How to reduce the effects of spicy food?

Other Ways to Relieve Spiciness One method is to eat absorbing foods such as rice , which can help soak the capsaicin molecules from your mouth and reduce the burning sensation. Another effective remedy is to eat bread, which can help to neutralize the capsaicin molecules due to its starchy nature.

What can I eat to neutralize spicy food?

Balancing it with an acid can help neutralize the molecule's activity. This means drinking or eating something acidic — such as lemonade, limeade, orange juice or a tomato-based food item or drink — may also help cool your mouth down. (Milk is also acidic, by the way.) DO down some carbs.

What cancels out spicy food?

6 Quick Ways to Tone Down a Dish That's Too Spicy Add more ingredients to dilute the spiciness. The easiest way to tone down a dish that's too spicy is to add more ingredients to lessen the proportion of the spicy element. ... Add dairy. ... Add acid. ... Add a sweetener. ... Add nut butter. ... Serve with bland, starchy foods.

Does milk help with spicy food?

Enjoy every bite by pairing your spicy dish with a refreshing glass of milk. Milk helps your mouth handle an oily chemical compound in chili peppers called capsaicin that causes the well-known burning sensation from consuming spicy foods . This relief is thanks to casein, a protein found in cow's milk.

What is the best neutralizer for spicy food?

What's the Best Way to Cool the Burn? Alcohol: A cold beer seems like the perfect pairing with spicy food. ... Dairy: Again, water is a factor. ... Sparkling water with ice: The bubbles unfortunately add additional irritation to those tongue pain receptors. ... Bread: Crusty bread works better than soft, smooth bread. More items... Apr 8, 2022

Does salt neutralize spicy food?

Just like when you use too much salt or too much sugar, there's no way to actually cancel out the spiciness . This is why the adage "taste as you go" are words to live by—or at least cook by.

Does vinegar reduce spiciness?

A squeeze of lemon or lime juice or a little vinegar can help cut through spiciness . Acidic foods tone down the spiciness in foods and can add some flavor, making this a good trick for seafood dishes or creamy soups and chowders.

Does adding potatoes reduce spices?

Bulk up the Recipe to Dilute the Spice Protein can help thin out the spicy ingredients as long as they haven't been preseasoned with the same heat-building ingredients. Starches like potatoes, rice, pasta, and bread work to soak up and diffuse spiciness without adding distinct flavors that may alter the recipe .

How do you get spicy food out of your system fast?

To neutralize spicy food, sip on milk or eat sour foods like lemons . Products made with milk - including the very popular cheese - are often what's recommended for making stomachs feel better when they've been exposed to high levels of chili peppers or other types of spicy foods.

What helps the stomach after spicy food?

Drink milk with spicy meals . Casein, the protein found in milk, is able to bind with capsaicin and clear it fast from your system, hence reducing the burning sensation. Gulp down some cold sugar water.

5 Tips For Salvaging Too-Spicy Foods (2024)

Heavy handed with the hot chile peppers? That's cool. Here are 5 flawless ways to neutralize the white-hot heat.

Carl Hanson

How to Make Food Less Spicy

5 Tips For Salvaging Too-Spicy Foods (2)

Go Nuts on It

For some dishes, such as stir-fries, curries, chilis, and stews, adding a scoop of peanut butter will help smother the flames. (Who knows, you might even end up liking the extra flavor and creamy texture.) Also try cashew or almond butter. Tahini is another option.

5 Tips For Salvaging Too-Spicy Foods (3)

Lengthen and Un-strengthen

If you have more of the recipe's ingredients on hand, toss 'em in. Or improvise, and add an additional ingredient that will play well with the recipe while neutralizing the spiciness. Good candidates might include broth, canned beans, potatoes, tomatoes, corn, avocados, coconut milk, and cooked rice.

5 Tips For Salvaging Too-Spicy Foods (4)

Do the Dairy

Now here's some news you can use. Turns out, the fiery chemical in hot chilis, capsaicin, likes to bind itself onto a compound in milk, which neutralizes the burn. Add a generous dollop of sour cream, creme fraiche, or yogurt to scorching hot chili or stews, or even a touch of milk or cream. For best results, though, go with full-fat dairy. For tomato sauces and stews that don't want dairy, try shredding some cheese on top.

5 Tips For Salvaging Too-Spicy Foods (5)

Sweet Defeats Heat

Adding something sweet to a too-spicy dish is another great way to reduce spiciness. A sprinkle of sugar or honey should do the trick. Or add a touch of sweet ketchup. If it's a tomato-based sauce, stir in a little more tomato sauce and maybe a touch of sugar.

5 Tips For Salvaging Too-Spicy Foods (6)

Add Some Acid

Add a squeeze of lemon or lime. Bonus Benefit: A little lemon juice can also brighten up flavors. If it's a tomato-based sauce, adding more tomato sauce can help. Also effective, a dash of vinegar.

Plus, check out our collections of Chile Pepper Recipes — and don't miss some of our Spiciest Appetizers.

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