Top Ten Things To Consider When Making Your Own Hot Sauce

Top Ten Things To Consider When Making Your Own Hot Sauce

Namaste!

This week we will be talking about making your own hot sauce and some things you might want to consider if you've never made your own before. We went through a lot of trial and error to get the perfect sauce and we want to share some of the things we learned.

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The next time you want to attempt your own hot sauce recipe, consider these things first:

10. Ingredients - If you're going to start anywhere, start with these three basic ingredients: 1. peppers, 2. salt and 3. vinegar.

9. Type of Chili Pepper - This is probably where you want to start when you decide you want to make your own hot sauce. There are thousands of different types of chili peppers to choose from. Do you want no spice? Some spice? Heat so hot you'll be sweating? Are you going to use dry peppers? Take a look at the Scoville Scale to see how different chili peppers compare in heat. When considering which pepper you want, you may also want to consider this next one at the same time:

8. Color - What color sauce do you want to have? A red sauce? A green sauce?

7. Cooked - How will your pepper be cooked? Do you want them baked? Broiled? Boiled? Fried? Raw? Roasted? The way you cook and use your peppers will have a big affect on the taste.

6. Tools - You always want the right tools for a project. An absolute must have when you are working with hot peppers, are gloves. If you cut the peppers and you aren't protecting your skin, your hands will start to feel like they are on fire, even hours after you've touched them. Don't make the same mistake we did. Use gloves. And for the love of God, DON'T TOUCH YOUR EYES!

Only use a good processor if you want the extra liquidity. We personally hand cut each and every vegetable that goes into Bo's Honey Brown Hot Sauce because that's what makes the best consistency.

That being said, you need good knives. Because no one likes to chop fresh veggies with a dull knife.

5. Acid - Do you want to use white vinegar, cider, balsomic, apple? Do you want a sweeter taste? a sharper taste? It is really up to you so taste test as you go. Some vinegars don't go well with certain peppers. Get a pH tester so you can monitor the acidity of the sauce.

4. Aromatics - Do you want your sauce garlicky? Smokey? Do you want to add onions? Carrots? Or do you want something fruity?

3. Allergies - Be aware of what ingredients you are using and what allergies you, or others that you offer the sauce to, have.

2. Freshness - The fresher the ingredients, the better.

1. Cleanliness - Remember to wipe down all counters or surfaces where you will be working. Keep hair pulled back and clothes tight. Wash any ingredients as well as your hands (even if you are wearing gloves). Wash, rinse, sanitize jars and lids. Make sure you mark an expiration date on the packaging.

 

Did we forget something or do you have another tip or consideration before making your own hot sauce? Leave a comment and let us know!

Next week we will be celebrating the holidays with family and friends. Check back in 2 weeks for our first blog post of the New Year!

 

Merry Christmas 🎄 and Happy Holidays 🎅

-The HBH Team

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