Both Tabasco and Frank’s RedHot are popular hot sauce brands known for adding heat and flavor to dishes. While they share some similarities, there are differences in flavor profile, heat level, and ingredients that may make one better suited than the other for particular uses. This article compares Tabasco versus Frank’s RedHot to help you decide whether you can substitute one for the other in recipes.
Quick Answer
In most cases, Tabasco can be substituted for Frank’s RedHot and vice versa. The two hot sauces have a similar vinegary hot sauce flavor profile and medium heat level. However, Frank’s tends to have a thicker, richer consistency closer to a chili sauce than Tabasco’s thinner, more acidic vinegar-forward taste. Adjust amounts when substituting to account for differences in heat level and flavor balance.
Tabasco Sauce Overview
Tabasco Original Red Sauce is one of the most popular and widely available hot sauces. It has been produced by the McIlhenny Company on Avery Island, Louisiana since 1868. Some key facts about Tabasco:
- Made from tabasco peppers (a type of hot chili pepper), distilled vinegar, and salt
- Aged for up to 3 years in white oak barrels
- Iconic bright red color
- Runny, thin consistency
- Distinctive sour, tangy, vinegar-forward flavor
- Around 2,500-5,000 Scoville heat units (medium heat level)
Tabasco has a very distinctive flavor profile. It is dominated by acidic, tart vinegar with moderate spicy heat. It adds a bright red coloring and vinegary zip to everything from eggs to soups and stews. The thin, pourable consistency makes it easy to dash into anything.
Tabasco Uses
Tabasco sauce is incredibly versatile. It can be added to:
- Eggs, omelets, deviled eggs
- Soups, stews, chilis
- Marinades, sauces, dressings
- Pasta, pizza, casseroles
- Seafood, poultry, meat
- Rice, beans, vegetables
- Bloody Mary cocktails
A few drops of Tabasco goes a long way in adding acidic heat to all types of savory recipes.
Frank’s RedHot Sauce Overview
Frank’s RedHot is another leading hot sauce brand. Some key facts about Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce:
- Made from aged cayenne peppers, vinegar, water, salt, and garlic powder
- Contains no artificial colors or preservatives
- Opaque, orangish red color
- Smooth, thick, creamy consistency
- Mildly sweet and tangy chili flavor
- Around 450 Scoville heat units (mild to medium heat)
Frank’s RedHot has a milder, richer flavor than Tabasco. It has a thicker consistency and an opaque reddish-orange color. The seasoned chili flavor contains notes of paprika, garlic, and sweetness. It is a milder sauce that adds rich flavor with a slower, building heat.
Frank’s RedHot Uses
Popular uses for Frank’s RedHot include:
- Wings, chicken, sandwiches
- Pizza, tacos, nachos, hot dogs
- Chili, soups, stews, baked beans
- Mac and cheese, dips, burritos
- Bloody Mary cocktails, margaritas
- Marinades, dressings, sauces
Frank’s thicker consistency makes it good for tossing with chicken wings or fries. It has a mild, tangy flavor that works well in Tex-Mex dishes like nachos or tacos. The subtle sweetness and chili seasoning also enhance meats and bean dishes.
Tabasco vs. Frank’s RedHot
So how do Tabasco and Frank’s really compare? Here is a side-by-side look at some of the key differences:
Ingredients
| Tabasco | Frank’s RedHot |
|---|---|
| Tabasco peppers, distilled vinegar, salt | Aged cayenne peppers, vinegar, water, salt, garlic powder |
The main ingredients in Tabasco and Frank’s are quite similar – both are made from hot peppers, vinegar, and salt. Tabasco uses distinctive tabasco chili peppers, while Frank’s uses cayenne peppers. Frank’s also contains garlic powder for added flavor.
Flavor Profile
| Tabasco | Frank’s RedHot |
|---|---|
| Sharp, tangy, vinegar-forward taste | Mildly sweet and tangy chili flavor |
| Bright, acidic heat | Slow building heat with warm chili seasoning |
Tabasco has a very tart, acidic, and vinegar-heavy taste. Frank’s has a richer, thicker chili flavor with some natural sweetness. Tabasco makes its presence known immediately with a bright hot sting, while Frank’s has a slower building heat.
Heat Level
| Tabasco | Frank’s RedHot |
|---|---|
| 2,500-5,000 Scoville units | Around 450 Scoville units |
| Medium heat | Mild to medium heat |
Tabasco is made from tabasco peppers which are hotter on the Scoville scale than the cayenne peppers used in Frank’s. As a result, Tabasco registers around 2,500-5,000 Scoville heat units compared to around 450 for Frank’s. So Tabasco has a notably higher level of heat intensity.
Consistency
| Tabasco | Frank’s RedHot |
|---|---|
| Thin, vinegar-like consistency | Thick, smooth, creamy texture |
Tabasco has a very thin, runny consistency almost like vinegar. Frank’s is much thicker with a smooth, creamy texture similar to a chili sauce. Frank’s clings better to foods while Tabasco can drip off easily.
Substituting Tabasco and Frank’s
So can you substitute Tabasco and Frank’s interchangeably? Here are some tips:
- In most recipes, they can be substituted 1:1 in small amounts.
- Adjust amounts to account for differences in heat level. Use less Tabasco at first.
- Consider the consistency. Thin Tabasco may need thickening; thick Frank’s may need thinning.
- Balance vinegar levels if substituting Tabasco into dishes with no vinegar.
- Add a pinch of sugar if Tabasco makes a dish too tart.
- Add a dash of vinegar if Frank’s makes a dish too rich.
The main considerations when substituting are getting the right level of heat and balancing the bright vinegar flavor of Tabasco versus the milder, richer chili taste of Frank’s. Make small adjustments to amounts or add complementary ingredients to optimize the flavor profile.
Recipe Example: Buffalo Wings
A recipe calling for 1/4 cup Frank’s RedHot to toss buffalo wings could be substituted with 1-2 tablespoons of Tabasco. Tabasco is thinner but also hotter, so less volume is needed. The vinegar in Tabasco may also need balancing with an extra pinch of salt, garlic powder, or brown sugar.
Conclusion
Tabasco and Frank’s RedHot are two of the most popular hot sauces with similar heat levels and uses. In most recipes, they can be substituted for one another as they share a red chili pepper, vinegar-based flavor profile. However, Tabasco has a thinner, more vinegar-forward taste, while Frank’s is richer, thicker, and milder. Adjust amounts when substituting to account for differences in consistency and flavor balance. With small tweaks, you can easily use one when you only have the other on hand.