What Are Red Pepper Flakes? And What Do They Taste Like?

Ever since sriracha’s popularity exploded, it seems like Americans can’t get enough spicy sauce to slather on every substance. There are hot sauce flavored potato chips, hot sauce themed gift stores, even talk shows centered around hot sauce. But hot sauce is not the only use for chili peppers. Today, we’re looking at another, perhaps less heralded hot-pepper-based-condiment: red pepper flakes. But what are red pepper flakes, exactly? What do they taste like? What pepper are they? Let’s shake out some answers.

What are red pepper flakes?

Red pepper flakes, also known as crushed red pepper, are exactly that: tiny little pieces of red chili pepper. Notably, they are not ground, but are instead crushed. It’s common to find a shaker of them at Mediterranean restaurants—pizzerias in particular. They are also frequently used for pickling blends.

What is the flavor of red pepper flakes?

Red pepper flakes can provide a little heat to a wide variety of dishes. They have a peppery, slightly earthy flavor that goes best with other strong flavors, like the tomato sauce and melted cheese on a pizza or in a savory soup. And if you want to get technical, the pepper mixture is generally around 40,000 Scoville units (that’s around five times hotter than a jalapeno). 

Are red pepper flakes the same as chili flakes?

If you happen to be in the UK, “red pepper flakes” usually refers to a mixture with a sweeter and more earthy flavor profile than chili flakes, which are spicier. However, outside of the UK, red pepper flakes and chili flakes are basically the same thing. Yes, there’s a little difference: Chili flakes may be a touch hotter because they’re primarily made with spicy chilis as opposed to a mixture that could include milder peppers. My advice is to find a brand whose heat and flavor profile you like, and stick with that. 

What pepper is red pepper flakes?

Red pepper flakes can be made from a variety of different chili peppers, and there’s a fair amount of difference depending on the brand you use. Most commonly, however, cayenne is the pepper used. Others that may be in the mix include Anaheim peppers, serranos, and jalapenos.

By the way, it’s worth keeping in mind that all these peppers are in the same genus, they’re just bred for different traits. In the same way that a pug and a wolf are quite different but are still both canines, different peppers can have different sizes, shapes, and flavor profiles but still all be closely related. It’s beautiful, really.

How to use red pepper flakes: 

If you’re looking for a way to literally spice up your cooking, you can’t go wrong with red pepper flakes. You can shake them on pizza, as I’ve mentioned multiple times. But you can also add some to pasta sauce for instant heat, shake them into a marinade, or use them to spice up an omelet. The Spice Train has a selection of recipes that use this peppery ingredient. One that appeals to me in particular is this brown sugar salmon rub, which also mixes in black pepper, garlic powder, salt, dried oregano, and brown sugar to provide a delicious mix of sweet and savory.