Adrian Gault

Written by Adrian Gault

Published: 09 Feb 2024

Camryn Rabideau

Reviewed by Camryn Rabideau

9-best-hot-sauce
Source: Delish.com

If you love spicy foods, then you probably can't live without hot sauce. There are so many different kinds out there, it can be hard to choose the best one for your taste buds. In this article, we'll explore the 9 best hot sauces that you should definitely try. From classic favorites to new and unique flavors, there's something for everyone on this list. So, get ready to add some heat to your meals with these top hot sauce picks!

Top Picks:

Overall Score: 8/10

The General's Hot Sauce: Fire for Effect set includes 1 bottle each of Maple Mayhem, Danger Close and Shock & Awe. With a 6 oz bottle size, these hot sauces come in red, orange, and maple colors. The set has received a customer rating of 4.5/5, with reviewers praising the taste and flavor as well as the support for U.S. Veterans. However, there have been some concerns about the pricing and packaging of the bottles.

Key Features

  • Includes 1 bottle each of Maple Mayhem, Danger Close and Shock & Awe
  • 6 oz bottle size
  • Red, orange, and maple colors

Specifications

  • Color: Red, Orange, Maple
  • Size: 6 Fl Oz (Pack of 3)

Pros

  • Great taste and flavor
  • Supports U.S. Veterans
  • Unique grenade bottle design

Cons

  • Some concerns about pricing
  • Packaging issues – bottles not sealed properly

The General’s Hot Sauce set offers a unique selection of flavors and supports U.S. Veterans. While some customers have raised concerns about pricing and packaging, the majority appreciate the taste and quality of the product, making it a great choice for hot sauce enthusiasts.

Overall Score: 9/10

The General's Hot Sauce Heat Seeker includes three 6 oz bottles of gourmet hot sauce made with American-grown cayenne and habanero peppers. The grenade bottle is not just a gimmick. Each sauce contains 86% actual peppers, unlike other brands that dilute their sauces. This veteran-owned company is dedicated to hiring and donating to veteran and military families. The sauces come packaged well and include cute dog tag accessories. The heat levels are perfect, and the flavor profiles cater to different preferences.

Key Features

  • 86% actual peppers in each sauce
  • Gourmet, American-made sauces
  • Veteran-owned company
  • Well-packaged, cute dog tag accessories
  • Perfect heat levels and flavor profiles

Specifications

  • Color: Red & Orange
  • Size: 6 Fl Oz (Pack of 3)

Pros

  • High pepper content
  • Great gift idea
  • Perfect heat levels
  • Veteran-owned company
  • Well-packaged

Cons

  • Price for taste alone
  • Seals could be better

The General’s Hot Sauce Heat Seeker trio pack is a must-try for hot sauce enthusiasts. With its high pepper content and perfect heat levels, it’s a great gift idea or personal indulgence. Although a bit pricey for taste alone, the well-packaged sauces and cute dog tag accessories make them worth it. The veteran-owned company’s dedication to hiring and donating to veteran and military families adds to the appeal. This trio pack is a flavorful, high-quality choice for hot sauce lovers.

Overall Score: 8/10

The General's Hot Sauce (Cayenne & Habanero) is a flavorful, American-made hot sauce that comes in a unique grenade-shaped bottle. It offers a perfect blend of cayenne and habanero flavors, providing a nice balance of heat and taste. The sauce is great for gifting and can be used on a variety of dishes, from meats to wings. Customers appreciate the delicious flavor, although some wish it was slightly hotter. Overall, it's a fun and flavorful hot sauce that adds a kick to any meal.

Key Features

  • The General's Hot Sauce (Cayenne & Habanero)

Specifications

  • Color: No Color
  • Size: One Size

Pros

  • Flavorful blend of cayenne and habanero
  • Unique grenade-shaped bottle, great for gifting
  • Versatile and can be used on various dishes

Cons

  • Some customers found the heat level to be mild

The General’s Hot Sauce (Cayenne & Habanero) offers a delicious blend of flavors in a unique packaging. While it may not satisfy extreme heat seekers, it’s a versatile and enjoyable hot sauce that makes a great addition to any meal.

Overall Score: 7/10

The Source Hot Sauce is the hottest extract on earth. With a rating of 7.1 million Scoville units, it's not for the faint of heart. This product should be used only as a food additive and a little goes a very long way. Its key features include its extreme spiciness and the instruction to handle it with caution. The 1 Fl Oz pack offers a concentrated and spicy flavor to substitute for chili in very spicy dishes. Although it's a fantastic option for those who love intense heat, be warned that it's not recommended for anyone new to extremely spicy foods. The Source Hot Sauce is an ideal choice for those participating in chili cook-offs or for anyone looking to impress their spice-loving friends. However, it's not without its drawbacks, so proceed with caution.

Key Features

  • Hottest extract on earth
  • Use only as food additive
  • Hundred pots of chili in one ounce
  • Substitute flavor for chili for very spicy dishes

Specifications

  • Size: 1 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

Pros

  • Ideal for chili cook-offs or impressing spice-loving friends
  • Offers intense heat for those who love extreme spiciness
  • Concentrated flavor that goes a long way

Cons

  • Not recommended for anyone new to extremely spicy foods
  • Some customers received dried out or inconsistent product
  • The taste is not palatable for everyone

The Source Hot Sauce offers a level of spiciness that is not for the faint of heart, making it an ideal choice for chili cook-offs or impressing spice-loving friends. However, it’s important to handle this product with caution and recognize that it may not be suitable for everyone’s taste. Additionally, some customers have encountered issues such as receiving dried out or inconsistent products.

Overall Score: 9/10

The Mad Dog 357 Hot Sauce is a fiery and powerful addition to any meal. With a Scoville Heat Unit of 357,000, it packs a serious punch and is perfect for adding some heat to your favorite dishes. Made with all-natural ingredients, it is suitable for a variety of diets, including gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian. Whether you're a hot sauce aficionado or just love a good kick in your food, this sauce is sure to impress.

Key Features

  • Blazing hot 357,000 Scoville Heat Units
  • Made with all-natural ingredients
  • Gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian friendly
  • Versatile to use on a variety of dishes
  • Made in the USA since 1991

Specifications

  • Size: 5 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

Pros

  • Extremely hot and flavorful
  • Suitable for various diets
  • Versatile usage on different dishes
  • Made with high-quality, natural ingredients

Cons

  • May be too hot for some individuals

The Mad Dog 357 Hot Sauce is a top choice for anyone who loves a serious kick in their food. With its impressive Scoville Heat Unit and all-natural ingredients, it’s a hot sauce that delivers both heat and flavor. While it may be too intense for some, it’s a must-try for anyone who can handle the heat.

Overall Score: 6/10

Flavor and Fire Foods' Rise and Die Extreme Hot Sauce takes finely ground coffee, chili pepper, and cinnamon for a delightful Mexican Coffee. It also contains Ghost Pepper Puree and 3 million scoville pepper extract for a super ultra hot experience. This hot sauce is perfect for those who love an extreme kick with a mouthwatering flavor. Made by Flavor and Fire Foods, a producer of gourmet quality hot sauces, salsas, condiments, rubs, and spices, using only the finest all-natural and preservative-free ingredients.

Key Features

  • Rise and die: Finely ground coffee, chili pepper, cinnamon
  • Heat profile: Extremely Hot, 3 million scoville pepper extract
  • Flavor and fire foods: Manufactures gourmet quality hot sauces, salsas, condiments, rubs and spices

Specifications

  • Color: 3 Millon Scoville
  • Size: 2 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

Pros

  • Tasteful for being super hot
  • Unique and delicious flavor profile
  • Mindfully sourced and all-natural ingredients

Cons

  • Not as hot as expected by some customers
  • Shipping issues, with some bottles arriving broken
  • Discrepancy with advertised scoville level

Flavor and Fire Foods’ Rise and Die Extreme Hot Sauce offers a unique and delicious flavor profile with an extreme kick. Despite some discrepancies in heat level and occasional shipping issues, it’s a great choice for hot sauce enthusiasts who enjoy a spicy, mouthwatering addition to their meals.

Overall Score: 8.2/10

The 1 Million Scoville Pepper Extract Hot Sauce guarantees to add a kick of heat to any dish. It is an excellent way to spice up your meals or use as a deterrent for pests. As an eye-watering and mouth-burning hot sauce, it is designed for those who enjoy highly spicy food. The product is as potent as it gets, making it a great addition to any spicy dish but must be used with caution due to its intense heat. If you're looking to impress your friends or keep pests away, this hot sauce could be the perfect solution.

Key Features

  • Guaranteed to be 1,000,000 Scoville Units
  • Certified by HPLC A.O.A.C.
  • Add it by the drop to any recipe or for kicking up the heat of your Buffalo Wings

Specifications

  • Size: 5 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

Pros

  • Versatile use for cooking and repelling pests
  • High potency with minimal quantity needed

Cons

  • Unpleasant taste
  • Lacks a dropper mechanism for precise dosage

The 1 Million Scoville Pepper Extract Hot Sauce is an extremely potent and versatile product. While it may not be the best-tasting hot sauce, its intense heat adds a new level of spiciness to any food. It also proves effective as a squirrel repellent. However, the absence of a dropper for convenient portioning is a downside. Overall, this hot sauce is recommended for thrill-seeking spicy food enthusiasts and those looking to protect their gardens from pests.

Overall Score: 7/10

Thoughtfully Gourmet Scoville Laboratory Hot Sauce Challenge Set is a variety pack of 10 hot sauces ranging from 430 to 11,300 on the Scoville scale. It includes flavors like Sweet Jalapeno, Bacon Cayenne, Apple Whiskey Habanero, and more. The set comes with a display rack for organizing the hot sauces. It's perfect for creating unique wing sauces, adding heat to ribs, or pairing with other savory meals. The set is also ready to be gifted. Each bottle is 1.7 Fl Oz. However, some customers have reported issues with mold and expiration dates. Despite this, many users have enjoyed the variety of flavors and the display rack that comes with the set.

Key Features

  • Range of spices from 430 to 11,300 on Scoville scale
  • Included display rack for organizing hot sauces
  • Variety of flavors like Sweet Jalapeno, Bacon Cayenne, and more
  • Ability to create unique wing sauces and pair with savory meals
  • Ready to be gifted

Specifications

  • Size: 1.7 Fl Oz (Pack of 10)

Pros

  • Variety of unique flavors
  • Includes display rack for organization
  • Great gift idea for hot sauce enthusiasts

Cons

  • Some reports of mold and expiration issues
  • Some customers felt the hot sauces were not spicy enough

Thoughtfully Gourmet Scoville Laboratory Hot Sauce Challenge Set offers a diverse range of flavors and a display rack for organizing the hot sauces. While there have been some reports of mold and expiration issues, it remains a great gift idea for hot sauce enthusiasts and those looking to experiment with unique wing sauces and spicy flavors.

Overall Score: 8/10

The General's Hot Sauce – Grunt Green is a premium, gourmet hot sauce that boasts 86% actual peppers in every bottle. The unique grenade-shaped bottle makes it a great gift, and the company is committed to supporting veterans and military families. Made in America, this hot sauce offers exceptional flavor without overwhelming heat, making it a versatile addition to a variety of dishes. Available in a 6 Fl Oz bottle, this hot sauce has received positive reviews for its flavor and quality.

Key Features

  • 86% actual peppers in every bottle
  • Unique grenade-shaped bottle
  • Supports veteran and military families

Specifications

  • Size: 6 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

Pros

  • Impressive flavor without overwhelming heat
  • Unique grenade-shaped bottle makes it a great gift
  • Supports veterans and military families

Cons

  • Potential for packaging issues such as broken caps

The General’s Hot Sauce – Grunt Green offers exceptional flavor, a unique gift-worthy bottle, and a commitment to supporting veterans. Despite potential packaging issues, the positive reviews and high customer rating demonstrate its popularity and quality.

The General's Hot Sauce Danger Close Scoville Units Buyer's Guide

  • What are Scoville Units?
    • Scoville units measure the heat or spiciness of a hot sauce. The higher the Scoville units, the hotter the sauce.
  • Understanding The General's Hot Sauce Danger Close
    • Danger Close is a hot sauce made by The General's Hot Sauce company.
    • It has a high Scoville unit rating, meaning it is very spicy.
  • Considerations Before Buying
    • Tolerance to Spiciness
      • Consider your tolerance to spicy food. If you can't handle much heat, a high Scoville unit hot sauce like Danger Close may be too intense for you.
    • Intended Use
      • Think about how you plan to use the hot sauce. Will you use it in small amounts as a condiment, or do you want to use it to add significant heat to your dishes?
    • Flavor Preference
      • Consider the flavor profile of the hot sauce. Danger Close may have a strong peppery flavor in addition to its heat.
  • Using The Scoville Scale
    • The Scoville scale ranges from 0 (no heat) to over 2 million Scoville units (extremely hot).
    • Mild sauces typically have 0-1,000 Scoville units, medium sauces have 1,000-10,000, and anything above 10,000 is considered very hot.
    • Danger Close typically falls in the very hot range of the Scoville scale, so be prepared for intense spiciness.
  • Benefits of High Scoville Unit Hot Sauces
    • Flavor Enhancement
      • Higher Scoville unit hot sauces can add an intense kick of flavor to your dishes.
    • Endorphin Release
      • Eating spicy foods can release endorphins, which can give you a natural high or feeling of euphoria.
    • Health Benefits
      • Spicy foods have been linked to various health benefits, including improved metabolism and pain relief.
  • Potential Drawbacks of High Scoville Unit Hot Sauces
    • Overpowering Flavor
      • The intense heat of high Scoville unit hot sauces can sometimes overpower the natural flavors of the foods they are paired with.
    • Stomach Discomfort
      • Eating very spicy foods can lead to stomach discomfort, heartburn, or indigestion for some individuals.
    • Allergic Reactions
      • Some people may have allergic reactions to very spicy foods, so it's important to be cautious.
  • Usage Tips for Danger Close
    • Start Small
      • When using Danger Close for the first time, start with a small amount to gauge your tolerance for its heat.
    • Pairings
      • Experiment with different foods to find the best pairings for Danger Close. It may complement certain dishes better than others.
    • Dilution
      • If Danger Close is too spicy for your liking, you can dilute it with other ingredients like honey, lime juice, or yogurt to reduce its intensity.
  • Safety Precautions
    • Wash Hands Thoroughly
      • After handling hot sauce, especially high Scoville unit sauces like Danger Close, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly to avoid accidentally touching sensitive areas like your eyes.
    • Be Mindful of Others
      • If sharing dishes with others, make sure to warn them about the spiciness of Danger Close to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
  • Storage and Shelf Life
    • Dark and Cool
      • Store Danger Close in a cool, dark place to preserve its flavor and heat level.
    • Check Expiry Date
      • Pay attention to the expiry date of Danger Close to ensure that it is still safe to consume.
  • Final Thoughts
    • Personal Preference
      • In the world of hot sauces, personal preference is key. If you enjoy intense heat and flavor, Danger Close may be a great choice for you.
    • Have Fun
      • Experimenting with new hot sauces can be a fun and flavorful experience. Enjoy the journey of discovering new tastes and heat levels.

Frequently Asked Questions about 9 Best Hot Sauce

What are scoville units?

Scoville units are a measure of how spicy a hot sauce or pepper is. The higher the number of scoville units, the spicier the sauce or pepper is.

How can I tell if a hot sauce is really spicy?

You can tell if a hot sauce is spicy by looking at its scoville units. The higher the number of scoville units, the hotter the sauce will be.

Is "Danger Close" a really hot hot sauce?

Yes, “Danger Close” is a really hot hot sauce. It has a high number of scoville units, so it is definitely not for those who can’t handle the heat!

Can I use "Danger Close" hot sauce in my food?

Absolutely! If you enjoy really spicy food, you can definitely use “Danger Close” hot sauce in your food. Just be careful, a little goes a long way!

Why is "Danger Close" called that?

“Danger Close” is probably called that because it’s so spicy, it feels like the heat is getting dangerously close to being too much to handle!

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