Hey, cooks, I'm having a pepper problem

knucklehead G · #1 03-16-2011, 02:13 AM

I was making a corn and black bean salsa earlier today (6+ hours ago) and decided to kick it up a bit, so I went to the grocery store and picked up some serrano peppers. I've never worked with fresh hot peppers but I did them like I would with bell peppers, cut them up and scraped the seeds out and threw the seedy bit inside away.

The salsa came out awesome, but I've washed my hands five times and this pepper juice will not come off. Its not just the smell, I'm getting tired so I rubbed my eyes and I feel like I just got hit with MACE. I'll skip the details on how I got some in my nose. My mother used to do this stuff to my kid sister to keep her from biting her nails, put a little pepper juice on her fingers and she stopped it real quick because the stuff does not come off.

Is there a trick to this? Do I just wait for it to wear off and try to not touch my eyes / mouth / nose for however long that takes?

warwick.hoy · #2 03-16-2011, 02:16 AM

Used to cut up Jalps all the time at the last job I had,...but I always wore gloves (per the health department),...wish I could help you.

Did you try vinegar?

Lemon Juice?

That's what comes to mind,...but it may or may not work.

knucklehead G · #3 03-16-2011, 02:19 AM

I've tried four different soaps and a lot of hot water, but no vinegar or lemon juice. Then again they used vinegar in Fight Club for the chemical burn, so that makes sense. I don't think I have either of those available right now though, as we don't keep lemons and I know I'd be busted for pouring the fancy red wine vinegar on my hands.

Auzzie-Phoenix · #4 03-16-2011, 02:36 AM

try baking soda and water

knucklehead G · #5 03-16-2011, 02:39 AM

I have those! Mix it up like a paste or something? Or just stir some in like I'm making antacid Ovaltine?

I am seriously glad I don't have a paper cut right now.

warwick.hoy · #6 03-16-2011, 02:41 AM

I googled "neutralizing capsicum on your hands". Capsicum is the compound in peppers that gives them their heat.

How do I get my hands to stop burning ??? (Archived thread) -

There is a little bit of sensationalism in the linked thread,...but if you can handle it,...try using full strength chlorine bleach on your hands.

It's nasty stuff,...so just to do due diligence,...keep it away from any ammonia,...use a small amount and don't leave it on your hands for too long. Remove any jewelry and don't get it in your eye.

crockpot2001 · #7 03-16-2011, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

I googled "neutralizing capsicum on your hands". Capsicum is the compound in peppers that gives them their heat.

How do I get my hands to stop burning ??? (Archived thread) -

There is a little bit of sensationalism in the linked thread,...but if you can handle it,...try using full strength chlorine bleach on your hands.

It's nasty stuff,...so just to do due diligence,...keep it away from any ammonia,...use a small amount and don't leave it on your hands for too long. Remove any jewelry and don't get it in your eye.

Not sure the Cl+ is a good idea. I recall that it denatures the proteins of your skin, hense the slick feel.
I think vanilla is supposed to do the trick. No porn!

knucklehead G · #8 03-16-2011, 02:50 AM

Problem solved via that link, thanks warwick.hoy. There were tons of answers but I ended up using the alcohol suggestion, since I had some 91% isopropyl alcohol in the medicine cabinet. It dried my hands out a bit but that's what lotion is for. I'm not about to stick my finger in my eye to test, but they don't have the smell or stinging any longer.

Salsa anyone?

warwick.hoy · #9 03-16-2011, 02:53 AM

I've put bleach in small amounts on my hands for short periods of time albeit only a couple of times in my life. I have never had a problem. Extreme YMMV here.

If you mean Vanilla Extract; perhaps it's the alcohol in the Vanilla that's doing the trick

Cool deal KG,...salsa looks bomb.

If you plan on making salsa consistently do yourself a favor and get some gloves. I keep a box around the house to handle raw poultry as well. I can source them at the restaurant supply store,...but I noticed recently that I can get nitrile gloves from Grainger.

champbassist · #10 03-16-2011, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

Capsicum is the compound in peppers that gives them their heat.

Actually, the compound is Capsaicin and not Capsicum.

**baba** · #11 03-16-2011, 09:18 AM

I hate to laugh at you, but I am.....only because I've done it a few times and it can be BRUTAL. I often use peppers when cooking. Around or in the eyes is the worst. Never tried the alcohol (other than the drinking kind to dull that pain), thanks for the isopropyl tip.

knucklehead G · #12 03-16-2011, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knucklehead G

I'll skip the details on how I got some in my nose.

Quote:

Originally Posted by baba

Around or in the eyes is the worst. Never tried the alcohol (other than the drinking kind to dull that pain), thanks for the isopropyl tip.

Actually, and I speak from fresh experience, you can flush your eyes out and they stop hurting in a few minutes.

But, if you pick your nose with pepper juice on them, every inhaled breath for the rest of the night started the whole thing over for me. It ended up sparking a nasty immune-to-Benadryl sinus attack and headache.

The redeeming moment was that I had a friend over helping me cook, and who kept giving me crap about being a baby... I had some extra peppers, and managed to persuade him to eat a whole pepper in one bite. He drank a half gallon of milk after that, from the jug. We had to go buy more to finish the tres leches cake.