How to Cut a Chile Pepper

Some like it hot, and some like it scalding, but learning the right way to cut a chile will ensure you maintain your cool.

Step 1: Rinse pepper Quickly rinse the chile pepper under cold running water or use a damp paper towel to wipe any dirt from the chile.
TIP: To avoid painful or harmful irritation, do not touch your eyes, nose, or mucus membranes while handling hot chiles. If the chiles are particularly hot, wear rubber gloves.
Step 2: Cut off stem Place the chile in the center of a cutting board and cut off the stem just below the curve.
Step 3: Cut lengthwise Slice the chile in half lengthwise from stem to end.
Step 4: Cut away insides With the paring knife, cut away the seeds and the thin whitish ribs (also called ‘membranes’).
TIP: If you want as much heat as possible, leave the membranes and seeds intact, but the pepper is usually plenty hot—and more aesthetically pleasing—with membranes and seeds removed.
Step 5: Cut chile Your chile is now prepped for cutting however you like: slice it, dice it, chop it, or drop it…into a food processor.
Step 6: Wash Wash your hands and utensils thoroughly.
FACT: The Scoville scale ranks the heat of chiles by measuring their chemical compound capsaicin; while sweet bell peppers are a zero, habaneros can measure up to 300,000 units.