and contain seeds. In everyday cooking, they are usually grouped with vegetables and used mostly in savory dishes.
Are red bell peppers spicy?
No. Red bell peppers are not hot peppers and are listed at 0 Scoville heat units. They add pepper flavor without the heat you would get from chile peppers.
Red vs. green, yellow and orange bell peppers
Bell pepper color can affect sweetness and flavor, so a quick comparison can help when you are choosing one for a recipe.
Bell Pepper | General flavor | Good uses |
Red | Sweet and mild | Roasting, salads, pasta, stuffing |
Green | Crisp and more vegetal | Fajitas, pizza, stir-fries |
Yellow | Mild and sweet | Salads, roasting, snacking |
Orange | Mild and sweet | Snacking roasting, salads |
For more on green peppers, see Instacart’s green bell pepper guide. You can also shop green, orange and yellow bell peppers on Instacart.
Red bell pepper nutrition
Red bell peppers pack a lot into a relatively small serving. They’re especially known for vitamin C, while also providing fiber and other nutrients. Here’s a closer look at some of the nutrition questions people commonly have.
How many calories are in a bell pepper?
Calorie counts vary by the pepper’s color and size.
Do bell peppers have fiber?
Yes. One medium bell pepper provides about 2 grams of dietary fiber, making it an easy way to add a little more fiber to meals and snacks.
Are red bell peppers a good source of vitamin C?
Yes, vitamin C is one of their standout nutrients. The National Institutes of Health lists 95 milligrams of vitamin C in 1/2 cup of raw sweet red pepper.
Are red bell peppers good for you?
Red bell peppers can fit easily into a balanced diet. Try them raw with dip, sliced into salads and wraps or cooked into stir-fries, pasta and other meals.
How to choose fresh red bell peppers
Look for red bell peppers that are firm, smooth, bright in color and free from obvious bruises, soft spots or mold.
A fresh-looking stem is another good sign. If you are ordering online, choose peppers that fit the meal you have planned — whole peppers for stuffing or several peppers if you need enough for a stir-fry or fajitas.
How to store red bell peppers
A little planning can help red bell peppers stay useful for more than one meal. The best method depends on whether the pepper is still whole or has already been cut.
For more general produce tips, see Instacart’s guide to storing vegetables.
How to store whole red bell peppers
Store whole red bell peppers in the refrigerator, ideally in the produce drawer. Wait to wash them until you are ready to use them so you are not adding extra moisture during storage.
How to store cut bell peppers
Place leftover halves, strips or diced peppers in an airtight container. Adding a clean paper towel can help absorb excess moisture.
If you’ve already prepped the pepper, try to work it into one of your next few meals while it still has a good texture. Slices can go into fajitas or sandwiches, while diced pieces are easy to add to eggs, pasta or stir-fries.
Can you freeze red bell peppers?
Yes, red bell peppers can be frozen. Freezing is a useful option when you have more peppers than you can finish while they are fresh.
Because freezing softens their texture, frozen peppers are usually best in cooked dishes rather than raw snacks or salads.
How to freeze red bell peppers
Wash and dry the peppers.
Remove the stems and seeds.
Cut them into strips, dice or the shape you are most likely to use later.
Pat off extra moisture.
Pack them in a freezer-safe bag or container, seal and freeze.
How to tell if a red bell pepper is bad
As red bell peppers age, they can become wrinkled and lose some firmness. Slight wrinkling is more of a quality issue, but other signs can mean the pepper should be discarded.
- Very soft or mushy areas
- Slimy texture
- Visible mold
- Major discoloration
- An unpleasant or unusual smell
Best substitutes for red bell pepper
Orange and yellow bell peppers are the closest substitutes for red bell peppers because they have a similarly mild, sweet flavor. Green bell peppers can also work, but they usually taste less sweet.
The best swap depends on whether your recipe needs sweetness, crunch, color or just mild pepper flavor.
Substitute | What changes | Best for |
Orange bell pepper | Very little | Almost any recipe |
Yellow bell pepper | Very little | Salads, roasting, pasta |
Green bell pepper | Less sweet | Fajitas, stir-fries, pizza |
Mini sweet peppers | Small pieces, similar sweetness | Salads, roasting, snacking |
Poblano pepper | Earthier and potentially hotter | Cooked savory dishes |
Can you substitute a hot red pepper?
Be careful substituting a hot red pepper for a red bell pepper because the heat level can change the entire dish. If the recipe depends on the mild sweetness of a bell pepper, another bell pepper or sweet pepper is usually a closer match.
How to cut a red bell pepper
Cut the pepper based on how you plan to use it: strips for fajitas and stir-fries, diced pieces for eggs and sauces, rings for salads or pizza, or leave the pepper mostly whole for stuffing.
For the full technique, see Instacart’s step-by-step guide to cutting a bell pepper.
How to cook and use red bell peppers
Red bell peppers can be eaten raw or cooked, which makes them easy to use across several meals in the same week. Try a different cooking method when you want to change the flavor or texture.
Roast or fire-roast red bell peppers
Roasting red bell peppers softens their texture and brings out more of their natural sweetness. Fire-roasted peppers have a deeper, slightly smoky flavor from the charred skin.
After roasting, you can peel away the skin if you prefer a smoother texture, then use the peppers in sauces, dips, sandwiches, soups or pasta.
For the full method, see Instacart’s guide to roasting vegetables.
Sauté red bell peppers
Sauté sliced peppers with onions, chicken, sausage, eggs, mushrooms or other vegetables for a quick meal base.
See Instacart’s how-to-sauté guide for the basic technique.
Stuff red bell peppers
Whole red bell peppers can be hollowed and filled with rice, quinoa, beans, meat, vegetables, corn or cheese.
Eat red bell peppers raw
Raw red bell peppers are crisp and sweet, so they work well in hummus plates, salads, wraps, sandwiches, snack boxes and veggie trays.
Easy red bell pepper recipe ideas
If you have a pepper waiting for a plan, these Instacart recipes use red bell peppers directly.
Stuffed bell peppers with quinoa, black beans and corn
Turn whole peppers into dinner with quinoa, beans, corn and cheese in Stuffed Bell Peppers with Quinoa, Black Beans and Corn.
Spicy shakshuka
Red bell pepper cooks with tomatoes, onions, spices and eggs in this Spicy Shakshuka recipe.
Italian chicken sausage pasta
Use sliced red bell pepper in Italian Chicken Sausage Pasta for an easy weeknight dinner.
Chicken and veggie stir-fry
A stir-fry is an easy place for pepper strips to go. Try Chicken and Veggie Stir-Fry with red and yellow bell peppers.
Red bell pepper FAQs
Can you eat red bell peppers raw?
Yes. Red bell peppers can be eaten raw in salads, sandwiches, snack plates and with dips.
Are red bell peppers hotter than green bell peppers?
No. Neither is considered a hot pepper. Red bell peppers are generally sweeter, while green bell peppers have a more vegetal flavor.
Are red bell peppers the same as capsicum?
In some parts of the world, “capsicum” is the common name for the sweet peppers. Americans usually call them bell peppers.
Can I use red bell pepper instead of green bell pepper?
Usually, yes. The main difference is flavor: red bell pepper will generally make the dish a little sweeter.
Get red bell peppers delivered with Instacart
Find red bell peppers near you and add them to your next Instacart order.
Browse all bell peppers or explore more fresh vegetables available through Instacart.
