Green, Yellow and Red Bell Peppers - What is the difference?

You may be surprised to know that the various colored Bell Peppers all come from the same plant, but differ in their level of maturity.

 

Green bell peppers are harvested before they are fully ripe and that is why they are less expensive than other varieties. Green bell peppers will continue to first turn yellow and then red if they are left on the plant to mature. They have a slightly bitter flavor and will never have the sweet taste of their red, yellow and orange counterparts.

 

Orange and yellow bell peppers are more mature than green bell peppers and they have a  fruity taste to them.  

Red bell peppers are  more mature than green, orange or yellow bell peppers. They are rich in carotenoid phytonutrients and contain almost eleven times more beta-carotene than green bell peppers as well as one and a half times more vitamin C. Red Bell Peppers have a sweet, almost fruity taste. Pimento and paprika are both prepared from red bell peppers.

Lets compare!!

Nutrient	Green	Red	Yellow
Vitamin A	12% DV	105% DV	3.6% DV
Vitamin C	137% DV	292% DV	282% DV
Beta Carotene	340 mcg	841 mcg	110 mcg