The Hot Sauces Endorsed By Chefs — Featuring An Unexpected 'Hot Ones' Selection

Ranging from intricate and truffle-infused to piquant and vinegar-based, these chef-endorsed bottles deliver intensity.

Individuals exhibit profound loyalty to their preferred spicy sauce. They consistently maintain it in their refrigerator, ensure its availability at their neighborhood diner, and may even carry it in their purse for emergencies.

Each hot sauce varies — some possess a thinner consistency while others are thicker; some are water-based whereas others utilize vinegar; some exhibit spiciness while others are moderate; and every brand features a distinct combination of chilies. Given the multitude of brands available, you may question which ones merit inclusion in your kitchen. To assist you in navigating the spices, we consulted 10 renowned cooks regarding their preferred bottle. Here are seven items that merit inclusion in your pantry or purse.

Butterfly Bakery of Vermont Taco Vibes Only 

Butterfly Bakery of Vermont

Two cooks love a fiery sauce that may be unfamiliar to you, yet you may have observed it generously applied on wings in the YouTube series, fiery Ones.

“In my view, Butterfly Bakery of Vermont produces the finest hot sauces in the nation,” states 2013 F&W Best New Chef Jason Vincent. “They are all delectable — featuring approximately 30 flavors, which I have sampled — and they are exceedingly spicy.” Vincent's preferred bottle is Butterfly Bakery's Taco Vibes Only, crafted with red serranos, reaper peppers, and ghost peppers. “It resides on my countertop at home.”

Taco Vibes Only is a preferred choice of 2014 F&W Best New Chef Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton, who received the hot sauce as a gift from her husband's family in Vermont. “It is intensely spicy, yet it adeptly maintains complexity and flavor without overwhelming your palate with its harsh heat,” she states. “While it excels on tacos, as suggested by its name, I particularly relish it as a snack, drizzled over cottage cheese and accompanied by chips, crackers, or a warm tortilla.”

El Yucateco Green Habanero

El Yucateco

This hot sauce is priced at about $3 per bottle, making it one of the most economical options available. “The spice flavor is robust and distinct; however, in comparison to other hot sauces, the aromatic profile is more prominent,” states 2019 F&W Best New Chef Matt Kammerer. He employs this hot sauce universally, but particularly like its combination with Kewpie mayonnaise. “It is a formidable power.”

Crystal

Baumer Foods, Inc.

Rico Torres, the 2017 F&W Best New Chef, favors chiles, which explains the abundance of hot sauce in his refrigerator. However, when he prepares greens or savors a platter of raw oysters, he consistently opts for Crystal. Composed solely of aged red cayenne pepper, distilled vinegar, and salt, Crystal is an essential component in Southern cuisine; nonetheless, chefs like as 2022 F&W Best New Chef Ana Castro incorporate it liberally throughout many dishes. “It possesses a balanced flavor profile, neither excessively spicy nor overly vinegary.”

Cholula

Spicy Liquid, LLC

This mild Mexican hot sauce, crafted from arbol and piquin peppers, is esteemed by cooks for its adaptability. “It is my preferred bottle,” states 2019 F&W Best New Chef Bryan Furman. “It is audacious, yet not overwhelmingly spicy, and it complements all dishes,” states 2002 F&W Best New Chef Hugh Acheson. Consider pouring it over your breakfast eggs or incorporating it into potato salad for added zest.

Tabasco Garlic Pepper Sauce

McIIhenny Company

Tabasco, the renowned vinegar-based hot sauce, is favored by chefs for culinary applications, imparting a distinctive spicy tang to stews, soups, and braises. Greg Sonnier, the 1994 F&W Best New Chef, particularly commends the garlic pepper flavor. “It possesses the intensity of Tabasco accompanied by a subtle undertone of garlic,” he states. I utilize it to prepare what my children refer to as 'hot sauce pickles.' I placed half a dill pickle on a dish and covered the entire item, including the plate, with hot sauce.

Salsa Valentina

Salsa Tamazula S.A. de C.V.

Salsa Valentina is a viscous hot sauce crafted from puya chilies sourced from Jalisco, Mexico. “I appreciate the flavor [of Valentina],” states 2013 F&W Best New Chef Michael Hudman. “It possesses a subtle smokiness and a considerable amount of spice.” Apply it on chicken wings, grilled corn, or fresh fruit.

Truff Original

Truff

“Truff Original is undoubtedly a staple in my refrigerator,” states 2023 F&W Best New Chef Edgar Rico. This medium-spicy hot sauce, infused with black truffles and sweetened with agave, possesses unparalleled complexity. “I appreciate the subtle truffle flavor it imparts to various dishes, and it serves as an excellent everyday hot sauce for those who enjoy a hint of spiciness.”