Dried chiles are a powerhouse ... Beyond this, the two greatest enemies to a chile's freshness are heat and light, which can cause the flavor compounds in the peppers to degrade and cause mold ...

Thai bird's eye and Serrano peppers. They can be used fresh or dried and many are ground into powders. Try adding super spicy habaneros to fajitas, pasta and salsa, or add serranos to chili stews ...