Best way to dry heirloom hot peppers?

[OneGrassRoot]

They're itsy bitsy - not even 1/2 inch long. They're wonderful though and I'd like to dry them and use for seasoning.

Can you simply leave them on the plant and pick them when it's obvious they're dried out? I think some are already falling off, however, as it's growing season is coming to a close.

Thanks in advance. :)

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Best way is in a food dehydrator.

Next best way,yank out the whole plant, cut off the roots, and hang it to dry in a cool breezy place like an enclosed porch or a shed (else the birds will help themselves.) Have a basin or basket on the floor underneath to catch the drops. If you can't hang up the entire plant, you can group a few branches together with twine and hanging them that way. They need to be out of direct sunlight and away from high humidity.

If you'll have less than a couple of cups of peppers you can also try your luck drying them in a single layer in a wicker or straw basket. Be sure to check them every day and throw away any with the least sign of rot. This is the least reliable way to dry them in my experience, but it does work most of the time.

You can also try to simulate a food dehydrator by spreading the peppers in a single layer on a cookie sheet and letting them dry in the oven. The oven should be set on the very low temperature (200 degrees or less) and the chiles left to dry for about 6 hours --check after every couple of hours since you're drying tiny peppers. The peppers will darken and have a slightly toasted flavor. The peppers are dried when it's easy to crumble one.