While looking for additional brands of hot sauce to review, I came across this Crystal Hot Sauce at Walmart, and decided to buy a 12-ounce bottle for review. Well, I did that and liked the overall taste, consistency, packaging, and price of this particular brand of hot sauce. Indeed, many companies make hot sauce out there these days, because this condiment is quite the versatile flavor even though it strongly kicks. Apparently many folks like me, like that signature hot sauce kick, as hot sauce is the primary flavoring in the ever-so-popular Buffalo wings, spicy hamburgers, and other chicken courses. I’ve applied it to my favorite fish dishes for years. Here are my thoughts on this great hot sauce that’s virtually indispensable in my home.
Benefits, Pros, Advantages, and Features
- The hot flavor of Crystal Hot Sauce from Baumer Foods Inc., improves the taste of so many foul and fish entrees. It can hide the “fishiness” of fish and the “fowlness” of chicken quite effectively if desired. While it’s a rather thin sauce, as it contains no xantham gum or other thickening agents, this sizzling offers an abundance of peppery, salty heat.
- Crystal has somewhat lower sodium than most other hot sauces I’ve sampled, at just 135 milligrams per teaspoon. Frank’s RedHot Original on the other hand, has roughly 190 milligrams. If you want lower sodium than this, try Texas Pete hot sauce, at 100 milligrams per teaspoon serving.
- The best-used-by date is nearly three years out from the purchase date. So this hot sauce will keep a long time in the pantry.
- This product need not be refrigerated after opening. Just store it in a cool, dry, and dark place for maximum original-flavor retention.
- This hot sauce with its medium-level hotness, adds lots of flavor to any dish but virtually no calories or carbs. I like it best on fish fillets and chicken patties.
- I’d describe this hot sauce as moderately hot; I’ve tasted other much hotter sauces. This makes it acceptable to wide variety of guests at the dining room table if not over-applied.
- I love the glass bottle, that is much preferred to plastic that some other manufactures put their hot sauce in.
- This product has no added food colors or preservatives. Yet it stores well for long periods.
- Though the sodium in this product is still rather high at 135 milligrams per teaspoon, it contains almost no calories, carbs, fat, or added sugars. So unless you’re hypertensive, this is one condiment that you can add with relative care-free abandon.
- There’s no sweet taste to become addicted to here, which is nice. I get so tired of searching for foods without a sweet taste. Crystal hot sauce is therefore one food that I’ve been seeking. At least for hot sauce anyhow, the search is over.
Disadvantages, Cons, Problems, and Concerns
- This hot sauce has roughly 405 milligrams of sodium per tablespoon, which can aggravate hypertension in those who need to watch their blood pressure. Perhaps there’s a low-sodium version of this hot sauce.
- Crystal Hot Sauce can be hard to find, except in the bigger grocery chain stores.
Ingredients
Aged red cayenne pepper, distilled vinegar, and salt.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving size: 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters). Servings per 12-ounce container: 71.
- Calories: 0.
- Total fat: 0 grams, 0% DV.
- Saturated fat: 0 grams, 0 DV.
- Trans fat: 0 grams.
- Sodium: 135 milligrams, 6% DV.
- Total carb: 0 grams, 0% DV.
- Protein: 0 grams, 0% DV.
Product Rating
All-in-all, this medium-salt hot sauce is a cook’s best friend for heating up foods with flavor and zest that people will generally appreciate. The flavor has been so highly sought due in part to the ubiquity of Buffalo hot wings these days. In moderation, hot sauce a healthy flavoring, as it contains no added sugars or fats. So I highly recommend it be included any any chef’s kitchen. I’d rate Crystal Hot Sauce at 96 out of 100.
Where To Buy Crystal Hot Sauce
Look for this pepper sauce in the clear glass bottle (that displays the orange-red hot sauce inside) with the red, white, green, and blue label at Walmart or many other larger grocery stores.
References
Revision History
- : Moved this post to the Tom’s Diet Quest blog, added whitespace, adjusted ad placement, and tweaked the content.
- 2012-05-17: Originally published.