What are jalapeño peppers?Even those relatively new to hot peppers know of jalapeño peppers, but what’s interesting is the overall reputation this hot pepper has. Many people think of the jalapeño as a very spicy hot pepper, but in terms of the Scoville scale, it is merely mild to moderate. Jalapeño peppers have a Scoville heat unit range of 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville heat units (SHU). That’s mighty low compared to the hottest peppers in the world, some of which top the 1,000,000 SHU mark on the pepper scale. It’s also much milder than that cayenne pepper you have sitting on your spice rack (30,000 to 50,000 SHU). Show
But most of those hotter peppers never find their way to normal grocery store shelves. There, the jalapeño is king, and its spiciness is far more than much that you’ll find there. Its bright, grassy flavor, too, makes the jalapeño very versatile in the kitchen – perfect for everything from salads to stuffed peppers.  Table of Contents
Jalapeño pepper fast facts
Where do these chilies come from?The pepper originated in Mexico. Over 160 square kilometers of land are still dedicated to the growing of jalapeños in the country. It’s also grown in the United States, particularly the southwestern states of Texas and New Mexico, which of course border Mexico. The cultivation of jalapeño peppers in the United States is definitely not at the same scope as in Mexico though; only about 22 square kilometers are dedicated to growing jalapeño peppers in total in the U.S. The name comes from a town in Mexico near where it is cultivated most often: Xalapa, Veracruz. Xalapa has a variant spelling jalapa that cues your more in on the origin of the name. In Mexico, this most famous of all peppers actually goes by a few different monikers, including chiles gordos, huachinangos, and cuaresmeños. How hot are jalapeño peppers?The jalapeño is pretty much the perfect amount of heat for those that like a little kick, but don’t want to challenge their taste buds to a duel. It ranges from 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville heat units (or SHU for short.) Most people can enjoy this chili. It’s one of the great culinary peppers in the world, finding its way into Tex-Mex dishes, Thai recipes, Spanish foods, and much more. This is truly a pepper that has fans all over the world. But let’s put this into perspective against actual numbers. When comparing the jalapeño to some other popular peppers, you can see how far away jalapeños are from being considered “super-hot”. Poblanos are extremely mild (1,000 to 1,500 Scoville heat units) and jalapeños – while a minimum of three times hotter than a poblano are dwarfed even by the likes of that cayenne powder in your spice rack (30,000 to 50,000 SHU). When comparing to the habanero (100,000 to 350,000 SHU) or ghost pepper (one of the milder super-hot peppers at 855,000 to 1,041,427 SHU), it’s not even close. Against the world of the Scoville scale, the jalapeño is just not that spicy. For more on the differences, take a look at some of our showdowns which compare the jalapeño head to head with another chili:
What do jalapeño peppers taste like?Jalapeños are typically picked (and eaten) while they are still green in color and not totally ripe. In their green form, jalapeños tend to have a bright, grassy flavor. They can even have a slight bitterness to their taste. There are those, though, that prefer a totally ripened red jalapeño pepper. When red they lose the bright, bitter flavor and gain in sweetness (and often overall median heat). The heat comes from the capsaicin found in the pepper, so the red version – with more time on the vine – tends to be hotter than green. But it’s still within the same 2,500 to 8,000 SHU range on the Scoville scale. What do they look like?At 2 to 3.5 inches in total length, this is as pod-like a pepper as you’ll ever see. Compared to other hot peppers, it’s moderate in total size. Some are stouter and some are longer. But in most all cases, there’s a large enough cavity for stuffing. Common jalapeño peppers age from green to red, and, as mentioned, change in flavor (gaining in sweetness) as they mature. There are other varieties of jalapeños as well, some hybridized to grow larger, others of totally different colors (like the beautiful purple jalapeño), and some are bred to be more or less spicy than the common version. –>Learn More: Jalapeño Varieties Are Many…And All Delicious What is a good jalapeño substitute?The best is a serrano pepper. It’s similar in taste – bright and grassy – without the same level of bitterness. Though, it is a step up in heat: 10,000 to 23,000 SHU. They can run from near equal in heat to nearly ten times hotter. For more alternatives, take a look at our post on the best jalapeño substitutes. What are some good jalapeño uses?This chili pepper is so versatile, not only because of its very eatable heat but also because of its fresh, bright flavor. It works so well with other fresh vegetables, so anywhere where a bell pepper would be used, a jalapeño could be used instead. Try it in salads, fresh salsas, sandwiches, and vegetable medleys to add a little spark to the meal. An area where jalapeños really shine is as a popper pepper. Jalapeños have relatively thick walls and a wide cavity for their size, perfect for stuffing. Cooking with jalapeñosThis is one of the easiest chilies to cook with, both because they are easy to find in supermarkets and because their relatively easily handled. You can work with jalapeños using your bare hands, but when you start cutting, it’s best to put on kitchen gloves. The capsaicin in this chili can still provide an uncomfortable level of chili burn, especially if you touch your eyes. Jalapeño in eye is a common enough occurrence that we’ve written a whole post on how to remedy it. Also learning how to treat chili burn in general is a very smart first step before handling any chilies. Other smart beginners tips:
–> Learn More: Cooking with Jalapeños – The Dos And Don’ts Some of our favorite jalapeño recipes
Growing jalapeñosWith all of its culinary uses and family friendly heat, this chili is an exceptional option for growing yourself. They work both in the garden and in containers. In fact, container gardening may provide the perfect amount of chilies for use in your kitchen. For more information on planting, take a look at our jalapeño planting guide for all the information you should know. Where can you buy jalapeño peppers?Jalapeños can be found nearly everywhere. Whatever you call jalapeño peppers, they are good spicy eating and a global food rock star. Use them raw in dishes, pick up a chipotle rub (chipotle pepper is a smoke-dried jalapeño), or grab one of the many jalapeño hot sauces out there to add some fire to your menu. In fact, Sriracha sauce, one of the most famous hot sauce in the world, is made from red jalapeño peppers. There are also many jalapeño products available online to tempt your tastebuds or begin your gardening adventure.
Candied jalapeños provide a jolt of both sweet and heat. They are surprisingly delicious served on salads, sandwiches, and even pizzas. Or you may even find yourself popping a few as a snack. Buy Now We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. 10/18/2022 12:03 am GMT
If you have a green thumb, growing jalapeños can be done indoors or out. Burpee's seeds are known to have excellent germination rates. Buy Now We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. 10/18/2022 12:04 am GMT
Our jalapeño powder (available on Etsy) is an excellent way to spice up all sorts of dishes with the bright bite of this popular chili. This is 100% jalapeño, no additional ingredients . Buy Now Support PepperScale by purchasing our fiery spices. Subscribers get 15% off!
UPDATE NOTICE: This post was updated on April 13, 2022 to include new content. How many Scoville units is a fresh jalapeño?So, where do jalapeños fall on that scale? They usually fall in the range of 2,000 to 8,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), which sounds like a lot, but it really isn't! Some of the hottest peppers in the world measure up to 1,000,000 SHU, muy caliente!
Are raw jalapeños hotter than cooked?Cooking peppers makes dishes hotter because the peppers break down while cooking and releases more capsaicin into the dish. The spiciness is then spread out throughout the dish, so it gives the sensation of an overall spicier meal.
How hot is 8000 Scoville units?The Scoville Heat Scale. Why are raw jalapeños not hot?The majority of pepper heat doesn't come from the fleshy walls of the pepper. Rather, it comes from the white membrane inside the chili. If that membrane is stripped out (along with the seeds that have some heat as well), you'll be pulling out a significant amount of spiciness from your jalapeño.
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How much Scoville is a raw jalapeno?
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