We enjoy eating hot peppers on tacos and chips so I usually plant one jalapeno plant each year which keeps us happy throughout the year. I'm getting bolder and now can handle eating more than one tiny pepper piece per chip so I planted two plants this year.
With the record heat we had in July, my plant prospered. I picked 30, three inch long jalapeno peppers and decided to can them. I started cutting and seeding them. After a couple peppers were opened, I started coughing -- my eyes were watering and my nose dripping. WHEW. Take it slow and walk away occasionally and don't touch anything.
My husband came in the kitchen and asked, "Shouldn't you be wearing gloves?" No, I tell him, it doesn't hurt my hands, just my sensitive sinuses. Besides that I don't like wearing gloves, I can't feel the food. Boy, I should have listened to him! After finishing the canning water bath, composting the seeds and washing up, my fingers started to tingle.
Tingle, tingle and more tingle. They were on fire! What did I do? What could I do? I knew aloe would help, but could not find any in the house. One site on the web said to use milk on your hands. So I poured about a tablespoon on and rubbed it around. That gave temporary relief, but the tingling was back within minutes. My husband pointed out that every site stated – wear gloves! I should listen to him more often.
I ran my hands under cool water which helped for a little bit, but I can't sit under a faucet all day. So I suffered and thought -- these peppers better be worth the effort!
I have about 20-30 more small peppers on the plants. And I don't like wearing gloves. Anyone have any better solution?
