The most popular hot sauce in the US, based on data—plus, see the runners-up

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Carlos Pereira M

The Most Popular Hot Sauces in the US - Unveiling Their Fascinating Histories

The industry is only expected to increase further, according to IBISWorld.

The sudden popularity of hot sauce can be seen in programs like the YouTube talk show "Hot Ones," which began in 2015 and has attracted a large following. Despite the reasons behind it, hot sauce has moved from being a simple topping to an upscale experience. According to a survey by NCSolutions, most hot sauce enthusiasts believe the condiment adds complexity to a dish and allows them the flexibility to control the level of spiciness in their meals. But the #1 reason people like hot sauce? They simply enjoy the taste.

Data on both the most beloved and most recognized products in the United States to determine the top hot sauces among Americans.

The hot sauces are ranked based on their popularity, with any ties broken by how well-known they are. According to YouGov, "popularity" is determined by the percentage of people who have a positive opinion of a product, while "fame" is measured as the percentage of people who have simply heard of it. Additionally, there are some notable mentions included that didn't appear in YouGov's rank, but were listed in the Instacart report.

Read on to see if your go-to hot sauce has made the cut, and you might just discover a new favorite.

Top holiday treats and beverages ranked by public opinion, based on online ordering trends

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#4. Huy Fong Sriracha

- Popularity: 41%

- Fame: 63%

Scoville heat unit rating: 2,200

Huy Fong Foods' founder, David Tran, created the company. Huy Fong is named after the cargo ship Tran boarded in Vietnam to begin his journey as a refugee to the US in 1979. One year after his arrival, Tran started selling hot sauce from his Chevrolet van in Los Angeles.

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- Popularity: 41%

- Fame: 72%

Scoville scale assigned to this pepper is 747 Scoville Heat Units (SHUs).

In the world of condiments and one brand, Eastern Carolina BBQ Sauce, is still holding its own.

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- Popularity: 48%

- Fame: 80%

Scoville scale: 450 Scoville heat units (SHUs).

He decided to start a business with his two brothers in Cincinnati, setting up the Frank Tea and Spice Co.

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the group initially sold spices in small bags that fit on store shelves; they then broadened their product line to peanut butter in 1906; and finally, they stepped into the hot sauce market in 1918. That's when Frank traveled to New Iberia, Louisiana, where, with the assistance of local pepper farmer Adam Estilette, they developed a recipe for hot sauce made with cayenne peppers rather than those from tabasco plants.

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Although Frank's fans existed for a long time, its popularity skyrocketed in the 1960s after being included in the original Buffalo wing recipe at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. By 1980, the company had already reached a daily production of 72,000 units of Frank's RedHot sauce.

For $4.2 billion. Today, the second most popular hot sauce in the U.S. is sold in about 20 countries across the world.

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1. Tabasco Brand Original Red Pepper Sauce

- Popularity: 63%

- Fame: 95%

Scoville Heat Units rating: 2,500

The best-selling hot sauce in the US, Tabasco, also has a rich history that dates back to the 19th century. This was when a man named Edmund McIlhenny, who loved food and was also an avid gardener, first created it on Avery Island in Louisiana. Its popularity grew due to its special blend of aged red peppers, salt, and vinegar that gives a strong, tangy flavor.

In the mid-1800s, he developed a strain of peppers that had originated from Mexico or Central America. He produced his first commercial pepper crop in 1868, and sent over 650 bottles of his new hot pepper sauce to wholesale grocers in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region the following year. He sold it for $1 a bottle. He named it Tabasco, using the Aztec word "tlapaco", which means "a humid or swampy place".

By the late 1870s, the hot sauce's popularity had significantly increased, and it was widely sold throughout the United States and Europe, where it became a frequently used condiment highly valued for its ability to enhance a variety of foods.

You can learn about how Tabasco is made. Tabasco remains the most popular hot sauce in its home state of Louisiana and also holds the top spot in Hawaii, according to a survey by Instacart.

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Honorable mentions

There are quite a few well-known hot sauces that didn't make it onto the list, based on YouGov data, but still worth mentioning, starting with three from Mexico.

The most notable thing about this recipe is its use of Mexican puya peppers.

A Louisiana favorite, "Crystal Pure," which debuted in 1923 courtesy of Alvin Baumer, boasts a milder heat level along with a touch of sweetness, perfect for pairing with oysters, chicken, dips, and cocktails. Baumer's discovery of the "Crystal Pure" recipe, which was hiding in a drawer, turned out to be a spicy find that has kept on giving for generations.

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Story editing by Jaimie Etkin. Editing and review of grammar and punctuation by Paris Close. Images and photography selection by Clarese Moller.

10. California Pizza Kitchen