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food preservation

What kitchen gadget can make pepper flakes?

Matt McSpadden

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posted 11 hours ago

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Question:
Any ideas on a good kitchen gadget to turn dried cayenne peppers into flakes?

Details:
I have a couple jars full of dried cayenne peppers. Last year I made cayenne powder as a test. It was delicious, but very expensive to make. I had someone ask about cayenne pepper flakes. This would probably make it it a little more affordable, and meet a request. However, all my equipment makes powder. Any idea what would help me make flakes?

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Carla Burke

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posted 10 hours ago

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Maybe a larger processor, where it would have more space &/or just pulse it a bit, until it's at the size flakes you're looking for?

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Jackson Bradley

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posted 10 hours ago

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I will say, from a very memorable experience, that if you do use a food processor or similar, you may consider doing so outside. The processor does a great job. You get mostly flakes and a little powder.

I made flakes and powder out of some dried trinidad scorpion peppers. I used a food processor and it worked great. While processing and especially after I opened the lid, everyone in the house was coughing and had watering eyes.

I have also used a mortar and pestle. Slow going and more for small batches, but allows complete control over what size you want.

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Matt McSpadden

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posted 10 hours ago

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Ok, two votes for a food processor. I've got an ancient one that is half broken that I have used to turn garlic cloves into paste for drying... might be time for a new one.

Jackson Bradley wrote:I will say, from a very memorable experience, that if you do use a food processor or similar, you may consider doing so outside. The processor does a great job. You get mostly flakes and a little powder.

I made flakes and powder out of some dried trinidad scorpion peppers. I used a food processor and it worked great. While processing and especially after I opened the lid, everyone in the house was coughing and had watering eyes.

Good to keep in mind. Cayennes are a good step above jalapenos for hotness... but nowhere near the trinidad scorpions :)

John F Dean

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posted 9 hours ago

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We have a rotary hand cranked cheese grater that I suspect would do the job.

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Jay Angler

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posted 8 hours ago

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I have what's called a "vegetable ricer" with 3 screens hand cranked. I'm thinking the large screen might do what you want.

Mine is 30 years old and still does all sorts of processing for me and the only catch is by the time I put it over my big pot, I have to stand on a stool to operate it! How tall are you Matt? 5'8" or taller and it shouldn't be an issue!

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Christopher Weeks

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posted 8 hours ago

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There's a state where the chiles are dry but kind of leathery, I bet that's hard to make flakes out of. But I wonder if you dry the heck out of them whether you could make flakes with just a rolling-pin.

It also might be that any automated milling machine is going to produce a variety of sized pieces, so a set of graduated screens would let you sieve out the various sizes and market them differently.

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