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Discover the Best Zero-Calorie Hot Sauce: Spice Up Your Meals without the Guilt!
Hot sauce has always been known to not include a lot of calories like many tasty condiments do. However, the manufacture of gourmet sauce has added sugar, fats, oils and other ingredients that add on additional calories.
The best zero calorie hot sauces are the classic hot pepper and vinegar combinations like Tabasco, Franks RedHot, Cholula, Sriracha and Texas Pete’s. Others new to the marketplace that also offer zero calories, gourmet ingredients and exotic flavors are Bravdo Spice Co. Pineapple and Habanero, Seed Ranch Smoked Jalapeno and Fat Cat Surprisingly Mild, Guajillo Ghost Tex Mex.
Hot sauce is made with peppers, don’t peppers have calories?
Here are the approximate calorie counts for some common hot peppers:
| – Jalapeño pepper: 10-15 calories per pepper. – Serrano pepper: 8-10 calories per pepper. – Thai chili or bird’s eye chili: 5-8 calories per pepper. – Habanero pepper: 15-20 calories per pepper. – Ghost pepper: 20-30 calories per pepper. – Cayenne pepper: 15-20 calories per teaspoon. |
Calorie counts vary depending on the size and variety of pepper
| – Smaller chili peppers like Thai chilis and bird’s eyes are 5-10 calories each. – Medium-sized peppers like jalapeños and serranos are 8-15 calories. – Larger habaneros are 15-20 calories. – The hottest peppers, like ghost peppers, can be 20-30 calories each due to their size. |
So in summary, most hot peppers range from 5-30 calories depending on variety and size, with smaller chilis being lowest and larger super hots being highest. Dried peppers are significantly lower in calories.
Do hot peppers lose their calories when they are dried?
Dried peppers have far fewer calories than their fresh counterparts
Hot peppers do lose a significant amount of their calories when dried. Typically, liquids that are added such as water, vinegar, and citrus juice have very little or no calories to them as well. It’s the fats, oils, and other ingredients that add the calories to a hot sauce.
Fresh hot peppers like jalapenos contain around 10-15 calories per pepper but when dried, their calorie content drops dramatically. This is because much of the water weight is lost during the drying process. Water makes up over 90% of the weight of a fresh pepper but is completely removed when dried.
Without their water content, dried peppers are much lower in weight but retain much of their heat and flavor compounds so you get a concentrated dose of spiciness with fewer calories. As an example, a single dried chipotle pepper (smoked and dried jalapeno) only contains about 2-3 calories. So drying removes over 75% of the calories compared to a fresh jalapeno.
According to the FDA Code of Federal regulations Title 21 a food product can be labeled zero calories if these is less than 5 calories per serving
The reduced calorie count makes dried hot peppers a more calorie-efficient way to add heat and flavor to dishes, while still providing some nutrients in smaller amounts than their fresh counterparts. Read more here on How To Make Hot Sauce From Dried Hot Peppers.
The calorie content of hot peppers plummets when they are dried due to the loss of water weight during the dehydration process. You end up with a spicier, more potent pepper but with a fraction of the calories.
Hot sauce enthusiasts who are conscious about their calorie intake often find themselves searching for a flavorful yet guilt-free alternative. Luckily, the culinary world offers a range of zero-calorie hot sauces that add a delightful kick to any dish without compromising your health goals. In this blog post, we will introduce you to some of the best zero-calorie hot sauces available in the market.
| Newcomers |
Newcomers
Just because a new hot sauce creation has gourmet and exotic ingredients does not mean that it can’t also be zero calories. It also doesn’t mean that it isn’t full of flavor, Check out these tasty up and coming soon to be classic hot sauce flavors with 0 calories. Click HERE to browse these other zero or low calorie hot sauces on Amazon.
Bravado Spice Co. Pineapple and Habanero
Seed Ranch Smoked Jalapeno
Chiki Chiki Boom Habanero Hot Sauce
This rich and smooth flavored hot sauce includes vodka as one of the ingredients. Fresh habanero peppers blended and cooked with the other ingredients make this recipe stand out. Prepared like a fine pasta sauce this flavorful sauce has zero calories.
Check out Amazon’s pricing HERE or purchase directly HERE.
Mexico Lindo Green Habanero
This medium-heat hot sauce stands out in appearance with it’s bright green flavor. It also stands out in flavor with elements of citrus. Use this sauce with your favorite Mexican foods or on anything that needs added flavor and kick…but without the calories.
Check out Amazon’s pricing HERE or purchase directly HERE.
Paul’s Haba Haba Mango Habanero
Surprisingly Mild Guajillo Ghost Tex-Mex
Just like the label says…surprisingly mild but amazingly tasty! A guajillo pepper has a rich smoky flavor but it is the addition of ghost pepper that gives it a little kick. Keto friendly, vegan and gluten free as well as being calorie free.
Check out Amazon’s pricing HERE or purchase directly HERE.
| Classics |
Classics
C’mon…who doesn’t love a classic hot sauce flavor…and did you know these traditional sauces don’t pack any additional calories to a meal?
Tabasco Sauce
A household name in the hot sauce industry, Tabasco Sauce has been popular for over a century. Made from aged red peppers, vinegar, and salt, this iconic hot sauce packs a punch without adding any calories. With its tangy and fiery flavor, it is perfect for spicing up everything from eggs to grilled meats. Tabasco is a classic hot sauce made from aged red peppers, vinegar salt. It packs plenty of heat without any calories.
Check out Amazon’s pricing HERE or purchase directly HERE.
Cholula Original
For those who crave a versatile hot sauce that complements a wide range of dishes, Cholula Original is an excellent option. This Mexican-style hot sauce combines arbol and piquin peppers with vinegar and various spices to deliver a savory, smoky flavor. Drizzle it over tacos, burritos, soups, or grilled vegetables to take your taste buds on a culinary adventure.
Check out Amazon’s pricing HERE or purchase directly HERE.
Frank’s RedHot Original
If you’re looking for a classic buffalo-style hot sauce, Frank’s RedHot Original is a fantastic choice. Made from aged cayenne peppers, distilled vinegar, garlic powder, and various spices, this hot sauce brings a perfect balance of heat and tang. It pairs well with chicken wings, pizza, and even vegetable stir-fries, giving your meals an irresistible kick.
Check out Amazon’s pricing HERE or purchase directly HERE.
Sriracha
Originating from Thailand, Sriracha has gained immense popularity worldwide for its unique blend of chili peppers, distilled vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt. This hot sauce delivers a bold and garlicky flavor profile with a moderate heat level that enhances everything from stir-fries to noodles, burgers, and even pizza.
Check out Amazon’s pricing HERE or purchase directly HERE.
Texas Pete Hot Sauce
An American favorite, Texas Pete Hot Sauce offers a zesty, peppery, and mildly spicy flavor that is beloved by many. Made from aged peppers, vinegar, and spices, it adds a touch of Southern charm to dishes such as burgers, grilled chicken, mac and cheese, and even popcorn.
Check out Amazon’s pricing HERE or purchase directly HERE.
Conclusion
Choosing a zero-calorie hot sauce doesn’t mean compromising on flavor. The hot sauce market offers a variety of options that can transform your meals without adding any additional calories. Whether you prefer a tangy kick or a fiery explosion, there’s a hot sauce out there to satisfy your cravings while keeping your health goals intact. So go ahead and experiment with the best zero-calorie hot sauces mentioned above, and spice up your dishes guilt-free!
For the absolute lowest option, pure chili pepper sauces like Tabasco or Tapatio are a good choice. Just watch your portion sizes as hot sauce can add up calorically if used liberally. I’d recommend starting with a teaspoon or less serving.
