Has hot sauce become the must have table condiment?

Move over ketchup and mustard because it seems that hot sauce is the must have table condiment. According to a recent Instacart survey, “74% of Americans eat hot sauce with their food.” Are these findings showing that people are craving the spice or do those recipes just need more flavor?

Food trends seem to spark people’s interests in new flavors. From the sense of wanderlust to craving something new, flavor seems to ignite a desire to push beyond the same old recipe.

Although some people may make a claim that adding flavor helps to eliminate bland food, copious amounts of hot sauce may not make for a pleasurable eating experience. While there are some who prefer to take that ultimate spicy challenge, others are just about ensuring a bite leaves a memory, not just filling a hole.

As the hot sauce food holiday approaches on January 22, the Instacart survey is more than just facts and figures about the whos, whats, wheres and whys this table condiment has become a mainstay. In some ways, it is a deep dive into changes to people’s food and shopping habits.

With almost half of responders saying that they would put hot sauce on their food at least one a week, it seems that those bottles are working overtime. No longer it is a splash on some scrambled eggs or a drizzle in some pho. People seem to crave that punch of heat to boost almost any dish.

The longing for that heat has expanded the options on the shelf. As Laurentia Romaniuk, Instacart’s Trends Expert found that flavor enthusiasts are not just buying the iconic brands like Cholula, Franks Red Hot or even Sriracha. Emerging brands like Maya Kaimal and TRUFF top the must buy list.

Romaniuk said, “These newer brands are likely gaining traction among hot sauce enthusiasts because they offer up unique flavor profiles that also pack a punch, incorporating everything from truffles to traditional Indian spices. With many hot sauce lovers willing to go to Scoville extremes, it’s no surprise they’re also branching out and becoming more adventurous when it comes to discovering new flavor options.”

Even as people have come to appreciate the burn, it is that comfort level in the kitchen that could be driving these purchases. From celebrity chef recipes to food television in general, home cooks are looking to spice up every dish on the table. That familiarization leads people to make purchase after purchase.

And, for families who need to appease a crowd, that hot sauce table condiment might be the easiest way to keep the peace. Not everyone has the same spice tolerance levels. A dash or two at the table to bring the fire is far easier than trying to tame the flame for the spice adverse.

Do you have a shelf stocked with a variety of hot sauces? Do you think that it is the most important table condiment?