To examine the effects of blanching treatments on the drying of hot red pepper, the pilot scale hot-air dryer equipped with the weight sensor using strain gauge type load cell and strain amplifier was designed and manufactured. The drying characteristic curves of cut hot red pepper showed a settling down period followed by a constant rate period and falling rate period, but blanched hot red pepper showed only falling rate period. According as the blanching time and temperature rises, the drying rates and the capsanthin contents of hot red pepper fairly increased. Considering the drying rates and the color values of dried hot red pepper, we suggest the desirable blanching condition of hot red pepper should be water blanching at $80^{circ}C$ for 3 mins.