Hot Cheetos fries are a popular spicy snack made by Frito-Lay. They have a cult following among spicy food enthusiasts who enjoy testing their limits with extra hot and flamin’ hot snacks. But just how hot are hot Cheetos fries? Let’s take a look at the scoville heat units, ingredients, and consumer experiences to get a sense of how much heat these fries really pack.
What are scoville heat units?
The scoville scale measures the pungency or spicy heat of chili peppers and spicy foods. It was created by Wilbur Scoville in 1912 to measure the heat of different chili pepper varieties. The scale works by diluting ground chili peppers in sugar water until the heat becomes undetectable to a panel of tasters. The more the chili needs to be diluted for the heat to become undetectable, the higher the scoville rating.
Here’s an overview of the scoville scale:
– 0-10 scoville units – Not spicy at all
– 100-1,000 scoville units – Mildly spicy
– 1,000-10,000 scoville units – Moderately spicy
– 10,000-100,000 scoville units – Very spicy
– 100,000-1,000,000 scoville units – Extremely spicy
– Above 1,000,000 scoville units – Dangerously hot
The hottest chili pepper in the world, the Carolina Reaper, clocks in around 2.2 million scoville heat units on average.
Knowing a chili or spicy snack’s position on the scoville scale gives an objective measurement of how hot it will taste.
Scoville units of hot Cheetos fries
Regular Cheetos have no spiciness at all. But hot Cheetos and hot Cheetos fries get their heat from spices like red chili powder. According to enthusiast websites, hot Cheetos fries measure around 2,500 scoville units.
This puts them at the top end of the moderately spicy category. For comparison, jalapeno peppers range from 2,500-8,000 scoville units. So hot Cheetos fries have a similar spice level to a fresh, spicy jalapeno.
Some limited edition flavors like Xxtra Flamin’ Hot Cheetos fries boast scoville ratings over 10,000 units. This pushes them into the very spicy range.
While hot Cheetos don’t come close to super-hots like the Carolina Reaper, their scoville rating confirms they carry an addictive kick of heat.
Ingredients bringing the heat
So which ingredients give hot Cheetos fries their fiery rating? Let’s take a look at the spice mix used in their seasoning:
| Ingredient | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Red chili powder | Provides hot spiciness and red color |
| Monosodium glutamate (MSG) | Enhances flavor |
| Garlic powder | Adds aroma |
| Salt | Boosts overall flavor |
| Artificial colors | Give bright orange color |
The red chili powder is clearly the star of the show, providing the signature heat. MSG boosts the overall savory, umami taste. And salt and garlic join in to give a powerful and addicting snack flavor.
The mix of heat, saltiness, and crunchy texture makes hot Cheetos hard to stop eating once you pop open a bag!
Consumer experiences with the heat
How do regular spice lovers rate the heat of hot Cheetos fries? Here’s a sample of consumer opinions on the fire factor:
“These have a nice kick but it doesn’t linger too long. I can eat a whole bag.”
“Hot Cheetos have the perfect spice. Enough heat to satisfy the craving but not overpowering.”
“I’d give these about a 6/10 on the spice-o-meter. They’re about as hot as an Anaheim pepper.”
“These definitely give my mouth a burn when I eat more than a handful. But I think Tabasco sauce is way hotter.”
“My kid eats bags of these every day for lunch. I tried one and thought it was too hot! But I guess he’s used to the spice level.”
So experiences vary a bit depending on individual heat tolerance. But overall, most consumers seem to find hot Cheetos fries moderately hot on the spice scale. They offer enough of a kick to be exciting without going overboard on the burn.
Variation between products
Keep in mind that spice levels can vary between different Cheetos products:
| Product | Spiciness |
|---|---|
| Regular Cheetos | Not spicy |
| Crunchy Cheetos | Mildly spicy |
| Flamin’ Hot Cheetos | Moderately spicy |
| Xxtra Flamin’ Hot Cheetos | Very spicy |
| Hot Cheetos fries | Moderately spicy |
| Xxtra hot Cheetos fries | Very spicy |
So when dealing with any hot Cheetos product, check the package for clues about the level of heat. Words like “Xxtra” and “Flamin'” indicate more intense spice.
Tolerance builds over time
One more thing to note is that spice tolerance can increase with repeated exposure. Someone who eats spicy snacks daily will likely eventually find hot Cheetos to be mildly spicy at best.
Over time, the brain actually becomes desensitized to capsaicin, the compound that gives chili peppers their heat. The thrill-seekers have to keep going for hotter levels to get the same burn.
So if you are just trying hot Cheetos or hot snacks for the first time, the heat may feel overwhelming. But stick with it and you might find yourself craving that spicy heat!
Conclusion
When looking at the scoville units, ingredients, and consumer experiences, hot Cheetos fries clock in around moderately spicy on the heat index. The combination of chili powder and salt creates an addictive snack that delivers a satisfying kick.
Spice-lovers can handle the heat of a whole bag, while spice-novices may want to moderate their serving. One thing is for sure, hot Cheetos lovers just can’t get enough of that hot, cheesy crunch!