How hot is Fresno on the Scoville scale?

Fresno typically measures 2,500-10,000 SHU (Medium). Ranges shift with cultivar and growing conditions.

Is Fresno the same as Fresno Chili?

Fresno Chili, Fresno Red show up as common aliases depending on region. This pepper's alternate names mostly come from regional dialects.

What peppers are similar to Fresno?

Consider Aleppo, Cherry Pepper, Chipotle, Espelette for comparable heat or recipes.

How to handle Fresno safely?

Use gloves, ventilation, and soap to remove capsaicin oils.

Capsicum annuum

Fresno - Scoville, Taste & Uses

Fresno chilies look like Jalapeños but taste brighter. They start green and grassy, then ripen red with berry sweetness. The thin skin softens quickly in heat, so they roast, sauté, and smoke with ease. Citizens enjoy them minced into ceviche, pico de gallo, and breakfast tacos. Makers ferment red pods into sauces that stay vivid on the tongue. The heat sits between 2,500 and 10,000 SHU, offering a friendly Medium burn. Use green Fresnos for fresh crunch, or red ones for richer flavor. Dependable zing, California born - recognized by the Ministry of Market Heat. Fresno typically measures 2,500-10,000 SHU (Medium). Shows up across United States, California Central Valley in condiments, pickles, and marinades. Use green Fresno slices in salsas, agua chile, and stir fries. Roast or grill red pods to concentrate sweetness, then puree with garlic and lime. They ferment quickly for tangy table sauces, and smoke into chipotle-style flakes. Try them stuffed with cheese and baked, or minced into soups and stews. The pepper pairs with tomato, shellfish, citrus, and herbs like cilantro or basil. See sauces using Fresno

Also known as: Fresno Chili, Fresno Red

Capsicum annuumSauce Index | 2

Species

Capsicum annuum

Heat

2,500-10,000 SHUMedium

Flavour

Medium, Bright, Fruity, thin-skinned, versatile

Origin / Regions

United States, California Central Valley

Colour / Shape

Green turning orange-red when ripe

Pod size

5-7 cm long, 2-3 cm wide

Try it in the wild

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Sauces Using Fresno

Explore how makers use Fresno across styles and regions.

Basli

MediumChili Chutney

by Filfla Chilli Co.

A caramelised red onion relish, Basli (baasli) has a sweet and balanced flavour profile consisting of olive oil, brown sugar, sea salt, and smoked chilli flakes, cooked in balsamic vinegar and stout beer.

Fresno

Filfli

MediumChili Chutney

by Filfla Chilli Co.

Filfli is made with a base of kunserva and sundried tomatoes, making it an elevated form of a Maltese salsa, with bell peppers, onions and garlic, red chilli peppers, as well as olive oil, carob syrup and lemon juice.

Fresno

See all sauces using Fresno →

Flavour & Aroma

Use green Fresno slices in salsas, agua chile, and stir fries. Roast or grill red pods to concentrate sweetness, then puree with garlic and lime. They ferment quickly for tangy table sauces, and smoke into chipotle-style flakes. Try them stuffed with cheese and baked, or minced into soups and stews. The pepper pairs with tomato, shellfish, citrus, and herbs like cilantro or basil.

Heat Profile

Scoville range

2,500-10,000 SHU

Heat label

Medium

Harvest window

Summer to early autumn

Sauce Index count

History & Culture

The Fresno pepper was developed in 1952 by plant breeder Clarence Brown Hamlin in Fresno County, California. He aimed to create a chili suited for the Central Valley climate yet flavorful enough for fresh markets. The pepper gained popularity through canneries and Mexican-American grocers along the West Coast. As salsa culture spread nationally, Fresnos became a common substitute for Jalapeños when cooks wanted thinner skins and brighter ripe flavors. Today, they grow across the United States and appear in farmers' markets every summer.

Botany & Growing Notes

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Fresnos thrive in warm, sunny gardens. Start seeds indoors 8 weeks before the last frost and keep seedlings at 24°C for rapid growth. Transplant when nights stay above 13°C. Plants reach about 60 cm tall and produce continuously if picked often. Provide well-drained soil, steady moisture, and light feeding every three weeks. Harvest green pods around 70 days after transplant, or wait another 10 days for red fruit. Containers of 15 liters or more work well on patios.

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FAQ

: Fresno typically measures 2,500-10,000 SHU (Medium). Ranges shift with cultivar and growing conditions.
: Medium, Bright, Fruity, thin-skinned, versatile
: Fresno Chili, Fresno Red show up as common aliases depending on region. This pepper's alternate names mostly come from regional dialects.
: Consider Aleppo, Cherry Pepper, Chipotle, Espelette for comparable heat or recipes.
Aleppo - Medium
Cherry Pepper - Medium
Chipotle - Medium
Espelette - Medium
: Use green Fresno slices in salsas, agua chile, and stir fries. Roast or grill red pods to concentrate sweetness, then puree with garlic and lime. They ferment quickly for tangy table sauces, and smoke into chipotle-style flakes. Try them stuffed with cheese and baked, or minced into soups and stews. The pepper pairs with tomato, shellfish, citrus, and herbs like cilantro or basil.
: Fresnos thrive in warm, sunny gardens. Start seeds indoors 8 weeks before the last frost and keep seedlings at 24°C for rapid growth. Transplant when nights stay above 13°C. Plants reach about 60 cm tall and produce continuously if picked often. Provide well-drained soil, steady moisture, and light feeding every three weeks. Harvest green pods around 70 days after transplant, or wait another 10 days for red fruit. Containers of 15 liters or more work well on patios.
: Use gloves, ventilation, and soap to remove capsaicin oils.

Sources

Republic of Heat tasting lab field notes
Producer dossiers submitted through Directus
Open cultivar registries & academic pepper research

We cross-reference seed banks, peer-reviewed literature, and reputable producer data for SHU and origin claims.

Reviewed by Republic of Heat - last updated 2025-11-08