Red pepper flakes, also known as crushed red pepper, are made from dried and crushed whole red chili peppers—including the seeds, which contribute to its heat. This spice is renowned for its ability to deliver a consistent, fiery flavor with a slightly fruity undertone, making it a favorite for sprinkling over pizza, pasta dishes, and stir-fries. Red pepper flakes are versatile and can be used in cooking or as a garnish to add a bit of spice to any dish.

When substituting, use common sense. Cayenne pepper is as much as 50 times hotter than sweet paprika, so a 1:1 substitution wouldn't work unless you want some heat—the right substitution, in this case, would be 1/3 of a teaspoon of cayenne per 1 teaspoon of paprika. Make an informed decision, but also use thorough recipes that might suggest reasonable substitutions.

Furthermore, stabilizers such as antioxidants and preservatives are essential ingredients in paprika oleoresin to prevent oxidation and maintain the color and flavor of the final product. Suppliers should use natural and approved stabilizers that do not compromise the quality or safety of the paprika oleoresin.

Oleoresin Capsicum: Versatility in Applications

Crushed red pepper factories are responsible for processing and packaging the dried and crushed fruits of the Capsicum annuum plant, typically the cayenne pepper variety. These peppers are harvested when they are fully ripe and have developed their signature spicy flavor. The peppers are then dried and ground into flakes or powder, which are then packaged and sold to consumers.