Common Peppers Guide: Heat Levels & Cooking Uses Explained

Discover the most common types of peppers you'll find at grocery stores and markets with this practical visual guide. Whether you're looking for mild bell peppers for salads, medium-heat jalapeños for salsas, or super-hot habaneros for adventurous cooking, we've organized peppers by heat level with clear usage recommendations. Skip confusing scientific jargon—get exactly what you need to choose the right pepper for your recipe.

Quick Reference: Pepper Heat Level Chart

• Mild Peppers (0-5,000 SHU): Bell peppers, Pimentos, Peppadews
• Medium Heat (5,000-30,000 SHU): Jalapeños, Serranos, Banana peppers
• Hot Peppers (30,000-300,000 SHU): Cayenne, Thai chilies, Habaneros
• Super-Hot (300,000+ SHU): Ghost peppers, Carolina Reapers, Scorpion peppers

Most Popular Pepper Types Explained

Bell Peppers (0 SHU) - The Mild Staple

Available in green, red, yellow, and orange varieties. Green bells are less ripe and slightly bitter, while red/yellow/orange are sweeter. Perfect for: salads, stuffed peppers, stir-fries, and roasted vegetable medleys. Pro tip: Red bell peppers contain 9x more beta-carotene than green ones.

Jalapeños (2,500-8,000 SHU) - The Kitchen Workhorse

The most versatile medium-heat pepper. Remove seeds and white ribs to reduce heat. Perfect for: salsas, nachos, poppers, and pickling. Pro tip: Roast jalapeños for smoky flavor in sauces and dips.

Habaneros (100,000-350,000 SHU) - The Fruity Hot Choice

Distinct tropical fruit flavor with intense heat. Handle with gloves! Perfect for: hot sauces, Caribbean dishes, and fruit salsas. Pro tip: Add habaneros at the end of cooking to preserve their citrusy flavor.

Pepper Type	Heat Level	Best Culinary Uses
Bell Pepper	Mild (0 SHU)	Salads, stuffed peppers, roasted dishes
Jalapeño	Medium (2,500-8,000 SHU)	Salsas, nachos, poppers, pickling
Serrano	Medium-Hot (10,000-23,000 SHU)	Fresh salsas, guacamole, pico de gallo
Habanero	Hot (100,000-350,000 SHU)	Hot sauces, Caribbean cuisine, fruit salsas
Ghost Pepper	Very Hot (855,000-1,041,427 SHU)	Extreme hot sauces, challenge recipes
Carolina Reaper	Super Hot (1,400,000-2,200,000 SHU)	Competitive eating, extreme hot sauces

Practical Cooking Tips for Common Peppers

• Reduce heat safely: Remove seeds and white ribs (where most capsaicin concentrates) before chopping
• Neutralize heat: Dairy products (yogurt, sour cream) work better than water for cooling your mouth
• Storage: Keep fresh peppers in the crisper drawer for 1-2 weeks or freeze for longer storage
• Safety: Wear gloves when handling hot peppers and avoid touching your face

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between green and red jalapeños?

Green jalapeños are unripe and have a grassier flavor, while red jalapeños are fully ripe, sweeter, and slightly hotter. Red jalapeños work better for sauces, while green are ideal for fresh salsas.

Which pepper is hotter: habanero or jalapeño?

Habaneros are significantly hotter—up to 140 times hotter than jalapeños! A single habanero can contain as much heat as 10-20 jalapeños.

What's the mildest hot pepper I can use for beginners?

Start with poblano peppers (1,000-2,000 SHU) or Anaheim peppers (500-2,500 SHU). Both offer mild heat with great flavor for those new to spicy foods.

How can I reduce the heat of a dish that's too spicy?

Add dairy (sour cream, yogurt), sugar, or acid (lime juice). Serve with rice or bread to help absorb some of the heat. Never use water—it spreads the capsaicin rather than neutralizing it.

Why do some jalapeños seem hotter than others?

Heat varies based on growing conditions. Stressed plants (less water, more sun) produce hotter peppers. The seeds and white ribs contain the most capsaicin, so removing these reduces heat significantly.

Now you can confidently select the right pepper for any recipe. Remember the basic rule: milder peppers work best for dishes where you want pepper flavor without overwhelming heat, while hotter varieties should be used sparingly for intense spice. Keep this guide bookmarked for your next grocery trip!