Can somebody explain why peppers are only hot after you cook them?!
Answers: Why are peppers only hot after you cook them? What's the science behind it? Can anybody explain?
The acid in peppers is called capsaicin. Capsaicin is present in large quantities in the placental tissue which holds the seeds, the internal membranes and to a lesser extent in the other fleshy parts of the fruits of plants in the genus Capsicum. So when you cook them, more acid is released. Not to say that chilis are mild when they're not cooked. I challenge you to eat a raw habanero... That'll put hair on your chest.
Peppers are hot before you cook them too!
They are hot raw, too, but then the capsaicin (hot) oils aren't as easily released.
If you are referring to temperature, then that would be because you used a heat source such as fire to cook them. If you are referring to the burn they leave on the tongue from eating them, that is caused by capsaicin. Peppers that have higher concentrations of this potent compound burn more. The burn will affect you, even when the pepper is in its raw form. Cooking makes it seem like the pepper gets hotter is because not only do you have the hot temps from cooking burning your tongue, but also the capsaicin as well. Hope this helps.
Ditto to Lythania, Yes, they are hot prior but heat would rellease oils
when you cook the peppers it realese acid but some peppers can also be hot when uncooked