Red Pepper Flakes vs. Chili Flakes – What’s The Difference?

For many of us, spicy food can be pleasurable, while others just run away when they hear the term “spicy.” While providing the strong kick that most spice lovers admire, spicy food can also have some health benefits when used in moderation. But if you eat too much spice, you can develop some health issues; it can also worsen some health issues like hypertension that you might already have. 

But in any case, most people love spice; without it, life would be too bland and boring. We can’t live without spice in our food, technically we can, but imagine that the British traveled all the way to India to acquire spice; this is the level of dissatisfaction they had with their food. So, there are many different ways to spice up your food, one of which is using chili or Red pepper powder.

But what exactly are these two, what separates them from each other, and how are they made? In this article, we will answer these questions so that you can have a better understanding of the type of ingredients you use in your cooking. Please keep reading to find out all you need to know about Chili Powder and Red Pepper Flakes. 

Red Pepper Flakes 

These types of Flakes have been around for a while and helped us make our food savory and spicy. Red Pepper Flakes have a substantially complex taste as they are made with a mixture of different peppers instead of just one. Even though it sounds good, the variety of peppers used to make Red Chili Flakes can pose a central problem. The lack of consistency means that all Red Chili Flakes won’t taste the same, and the heat level would vary.

We can measure the amount of heat or spiciness in Scoville heat units, which measure the amount of capsaicin in the pepper. Capsaicin is the chemical responsible for giving the peppers their spicy flavor and properties. And the type of soil in which the peppers are grown affects the amount of capsaicin in the peppers so that pepper flakes will have a different flavor in different regions of the world.

The most commonly used peppers in making Pepper flakes include Cayenne, Fresno, jalapeno, and bell peppers. With so many different peppers being used to blend pepper flakes, the final product’s taste is complex and diverse. This complex flavor is useful in adding depth and complexity to your dishes, and the spicy kick is always there as well.

Uses and Color

Pepper Flakes have many uses, and you can use them in almost any salty dish. You can use them to increase the spiciness of your sauces, pasta, and curries. But you have to keep in mind that Pepper flakes are quite hot and can become overwhelming for many people if they are not used in moderation. What you want is a kick from the heat, which you can enjoy; you don’t want to sit there with your mouth open and tears rolling down your cheeks.

Red Chili Peppers have a strong red color which is usually tinted with other colors. Because of the variety of chilies used to make the blend, each chili adds its color. Furthermore, the seeds of peppers also moderate the color of the blend to a degree.

Chili Flakes

Chili flakes are the kind of flakes made with the same type of pepper called Chili Pepper. Unlike Red Pepper flakes, Chili flakes don’t have various peppers in them, so the flavor is simpler. But this doesn’t mean that only one type of chili pepper is used, mostly a blend of Chipotle Pepper and Aleppo pepper is used to make Chili Pepper.

Using the same type of pepper may sound unappealing; think about all the flavors you might be missing. But it’s not as bad as it sounds; Using the same pepper means there won’t be other peppers to cover each other’s flavor, and you get to really enjoy the one flavor you are getting without being lost in a myriad of different flavors. You might also think that the Chili flake might not be as spicy as Pepper flakes, but in reality, chili flakes are really hot as well. So using them in moderation is your best bet if you want to enjoy the heat and keep it bearable.

Uses and Color

One thing that separates chili Flakes from pepper flakes is the versatility that chili flakes have. You can use them in almost any dish you want (except for sweet dishes, of course, and even them if that’s what you are into). You can add the chili flakes before, during, or after cooking. The last option is great because you can just sprinkle Chili flakes on top of your Pizza if things get too boring and spice things up instantly.

Chili peppers have become one of the favorite ingredients for most home and professional chefs with this versatility. The color of chili flakes is consistent because there is only one type of pepper used, and this color is usually red. But it can also be different depending on where you buy the chili flakes because the coil in which the peppers are grown can determine the color of the peppers, and once they are processed, the chili flakes will take on the original color of the pepper.

So What’ the Difference Between Chili Flakes and Red Pepper Flakes?

To sum up the differences, we have discussed so far:

• Chili flakes are made using the same type of pepper, namely Chili pepper, while Pepper flakes are made with a variety of different peppers.
• Chili Flakes have a consistent dark red color, while Pepper flakes can have a blend of different colors, including red, white and orange.
• Chili Flakes are frequently used on already cooked food items such as Pizza, while Pepper flakes are used during or before cooking.

Sources

• SubstitueCooking
• FoodiesFamily
• Elpasony