Paprika and chili products are essential ingredients in many cuisines, adding flavor, color, and heat to a variety of dishes. Whether you're a home cook or a professional chef, understanding the different types of paprika and chili products and how to purchase them in bulk can enhance your culinary repertoire and provide cost-effective solutions for your kitchen needs.

The main difference between chili powder and the two spices we’ve covered is that chili powder actually comes from a blend of red pepper flakes. It’s also much hotter than cayenne powder—ours comes in at a whopping 160,000 Scovilles.

Hot sauce, in its most basic form, is a spicy condiment made from chili peppers. The origins of hot sauce date back to the ancient Aztecs, who believed in the medicinal value of chilies. They would mash up the chilies into a paste and mix it with water and other ingredients to create a rudimentary form of what we know today as hot sauce.

Another popular type of chili powder is made from a single variety of chili pepper, such as ancho, chipotle, or cayenne. Ancho chili powder is made from dried poblano peppers and has a mild, slightly sweet flavor with a smoky undertone. Chipotle chili powder is made from smoked jalapeno peppers and has a bold, smoky flavor with a medium level of spiciness. Cayenne chili powder is made from ground cayenne peppers and has a fiery, hot flavor that adds a kick to dishes.

While it's a good paprika substitute when you want mild spiciness and heat when using a 1:1 substitution ratio, you can increase the amount added for more heat. Specifically, you can double the amount of what's listed in your recipe for hot paprika.

Answer: Yes, the terms “crushed red pepper,” “chili flakes” and “red pepper flakes” are often used to describe the same product: dried and crushed red chili peppers, including both the flesh and the seeds. These spices are used interchangeably.

Paprika is made from bell or chili peppers that have been finely ground two or more times without the veins and seeds, according to Katherine K. Schlosser, author of The Herb Society of America's Essential Guide to Growing and Cooking with Herbs. Because of that, you can swap sweet paprika for another pepper-based spice, such as cayenne or chili powder. Like using other types of paprika, these spices will lend your recipe a different flavor than you would get from the sweet paprika.

Thai Chilli Sauce is a must have in your pantry, especially if you love Asian food as much as me. Like most Asian dishes, it's made from the freshest ingredients and is a light, delicious sauce that's perfect for dipping everything - from spring rolls to French fries!

If you've found yourself out of Sriracha and need to find an alternative ingredient, here is a list of Sriracha substitutes you can use in its place.