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There is a common trend among hot sauce consumers and that is…how hot is it? Some classic brands of hot sauce are so commonly used that a guess at the heat level may be somewhat accurate. Sriracha is rapidly becoming one of those classic flavors and part of the reason for its popularity is the mid-range level of heat.
The heat rating of sriracha hot sauce typically falls between 1,000 and 2,500 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). The medium level of heat along with the sweet flavor have contributed to its popularity and success a s a hot sauce. There are some brands of sriracha that use hotter peppers that increase the heat rating but maintain the sriracha flavor.
Sriracha hot sauce is known for its tangy and spicy flavor. It is made from chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt. While the Scoville rating of sriracha can vary slightly depending on the brand and batch, it generally falls within the range of 1,000 to 2,500 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). This puts it at a moderate level of spiciness compared to other hot sauces. It’s worth noting that the Scoville rating is a subjective measure of heat and can vary based on individual taste preferences.
Popular sriracha brands and their SHU
Many manufacturers of hot sauce have taken advantage of srirachas popularity and produced their own style of sriracha but still maintaining an expected flavor. Check out some of the more popular brands of sriracha along with their Scoville rating.
What causes the spiciness?
The spiciness in sriracha comes from the chili peppers used in the sauce. The main chili pepper used in sriracha is the red jalapeno pepper, which contains a compound called capsaicin. Capsaicin is responsible for the heat or spiciness in chili peppers and hot sauces. The more capsaicin present in the peppers, the hotter the sauce will be. Other factors, such as the amount of seeds, pith and membranes left in the sauce, can also contribute to the spiciness.
A red jalapeno used in most sriracha hot sauces is a green jalapeno that has been left on the plant to ripen further
Most hot sauces contain all parts of the hot pepper including the seeds. Seeds are harmless to consume and add a significant amount of heat to a hot sauce. In addition, it would take a considerable amount of processing to remove them from a sauce.
SHU of common hot peppers
A sriracha hot sauce recipe does not always need a red jalapeno pepper as a base to the sauce to achieve a classic sriracha flavor. Substituting a red jalapeno with a different variety of pepper can increase the heat level but can alter the color more then the flavor. Sriracha sauce is known for its bright red color but brands like Yellowbird, Three Mountains and Sky Valley introduce yellow and green chilis into a sriracha flavor.
Any brand of sriracha that has an SHU of over 2,500 uses a pepper hotter than a jalapeno. Check out some of the Most Common Peppers Used in Hot Sauce along with their SHU rating. See below for some of the hottest sriracha brands.
Super-hot sriracha brand
Carolina reaper – 2,200,000 SHU | Mad Dog 357 Reaper Sriracha Sauce |
Habanero – 350,000 SHU | Bee Sting Quasi-Thai Sriracha |
Thai chili – 100,000 SHU | Flying Goose Sriracha |
Spiciest sriracha sauces
A sriracha can have an extreme level of heat and still maintain its classic flavor. The flavor of a hot pepper can get lost in the recipe but using a familiar process can maintain the overall flavor of the sauce.
The secret to a sriracha hot sauce is the fermentation process of the hot peppers and the amount of sugar used in the recipe
Compare sriracha to other hot sauces
The Scoville Heat Units (SHU) of sriracha hot sauce typically range from 1,000 to 2,500. Compared to other hot sauces, sriracha falls within a moderate range of spiciness. Here’s a comparison of the SHU of sriracha with some other popular hot sauces.
Please note that these SHU ranges are approximate and can vary depending on the specific brand and batch of the sauce. Additionally, individual taste preferences can also influence how spicy a sauce feels to each person.
| Common Hot sauce SHU | |
|---|---|
| Frank’s RedHot | 450 – 900 SHU |
| Louisiana Hot Sauce | 450 – 1200 SHU |
| Texas Pete’s | 750 – 1,000 SHU |
| Cholula Hot Sauce | 1,000 – 2,500 SHU |
| *Sriracha | 1,000 – 2,500 SHU |
| Valentina Hot Sauce | 2,100 – 2,200 SHU |
| Tabasco | 2,500 – 5,000 SHU |
| Tapatio | 3,000 – 3,5000 SHU |
| Crystal Hot Sauce | 3,000 – 4,000 SHU |
| Sambal Oelek | 5,000 – 10,000 SHU |
A mid range level of heat like a sriracha sauce has helped make a hot sauce popular because it can reach a wider audience
It’s important to note that the Scoville rating can vary slightly depending on the brand and batch of the hot sauce, although testing is still very accurate. Additionally, individual tolerance to spiciness can vary, so what may be considered hot for one person might be mild for another.
