Cheetos are an iconic American snack food known for their bright orange color and cheesy flavor. While the original Cheetos are mild in spice level, over the years Cheetos has introduced a variety of spicier options to appeal to those who enjoy a hot and fiery snack. The hottest Cheetos provide an intense blast of heat that keeps snackers coming back for more. But which Cheetos variety truly takes the crown for most tongue-scorching? Here we will explore the contenders for the hottest Cheetos and look at how spice levels are measured to determine the absolute spiciest option.
Measuring Spice Levels
Spice levels in foods are commonly measured using the Scoville scale. This scale quantifies the concentration of capsaicin, the compound that gives hot peppers their heat, in a particular pepper or spicy food. On the Scoville scale, a rating of 0 means no heat at all, while the highest numbers indicate intensely hot peppers.
The scale uses Scoville Heat Units (SHU) to assign ratings. For example, a sweet bell pepper scores 0 SHU, while the intensely hot Carolina Reaper pepper maxes out at 2,200,000 SHU. The higher the number of Scoville Heat Units, the hotter the pepper or spicy food.
Knowing the SHU ratings for Cheetos products gives us a standardized, objective way to compare heat levels and determine which varieties truly live up to the claim of being the hottest.
Mild Cheetos Options
Before getting into the spiciest Cheetos, it’s helpful to start at the bottom of the heat spectrum. Here are some of the mild, non-spicy Cheetos options with Scoville ratings close to 0:
- Original Cheetos – 0 SHU
- Cheetos Puffs – 0 SHU
- Crunchy Cheetos – 0 SHU
As the core Cheetos products, these options offer the signature cheese-flavored crunch but no noticeable heat. They establish the baseline for Cheetos before spice is added to the equation.
Moderately Spicy Cheetos
Most palates can handle a bit of gentle heat. For those wanting just a touch of spice, these mildly hot Cheetos deliver a hint of fire:
- Flamin’ Hot Cheetos – 1,000 to 2,000 SHU
- Cheetos Crunchy Salsa con Queso – 1,000 to 2,000 SHU
- Cheetos Sweetos – 1,000 to 2,000 SHU
These options use just enough chili pepper flavor and cayenne to add a warm buzz without overdoing it on the Scoville scale. The heat is noticeable but not overpowering.
Hot Cheetos Options
Now we get into the territory of hot Cheetos that start to bring more substantial heat. These options use spicier pepper varieties to get the Scoville level up:
- Flamin’ Hot Limon Cheetos – 2,500 to 5,000 SHU
- Flamin’ Hot Dill Pickle Cheetos – 2,500 to 5,000 SHU
- XXTRA Flamin’ Hot Cheetos – 2,500 to 5,000 SHU
- Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Asteroids – 2,500 to 5,000 SHU
The peppers used in these products likely include options like jalapeño, serrano, and small doses of habanero. The heat starts to build with multiple flavors combining with the signature cheese taste.
Even Hotter Cheetos
Think those are hot? Things are just getting started in the quest to determine the hottest Cheetos ever created. The following spicy snacks turn up the heat dial even more:
- Flamin’ Hot Limón Cheetos – 10,000 to 15,000 SHU
- Xxtra Flamin’ Hot Fritos – 10,000 to 20,000 SHU
- Flamin’ Hot Peppers Cheetos – 30,000 to 40,000 SHU
These Cheetos products incorporate hotter peppers like de árbol, tiny doses of ghost pepper, and likely some cayenne extract to enrich the heat. Scoville levels enter the range of police-grade pepper spray on the higher end. These are not for the faint of heart.
The Hottest Cheetos Options
Only the bravest fans dare to try the hottest Cheetos ever created. These bring face-melting, fiery heat in snack form. They climb into the upper limits of the Scoville scale, using some of the world’s hottest peppers:
- Xxxtra Flamin’ Hot Cheetos – 200,000 to 300,000 SHU
- Blazin’ Xxtra Hot Cheetos – 250,000 to 350,000 SHU
These Cheetos likely incorporate intense peppers like habanero, ghost pepper, Carolina Reaper and extract sauces made from these chili varieties. We’re talking heat that’s on par with law enforcement-grade pepper sprays intended for defense. This is not for snackers looking for subtle heat.
Visualizing the Heat
To visualize the wide range of heat levels among Cheetos products, here is a table comparing Scoville scale ratings:
| Cheetos Variety | Scoville Heat Units |
|---|---|
| Original | 0 |
| Flamin’ Hot | 1,000 – 2,000 |
| Flamin’ Hot Limón | 2,500 – 5,000 |
| Flamin’ Hot Peppers | 30,000 – 40,000 |
| Xxtra Flamin’ Hot | 200,000 – 300,000 |
As shown, the hottest options like Xxtra Flamin’ Hot are over 300 times spicier than the original plain Cheetos!
Trying the Hottest Cheetos
For thrill-seeking spice fans, part of the appeal of the hottest Cheetos is being able to test one’s limits. There are numerous videos online showing people reacting as they try these spicy snacks for the first time, with reactions ranging from heavy sweating to uncontrollable hiccups, gagging, or even vomiting from the intense heat.
The super-spicy Cheetos challenge has become a viral internet trend, popular especially among teenagers and young adults looking to show off their tolerance for extreme heat. Some even film themselves eating multiple bags of the hottest Cheetos varieties back-to-back for an extra daring stunt.
However, medical experts advise caution when faced with such spicy challenges. Consuming such intensely hot foods can potentially cause health issues like damaged taste buds, stomach ulcers, or even problems with breathing if the heat triggers severe indigestion, coughing or gagging. Those with gastrointestinal conditions need to be especially careful, as the spices can severely irritate the digestive tract.
Trying Safely
For those who still wish to test their mettle against the upper limits of Cheetos heat, some safety tips include:
- Start with small doses first instead of diving into a whole bag.
- Have plenty of milk or other dairy on hand to help counteract the heat.
- Don’t try it on an empty stomach.
- Know your limits and stop if the heat causes severe distress.
With proper caution, thrill-seekers can still enjoy the endorphin rush of ultra-spicy Cheetos without dire medical consequences.
Conclusion
When it comes to the hottest Cheetos ever created, the Xxtra Flamin’ Hot variety takes the trophy with its addition of intense peppers like the Carolina Reaper. Measuring in at 200,000 to 350,000 SHU on the Scoville scale, it far outpaces most other spicy snack options. This nuclear-level heat is not for casual fans but provides a worthy challenge for bold spice junkies. However, medical risks of such extreme spice levels must be considered. In the end, the hottest Cheetos crown goes to Xxtra Flamin’ Hot, but enjoy with care and prepare for inferno-level heat.