Are Pimentos Just Roasted Red Peppers? Separating Fact from Flavor

December 25, 2025 •

4 min read

Despite both being sweet red peppers, pimentos are a specific variety of chili with a uniquely sweet and aromatic flavor profile. While often sold roasted and jarred, they are not the same as roasted red peppers, which are typically made from standard bell peppers.

Quick Summary

Pimentos are a distinct, heart-shaped variety of pepper, sweeter and more aromatic than roasted bell peppers, though both are often sold jarred. Their texture, primary uses, and preparation methods also differ significantly.

Key Points

Specific vs. Prepared: Pimentos are a distinct, small, heart-shaped pepper variety, whereas a 'roasted red pepper' refers to a preparation method applied to larger bell peppers.
Flavor Differences: Pimentos have a uniquely sweet, mild, and aromatic flavor, while roasted red bell peppers gain a smoky and savory complexity from the charring.
Textural Contrast: Fresh pimentos have thick, succulent flesh, and are brined for jarred varieties. Roasted bell peppers are tender and soft after peeling.
Culinary Applications: Pimentos are famously used in pimento cheese and for stuffing olives, while roasted bell peppers are common in spreads, sauces, and salads.
Substitutions: Though often interchangeable in recipes, substituting one for the other will change the final flavor. For a smoky taste, use roasted bells; for a sweeter flavor, use pimentos.
Processing: The key difference in store-bought jars is that pimentos are typically brined, while roasted red peppers are often packed in oil or water, affecting taste and texture.

What is a Pimento?

A pimento, often spelled "pimiento," is a small, red, heart-shaped chili pepper, also known as a cherry pepper. It is a variety of the species Capsicum annuum and is known for its exceptionally mild and sweet flavor, with a Scoville rating typically between 100 and 500 units. This makes it one of the mildest peppers available, far less spicy than a jalapeño. Pimentos have a thick, succulent flesh that is more aromatic than a standard bell pepper. While you can sometimes find fresh pimento peppers, they are most commonly purchased canned or jarred, already roasted, peeled, and preserved in brine. This processing mellows their flavor and softens their texture, making them ideal for a variety of culinary applications.

Where are pimentos used?

Pimento Cheese: This Southern delicacy features shredded cheese, mayonnaise, and diced pimentos. The peppers add a subtle sweetness that cuts through the richness of the cheese and mayo.
Stuffed Olives: The small, red pieces found inside green olives are a classic use for pimentos. Historically, they were hand-stuffed, but modern processes use a puréed pimento paste.
Paprika: A significant portion of the pimento crop is dried and ground into paprika, a spice known for its mild flavor and vibrant red color.
Garnishes and Spreads: Diced pimentos add flavor and a pop of color to salads, spreads, and can be added to pasta dishes or risottos.

What is a Roasted Red Pepper?

A roasted red pepper is a preparation style, not a specific type of pepper. While many peppers can be roasted, the most common type used is the red bell pepper, another variety of Capsicum annuum. Bell peppers are much larger and blockier than pimentos and have a different flavor profile when fresh, but the roasting process dramatically changes their characteristics. Roasting over a flame or under a broiler intensifies the pepper's natural sweetness and adds a smoky, charred flavor that is absent in brined pimentos. After roasting, the skin is peeled off, and the softened flesh is often packed in oil or water.

The roasting process

To create a roasted red pepper, bell peppers are heated over a high flame until the skin blisters and turns black. The peppers are then covered to steam, which loosens the skin for easy peeling. The final result is a tender, sweet, and smoky product. Unlike pimentos, which are typically brined, roasted red peppers have a more complex flavor from the charring process.

Pimento vs. Roasted Red Bell Pepper: A Comparison


Feature	Pimento	Roasted Red Bell Pepper
Pepper Variety	A specific, heart-shaped chili pepper, known as a cherry pepper.	Typically a larger, blockier red bell pepper.
Flavor Profile	Exceptionally sweet, succulent, and aromatic, with almost no heat.	Sweet, but with a more savory, smoky, and charred flavor from the roasting.
Texture	Thicker-walled and juicier than a bell pepper when fresh, but softened and pliable when brined.	Soft and tender after roasting and peeling.
Preparation	Most often canned or jarred, roasted, and preserved in a brine.	Roasted over a flame or broiler and typically packed in oil or water.
Common Uses	Pimento cheese, stuffed olives, paprika, spreads.	Soups, sauces, salads, sandwiches, spreads, dips.

Can You Substitute One for the Other?

Because they share a sweet red pepper flavor, pimentos and roasted red bell peppers can often be substituted for one another, but the result will not be identical. For instance, using roasted red peppers in pimento cheese will result in a cheesier, less-sweet dip, especially if they are packed in oil. Conversely, using brined pimentos in a recipe that calls for roasted red peppers will lack the smoky depth that comes from the charring process. The best practice is to understand the distinct flavor profile each provides and choose accordingly based on the desired outcome for your dish. For a classic, sweet flavor, use pimentos. For a richer, smoky taste, opt for roasted red bell peppers.

Final Conclusion

In conclusion, the claim "are pimentos just roasted red peppers?" is definitively false. While both are sweet, red peppers that are often sold in jars, they are fundamentally different. Pimentos are a specific, heart-shaped pepper variety with a uniquely aromatic sweetness, while roasted red peppers are typically bell peppers whose flavor has been transformed by the roasting process. The preparation—whether brined or packed in oil—also contributes to their distinct flavor profiles. Understanding these differences allows a cook to make more informed choices, ensuring the best possible outcome for a recipe that calls for either of these versatile ingredients. For more on the differences between these peppers, check out this article from The Kitchn(https://www.thekitchn.com/what-are-pimiento-peppers-ingredient-intelligence-214958).

Frequently Asked Questions

A pimento has a very mild, sweet, and aromatic flavor. A roasted red bell pepper, while also sweet, has a more intense and smoky flavor profile due to the roasting process.

Pimentos are a key ingredient in pimento cheese, are used to stuff green olives, and are dried and ground into paprika.

The confusion arises because both are red, sweet peppers that are often sold in jars and used in similar dishes. However, they are different pepper varieties with distinct flavor and texture profiles.

Yes, you can, but be aware that the flavor will be different. The dish will lack the distinctive aromatic sweetness of pimentos and may have a smokier flavor from the roasting.

While jarred pimentos are almost always roasted and peeled, fresh pimento peppers exist and can be used in other ways. Roasting is a common preparation method, but not the only one.

The word "pimento" is derived from the Spanish word for pepper, "pimiento." Historically, the term has evolved, with English speakers now using it to refer specifically to the small, sweet variety.

Yes, authentic pimento cheese is made with real pimentos. They are the signature ingredient that provides a mild, sweet counterpoint to the sharp cheese and creamy mayonnaise.