Significant Differences Between Poblano and Bell Pepper

Looking at the overall picture of poblano versus bell pepper, you may not be able to discern the difference.

Poblano and bell peppers vary chiefly in their origin, appearance, applications, and spiciness. Poblano peppers have 1500 Scoville heat units and are far hotter than bell peppers, which have zero.

Let us now go through both peppers in further detail to provide you with additional information about these delectable peppers.

What Is Poblano Pepper? 

Poblanos are members of the Capsicum annuum pepper family, which also includes sweet bell peppers, jalapeos, and cayenne peppers, and they impart a spicy, somewhat smokey taste to foods.

They are from Puebla, Mexico, southeast of Mexico City, and are huge, elongated, with deep green and shiny surfaces.

The poblano pepper is quite popular across the nation, although it may not garner as much attention as its very hot relatives, such as ghost peppers and Carolina reapers.

Poblano peppers are mild chile peppers that have a Scoville heat rating of 1,000 to 2,000. This is far lower than the 2,500 to 10,000 range for jalapeo, another famous Mexican pepper.

Poblanos are normally plucked while they are green and unripe, so they are especially mild. Poblano chili tastes similar to green bell pepper, but with a little more heat. Poblanos lose their spiciness when cooked, becoming somewhat sweet.

Poblano peppers become crimson as they grow and become hotter than when they are immature. Poblano is very inexpensive and tastes best when peeled and seeded after cooking. They may be used in recipes like as chili Relleno, chili en nogada, andrajas with crema.

Ancho chile peppers are dried red poblano peppers that are the most widely accessible version of these peppers.

However, the size and taste of poblanos are equal in both fresh and dried versions, making them a flexible ingredient that can be utilized interchangeably in any dish.

What is Bell Pepper?

Bell peppers change color as they mature, although they are most usually marketed green and unripe; this is the most popular kind. It tastes somewhat green and slightly bitter, with a crisp, juicy texture.

Mature bell peppers are crimson in color and sweeter and more fruity. There are also orange and yellow bell peppers, which are sweeter than green bell peppers.

Bell peppers are the only member of the Capsicum genus that does not generate capsaicin, the chemical ingredient that causes the severe burning sensation when you eat spicy peppers or come into touch with their mucous membranes.

These peppers have no heat or spiciness because they do not generate capsaicin.

Bell peppers are at the bottom of the Scoville scale because they have no spiciness. Their absence of capsaicin is linked to the deletion of the gene responsible for pepper heat.

In bell peppers, the genus capsicum is recessive, removing the chemical and the heat associated with it.

Differences Between Poblano Vs Bell Pepper

Poblano is a big, mildly spicy chilli pepper. They are bigger than a bell pepper but skinnier and have a sharp tip, akin to spicy chile peppers such as jalapeos. Poblanos are often offered when green, making them easy to mistake with bell peppers.

Bell peppers (also known by the scientific name capsicum annuum) belong to the Solanaceae (nightshade family), along with numerous other crop members such as tomato, eggplant, and potato.

These peppers have a smooth, glossy green, red, yellow, purple, or orange exterior. Bell peppers are traditionally considered a non-starchy vegetable, however they are botanically classed as a fruit.

Can You Substitute Poblano For Bell Peppers?

Absolutely, poblanos may be used in place of bell peppers; in fact, they are regarded the greatest bell pepper alternative. Both peppers are huge in size and flavor and texture are comparable, with just a few minor differences.

Poblano peppers, like other bell pepper replacements, have an earthy, rich taste that is somewhat spicy. They also seem similar, which leads some individuals to mistake poblano peppers with bell peppers.

Poblanos, like bell peppers, have a huge hollow and thick wall, making them ideal for stuffing. Poblano peppers may be used in place of bell peppers in almost any dish.

Are Poblano Peppers Hotter Than Bell Peppers?

The poblano pepper isn’t very spicy or hot; it has a moderate heat level and ranges from 1,000 to 2,000 Scoville heat units (SHU) on the Scoville scale.

This is very different from bell pepper, which has no SHU and no spiciness. So yes! Poblano peppers are hotter than bell peppers, but milder than jalapeos, which have a SHU rating of roughly 8,000.