If you’re like me, then you enjoy putting sauces, spices, and seasonings on everything. And if you’re also like me, then you’re always wondering if I can swap pepper for something else. I mean, let’s face it: pepper is just a bit expensive.
Plus, we all know it’s good for you. But we have a lot of questions about the different kinds of peppers out there. There’s the crushed red pepper and there is the cayenne pepper. But can you substitute crushed red pepper for cayenne pepper?
You can substitute crushed red pepper for cayenne pepper in any recipe that calls for the latter but keep in mind that the two herbs have different heat levels. The amount of capsaicinoids found in cayenne peppers is much higher than what’s found in crushed red peppers.
This means that even if you use one tablespoon of each spice, the amount of heat sensation you’ll experience will be different, especially when it comes to eating foods like salsa or guacamole on their own or with chips or other snacks
Reasons You Can Substitute Crushed Red Pepper for Cayenne Pepper
You can use crushed red pepper in place of cayenne in any recipe. Just remember that it will have less heat than the cayenne. Here are some reasons you can substitute crushed red pepper for cayenne:
1. If you’re trying to cut back on salt
Red pepper has no added salt, so if you’re looking to cut back on sodium, it’s an excellent alternative to cayenne pepper or other ground chiles.
2. If you’re cooking for people who don’t like spicy food
If someone doesn’t like spicy food, they are likely not going to enjoy the heat of cayenne pepper or other ground chiles. Crushed red pepper is milder and has a sweeter flavor than those other options.
3. If you want more flavor without the heat (or vice versa)
If your dish doesn’t need much spiciness but could use more flavor, adding crushed red pepper will give it both. You can adjust how much crushed red pepper you add depending on the amount of food you are cooking at a time.
4. To give you more control
It will give you more control over how much heat goes into your dish. You can add more or less crushed red pepper as needed to make sure it’s not too hot for your guests’ tastes.
5. Reduced chewing on seeds
You won’t need to worry about accidentally biting down on seeds while eating something if you use crushed red pepper instead of cayenne. That’s because crushed red pepper comes in the form of tiny flakes, while cayenne is in powder form with larger pieces that include seeds and skin on them.
About Crushed Red Pepper
Crushed red pepper is a spice made from dried, ripe, and repeatedly sun-dried chili peppers. It’s popular in many cuisines and can be used as a condiment, seasoning, or garnish. The most common varieties are cayenne and bell peppers.
However, there are many different varieties of peppers used to make this spice, including chilies, jalapenos, and habaneros.
Crushed red pepper can be added to any dish if you want to add some spice. It can be sprinkled on top of soups or salads, added to sauces or dips like guacamole or hummus, and even used in marinades for meats or veggies before cooking them on the grill or in the oven.
Crushed red pepper may help boost immunity by increasing levels of infection-fighting white blood cells called neutrophils.
It contains capsaicinoids that have anti-inflammatory properties that may help relieve pain caused by arthritis and other conditions like psoriasis. Crushed red pepper contains capsaicin, which has been shown to help lower cholesterol levels and reduce inflammation throughout the body.
About Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is the fruit of a perennial capsicum plant. It is most often used as a spice in cooking, but it also has some health benefits. Cayenne pepper comes in powder form and can be used to make spicy dishes like chili or salsa.
Cayenne pepper is often used as a food seasoning and as an ingredient in many dishes. It can be used to make hot sauces and other spicy condiments.
It also comes in capsules or tablets that can be taken as supplements. Cayenne pepper contains several compounds, including capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin. Capsaicin gives cayenne its spicy flavor and makes it hot to taste.
It also acts as an analgesic (pain reliever) by causing inflammation around nerve endings. The whole dried pod can be soaked in water to soften it and then used fresh or dried again for later use.
They are most commonly found pickled in vinegar as part of the ingredients list on many foods such as pastrami sandwiches and sausages (but not because they eat them). The powder form is popularly used as a seasoning on foods such as Italian pasta sauces, eggplant parmesan, Mexican chili recipes, Indian curries, and French cassoulet. The extract form is often used to make hot sauce, rubs for meat, and other spicy products that don’t require high heat levels.
Do Crushed Red Pepper and Cayenne Pepper Taste the Same?
No, crushed red pepper and cayenne pepper are two very different spices with distinct flavor profiles and applications. Most of us are probably more familiar with cayenne pepper (and its dried counterpart, chili powder) than we are with crushed red pepper.
Cayenne peppers have an intense heat level that rivals habaneros and Scotch bonnets, think spicy food lovers here.
But unlike those other two varieties, cayenne peppers also have a characteristic “heat” (pungency) which you can still taste even after their initial burn wears off. This makes them perfect for adding spice without overpowering other flavors.
If you love spicy food but don’t like the feeling of capsaicin lingering in your mouth for hours, you can use crushed red pepper instead of cayenne.
You just have to be careful because it can overpower your dish if you add too much of it. Crushed red peppers are also known as paprika or paprika powder. If you want to substitute crushed red pepper for cayenne, use half as much as what the recipe calls for (or less).
Differences Between Crushed Red Pepper and Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is also made from dried peppers but differs from crushed red pepper in several ways:
Color
Cayenne has a bright red color while crushed red pepper is more brownish. The reason for this difference is that cayenne peppers are made from ground-up fruit rather than stalks like crushed red pepper.
Size
Cayenne peppers are larger than crushed red peppers and have a relatively long shelf life as well as greater potency. This means that less cayenne powder needs to be used to achieve the same level of spiciness compared to crushed red pepper flakes.
Flavor
Crushed red pepper flakes taste somewhat bitter whereas cayenne has a spicy flavor with notes of citrus undertones added by its natural oil content.
In Conclusion
We hope this article has helped clear up some of the confusion surrounding crushed red pepper and cayenne pepper. While there are some major differences, in many cases you can use either one for a similar result, especially when substituting against cayenne pepper.
