Pepper comparison
Banana Pepper vs Shishito
Banana Pepper is roughly 2.0× hotter than Shishito.
Mild0–500 SHU
Banana PepperFrom europe
- Flavor
- Tangy, slightly sweet, mild with almost no perceptible heat — closer to a sweet pepper than a chile.
- Color
- Pale yellow ripening through orange to red
- Best uses
- Pickled in rings for sandwiches, subs, and pizza toppings · Sliced fresh into salads and Greek-style preparations · Stuffed with cheese and breadcrumbs for an oven-baked appetizer
- Pairs with
- Italian-American, American sandwiches, Pizza, Greek salad
Mild50–200 SHU
ShishitoFrom east asia
- Flavor
- Vegetal, slightly sweet, and bright — with an unpredictable ~1-in-10 chance of significantly more heat.
- Color
- Bright green ripening to red
- Best uses
- Blistered in a hot pan with oil and finished with flaky salt — the canonical Japanese izakaya preparation · Charred on a grill and squeezed with lemon · Stuffed with cheese and quickly broiled
- Pairs with
- Japanese, Tapas, Flaky salt, Lemon
Quick verdict
Which one to use
- —If you want more heat: reach for Banana Pepper (0–500 SHU).
- —If you want manageable heat: use Shishito (50–200 SHU).
- —For Banana Pepper-style flavor: tangy, slightly sweet, mild with almost no perceptible heat — closer to a sweet pepper than a chile.
- —For Shishito-style flavor: vegetal, slightly sweet, and bright — with an unpredictable ~1-in-10 chance of significantly more heat.