Chile Pepper Heat Index

Think all chile peppers pack the heat? Think again. Sure, spicy habaneros are off the charts, but you might be surprised to learn that some varieties claim a quite polar flavor DNA. Whether you are serving crudités or making a spicy salsa, here you will find the right amount of heat (or lack thereof) to give your latest culinary creation just the kick it needs.

Serve fresh or blistered in salads or solo. Other varieties: gypsy, cherry, Padrón.

Use to make salsa and pickled or stuffed peppers. Other varieties: hatch (also called New Mexico chile), Hungarian wax.

Use these hot chile peppers to make spicy salsa, curries, sauces, soups, or noodles. Other varieties: yellow chile, cayenne.

Other scorchers: Scotch bonnet, Bhut Jolokia (ghost chiles).