Warning: Cooking with Habaneros

[Laura]

I tried to post this twice yesterday with no success. The Nov. 2000 issue has a recipe calling for habanero peppers. The recipe does not give any suggestions for handling habaneros. Please be careful. You need to wear gloves or wash your hands immediately after cutting the peppers. I did not do this once and received "chemical burns" on my fingers. I was actually quite surprised that CL did not include this information. Habaneros are something like 100x hotter than jalapenos.

[sneezles]

You can also rub your hands with rubbing alcohol to break down the capsaicin and then wash thoroughly with soap and water. I have never had the burn on my hands but have mistakenly touched my eye-ONCE! Eye drops with silicone helped ease that pain.
And avoiding contact with the seeds and veins is a big help, too!

[This message has been edited by sneezles (edited 10-24-2000).]

[lsdesign]

Yes! Even jalapenos stay on your fingers after chopping. I had a trip to the eye doctor after
trying to put my contacts in the next day, they were spoiled by the capasin.

[Mary G]

How true this warning is! My husband volunteered to seed and chop a jalapeno for a recipe a few days ago for dinner. Shortly thereafter he headed to the restroom. Oh-no! You can use your imagination and fill in what happened next...poor guy! I felt so bad for him, yet in a sorry sort of way, I had to stifle a sypathetic giggle! It's a "friend-of a-friend-of-a-friend" story, not one you expect to occur in your own home!

[Britin]

I also learned this lesson the hard way. After tracking down habanero peppers for the Black Bean, Banana, and Chorizo soup a couple of years ago, I was dying to try one so I ate a piece raw. It was like putting battery acid in my mouth. I don't even remember how I finally stopped the burning. I also had a burning sensation under my fingernails for days after. The soup, by the way, although it sounds a little strange was worth the discovery. I have made it several times since.

I hope your recipe turned out well for your suffering.

[NancyR]

You also need to be aware that cooking real hot peppers will make your pan "hot". I used a pan once that I had cooked hot sauce in to pop popcorn. The popcorn burned your lips!