NOTE TO SELF | regarding handling of Habanero peppers

Since habaneros have the highest concentration of capsaicin, they are the most dangerous in terms of burns. For people sensitive to capsaicin, it can cause contact dermatitis just like poison ivy. It is particularly dangerous when it comes into contact with sensitive body parts like the eyes.

It is not merely enough to wear gloves when handling habaneros. The gloves and the cutting board used to chop them should be cleaned with bleach and a strong dish detergent to avoid transferring the capsaicin to other surfaces where it might be retransferred accidentally to the eyes. Cooks talented with knives have learned how to clean and chop an habanero without touching it with their fingers.

If you should get capsaicin in your eyes, immediately flush them with water or an eyewash.The pain will be intense, but it will soon go away. Should your fingers or hands burn from capsaicin contact, the best treatment is to submerge them in vegetable oil.

So, Wifey and I were preparing veggies for some salsa we were going to can. The recipe calls for jalapenos peppers (2 cups chopped). Well, earlier in the day Wifey made a special trip to the local produce stand to pick up some jalapenos. They only had Habaneros. OK. A hot pepper is a hot pepper is a hot pepper, RIGHT?

Umm, no.

I volunteered to chop up the Habaneros. The instructions recommended wearing latex gloves. Having none, I opted to just be careful. This was OK until I had chopped up about 15 of the little flaming monsters. There was about 2/3 cup and I was thinking, "this isn't even close to the 2 cups the recipe called for."

I give them to Wifey and we both look at each other before agreeing to dump the entire pile into the salsa pot.

"He he he, I hope this isn't too hot," we said naively.

My job was done; time to wash my hands of these nasty little fireballs.

After scrubbing thoroughly with anti-bacterial handsoap, rinsing and my hands still wet, I stuck my pointer fingers straight into the corners of eyes and gave them a good rub.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

That was me screaming (almost).

INSTANT PAIN!!!

After Wifey tried to help me by using a medicine dropper to squirt water into my eyes outside in the front yard I ran to the bathroom tub. I ran the cold water across my eyes for about 5 minutes before I could open them without pain. The burning didn't stop for about 45 minutes. My finger didn't stop burning for about 16 hours; that was after a shower!

I will never knowingly handle a Habanero pepper again, much less process one.