The use of peppers has been rising, and for good reason… they taste 
excellent, can spice things up if you like and are healthy. Now if you make your own Salsa you really need a knowledge of peppers to keep it interesting.
Well, some of the peppers most commonly available are the Bell, Cayenne, Cherry, Habanero Jalapeno and Serrano Peppers. These will vary by size, appearance, color and heat…(the fire in the pepper). Since the peppers are generally chopped, the color & heat are typically the most crucial aspects.
Color is obvious to discern but what about the heat? As you probably know, peppers are rated for heat by what are called the Scoville Units. But what is not as well known is that the Scoville Unit Scale is really a measure of the level of Capsaicin. Anyway, here is a sampling of some common peppers and their rating on the Scoville Unit Heat Scale. By the way, these are approximate figures. The actual level for any single pepper will be a function of several factors not the least of which are the growing conditions it experienced prior to harvest. Here’s the list:
- Habanero Peppers 100,000 to 300,000 Scoville Units
- Thai Pepper 50,000 to 100,000 Scoville Units
- Cayenne & Tabasco Peppers 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville Units
- Serrano Peppers 5,000 to 15,000 Scoville Units
- Jalapeno & Mirasol Peppers 2,500 to 5,000 Scoville Units
- Cherry Peppers 100-500 Scoville Units
- Typical Bell & Sweet Banana Peppers 0 Scoville Units
So there you have it. Now, if you find yourself adding things such as Dried Cayenne Powder or a bottled hot sauce to your recipes you may want to experiment making a substitution for the real deal (fresh & natural).
However, a few words of warning… the heat needs to be washed from your hands with soap. A mere water rinse will not do the trick. Be careful what you touch and transfer the heat onto (and especially don’t rub your eyes). As to dishes, stick to stainless bowls or you run the risk of creating a hot one. A friend of mine has a special bowl he uses for his Habanero Peppers as ordered by his wife. Seems the kids were getting a little something extra with their Cocoa Chrispies.
And finally, if you go overboard and need to extinguish the heat dairy is best. So reach for the milk, sour cream, yogurt or ice cream. But for all the possible down sides you have to love food that has been ramped up. Spice up your food, your life and live naturally.