Some like it hot. Some like it hot-hot. And some wince at the mere idea of spicy heat in their food. Good thing some of the best heat comes in bottles that can be splashed over just about anything that hits the table — soup, eggs, wings, tacos, even a Bloody Mary.

Typically made with peppers, vinegar and salt, hot sauce comes in a range of heat levels and styles. Some are simple vinegar and pepper blends that are acidic, salty and fiery. Others are thick, rich chile pepper purees — often with a little something extra in the mix.

No matter the formula, a good hot sauce adds such a tangy punch of brightness that fans of hot sauce consider it an essential ingredient. For this taste test, we grabbed a range of sauces in every style from local markets.

Here’s the scoop on the tastiest hot sauces — and the worst offenders. Nutrition details refer to one teaspoon.

For more food and drink coverage

follow us on Flipboard.

Palo Alto Firefighters Habanero Pepper Sauce

This thick, unsalted puree of jalapeños and habaneros is super-roasty, spicy, fresh and slightly sweet. It’s minimally hot, and adds layers of flavor to everything it touches. 5 calories, no sodium. $6.69 for 8.5 ounces at Whole Foods. (4 stars)

Dave’s Gourmet Creamy Garlic Red Pepper

Extra-thick, silky and aromatic, this genius blend of hot peppers, red bell peppers, tomato, garlic, and cumin coats the tongue with deliciousness, then doubles back with a pleasant shot of heat. 15 calories, 50 mg sodium. $6.29 for 8 ounces at Whole Foods. (4 stars)

Chaka’s Mystery Hot Sauce

Fresh pepper puree dressed up with soy sauce, onion and garlic makes for a meaty sauce with huge flavor. A drizzle of this is the perfect fix for so many dishes. 95 mg sodium. $2.49 for 10 ounces at FoodMaxx. (4 stars)

Tapatio Salsa Picante Hot Sauce

It’s easy to see why this inexpensive brand is found in so many kitchens. Made with an array of peppers and garlic, the fruity flavor of pepper dominates — and provides a great backdrop for the slow rise of heat. 110 mg sodium. $1.59 for 10 ounces at Target. (3½ stars)

365 Organic Jalapeño Hot Sauce

Restrained use of vinegar and salt make this sassy tomato-pepper blend one of the best basic hot sauces on the shelf. It has fresh pepper flavor and medium heat. 70 mg sodium. $2.49 for 5 ounces at Whole Foods. (3½ stars)

Arizona Pepper’s Organic Harvest Habanero Pepper Sauce

To even think about putting this on the shelf without a warning label is crazy — it’s screaming hot. It’s also super-thick and rich. 150 mg sodium. $3.59 for 5 ounces at Whole Foods. (3½ stars)

Mia’s Kitchen Calabrian Chili Pepper Hot Sauce

With its Calabrian chiles, this zesty, tomato-forward sauce is decidedly Italian. It tastes like super-concentrated, extra-spicy spaghetti sauce. 5 calories, 80 mg sodium. $5.49 for 5 ounces at Safeway. (3 stars)

O’Brothers Organic Habanero Pepper Sauce

Despite the giant hit of salt, this hot-hot sauce with a briny note is fun. It’s thick, bold and packs a pepper wallop. 180 mg sodium. $4.49 for 5 ounces at Whole Foods. (3 stars)

Cholula Chili Lime Hot Sauce

The burst of lime in this Buffalo wings-style sauce adds a bright note to an otherwise ordinary sauce. It’s medium hot, but lacks flavor depth. 75 mg sodium. $4.19 for 5 ounces at Whole Foods. (2½ stars)

Frank’s Red Hot Original

This barely hot mix of vinegar-forward puree lacks freshness, but the touch of garlic would make it a good option for a Bloody Mary. 190 mg sodium. $2.89 for 12 ounces at Target. (2½ stars)

Crystal Louisiana’s Pure Hot Sauce

If you’re looking for a simple, salty-acid kick with heat, you might like this. It’s watery and it lacks chile pepper flavor, but it delivers plenty of heat. 135 mg sodium. $1.19 for 6 ounces at FoodMaxx. (2½ stars)

Zatarain’s Cajun Hot Sauce

Chiles are definitely an afterthought in this wickedly salty, acidic blend, but the hit of garlic is a plus. 190 mg sodium. $2.65 for 10 ounces at FoodMaxx. (2 stars)

Ricante Pina Dulce Hot Sauce

Made with pineapple and mango, this syrupy sauce is so lacking in heat, it shouldn’t even be labeled hot sauce. It’s savory-sweet — a good choice for spice-wimps. 5 calories, 15 mg sodium. $3.99 for ounces at Safeway. (1½ stars)

O Organics Jalapeno Hot Sauce

Salt overwhelms the pepper flavors in this thick, but unimpressive sauce. 85 mg sodium. $1.99 for 4.9 ounces at Safeway. (1½ stars)

Wuju Hot Sauce

Tasty, fruity and super sweet, this mustard-forward blend delivers lots of flavor but precious little heat. 5 calories, 15 mg sodium. $5.29 for 5 ounces at Whole Foods. (1½ stars)

McIlhenny Co. Tabasco Pepper Sauce

Yes, it’s a classic. But heat is the only good thing about this thin, vinegary sauce. 35 mg sodium. $3.56 for 5 ounces at Walmart. (1 star)

Louisiana The Perfect Hot Sauce

Ouch! This has good heat, but the salt level in this vinegary sauce sears the tongue. 200 mg sodium. $1.79 for 12 ounces at FoodMaxx. (1 star)

Trappey’s Red Devil Cayenne Pepper Sauce

Overwhelming salt and flat flavor make this one to avoid. 150 mg sodium. $1.45 for 6 ounces at FoodMaxx. (½ a star)

The Brinery Aura Solanales Hot Sauce

Sauce? No. Flavored with peppers and garlic, this one’s drippy, thin and disappointing. 1 calorie, 70 mg sodium. $6.99 for 5 ounces at Whole Foods. (½ a star)

Siete Traditional Hot Sauce

Unbridled creativity isn’t always a good thing. Beets, flax and chia seeds turn this into a strange, unpleasant, garlic-forward sauce. 45 mg sodium. $5.69 for 5 ounces at Whole Foods. (½ a star) Related Articles Taste Off: The best frozen snacks — and those destined for freezer burn

Taste-Off: The most refreshing water enhancers — and the duds

Yucatan Sunshine Habanero Pepper Sauce

Dehydrated carrots make for a sauce so strange, it’s guaranteed to wreck any dish. A great gift for your worst enemy. 190 mg sodium. $2.99 for 5 ounces at Safeway. (No stars)

Tiger Sauce The Original

Super-sweet liquid stirred up with dehydrated garlic and onion make this sauce memorable — for all the wrong reasons. (No stars)

Reviews are based on product samples purchased by this newspaper or provided by manufacturers. Contact Jolene Thym at timespickyeater@gmail.com. Read more Taste-off columns at www.mercurynews.com/tag/taste-off.

For more food and drink coverage

follow us on Flipboard.