Do Chilis Ripen "off the vine"?

Question

In light of the question Are chillies hotter when they're ripe?, in particular – @ElendilTheTall's answer. I am wondering if chilies continue to ripen after picking? If so, does capsaician continue to build up.

What is the 'peek of freshness/ripeness' for chilies? (assuming it is different for each type of pepper, but are there 'commonalities' to look for?)

smcg · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-09T22:17:56.480

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Yes, they will ripen off the vine (and gain capsaician in the process) because they are a climacteric fruit. They do this best in a paper bag, like most peppers. However, there is a limit to this because they will eventually wilt.

edited May 09 '12 at 22:17

answered May 09 '12 at 22:10

smcg

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Thank you, could you expand on what a "climacteric" fruit is? – Cos Callis May 10 '12 at 00:37
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A climacteric fruit ripens by releasing ethylene gas and is capable of ripening off the plant they come from. – smcg May 10 '12 at 01:02

Do Chilis Ripen "off the vine"?

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