Hot sauce isn’t far behind ketchup and mustard these days as a popular condiment choice. All too often, though, half-full bottles of spicy sauces end up filling the fridge, only to be tossed out when they’re past their prime. Luckily, there are as many ways to use hot sauce as there are types of it. From bloody marys to pulled pork, Florida Cracker Trading Company can help you pair the right sauce with the right snack. Try a couple of these tricks, and you might find that you need to restock your stash. 

5 Unexpected Uses for Hot Sauce

1. Jazz Up Boring Condiments

Regular ketchup and mayo are nice, but a dollop of heat can take them to the next level. Make a spicy ketchup for your fries or mix sriracha or chipotle with mayo for an all-purpose condiment that livens up your barbecue. Florida Cracker Trading Company’s Apalachicola hot sauce mixes cayenne and garlic and is named after a town famous for their oysters, so what better pairing to put this sauce on? Pretty much any condiment or sauce in your fridge can be improved with your favorite spicy concoction. 

2. Spicy Snacks

Popcorn and potato chips are pretty perfect on their own, but a few drops of sauce can make them even better. If you want some mild heat, opt for the Green Swamp hot sauce, which uses fresh jalapeños. Drizzle some sauce directly over a bowl of chips or mix it in with melted butter before adding to popcorn for a salty, spicy snack. 

Delicious snacks can come in a glass, too. Next time you’re relaxing on a weekend morning with a bloody mary, don’t forget one of the most vital ingredients—a healthy dash of hot sauce for a special kick.

3. Add Some Kick to Meat

You probably already include plenty of spicy sauce in your chicken wing recipe, but don't overlook other meats when you’re adding flavor. For instance, when you’re making burgers, add some spice to the meat. The Anastasia hot sauce uses the datil pepper—a pepper only grown in St. Augustine—that gives the heat of a habanero. Pulled pork can also benefit from chili sauce. And while they’re not exactly a meat, your scrambled eggs will also taste better with a few drops of heat. 

4. Make Fruit More Flavorful

You might not think that fruit and hot sauce would go together, but a few drops of your favorite sauce mixed with some simple syrup make a delicious and unexpected dressing for a fruit salad. Or cut some of the sweetness from fruit chutneys with some sauce while adding another dimension to the flavor. There’s also a lot to be said for a drizzle of spicy sauce on your avocado toast. 

5. Other Uses

Spicy sauces aren't only for adding to food. Adding a few drops of a mild sauce to your birdseed, for instance, can help keep squirrels away from your feeder. Additionally, if you’re a nail biter, a drop of sauce on each nail can keep you from nibbling—assuming, of course, that you don’t keep chewing just for the flavor of the sauce. 

If you want to try new hot sauces, head to Florida Cracker Trading Company in Brooksville. They use the freshest ingredients when creating their hot sauces—all Florida raised! With a wide selection of clothing, gifts, and Deep South specialties served with a healthy dose of Southern hospitality, this family-owned store offers a one-of-a-kind Florida experience. Spice up a bloody mary or add the perfect smoky heat to your next barbecue. To learn more about their signature sauces, visit them online or call (352) 754-8787.