Does Aldi's Frank's RedHot Copycat Taste Just As Good As The Real Thing?

Those who like their meals served with a side of heat can always relish a dash of hot sauce. There are countless spicy sauces ranging from mild, like Tabasco, to the extreme heat found in Dave's Insanity sauce. According to Eat This, Not That, Frank's RedHot — a milder buffalo sauce — ranked second in a list of the nation's most popular hot sauces. Frank's RedHot Sauce is also called a cayenne pepper sauce, as cayenne peppers are the main ingredient. The sauce isn't terribly spicy, clocking in at around 400-500 Scoville units. To compare, a jalapeno is about 2,000 Scoville units (per Culinary Lore).

Frank's RedHot sauce's iconic slogan, "I put that $#!t on everything," seems to ring true for its customers, who have discovered some unexpected ways to use the sauce. According to their website, Frank's wasn't initially intended to be used on wings, but after Anchor Bar & Grill in Buffalo concocted the appetizer using the spicy sauce — it became a hit. Even though it's an O.G., It doesn't mean the sauce is free from imitation. There are tons of buffalo sauces sold at stores, each slightly different from Franks, and grocery chain Aldi seems to have a competitor that is almost as good, or even better, than the original.

Along with being a more affordable grocery store, Aldi has gained a reputation for its unique finds and specialty products. According to The Kitchn, the store's buffalo hot sauce, dubbed Burman's hot sauce, is a total dupe for Frank's RedHot sauce. One eager hot sauce aficionado decided to taste test both sauces for a true comparison. She found that both of the condiments were tangy, with a strong vinegar flavor, and just a hint of spice. The main difference seemed to be the price. Franks' RedHot rings in around $3.50 per bottle, while Burman's is only $1.99.

If you don't feel like using buffalo sauce to make your own wings, Aldi has you covered with its frozen buffalo wings. Shoppers have mixed feelings about the buffalo wings, with some calling them mediocre and others loving them as a spicy snack. Whether you pick up Aldi's hot sauce or Frank's RedHot sauce, make sure to cook the sauce with a bit of butter for a richer and more viscous sauce. The butter and hot sauce combo elevates wings and makes them taste like they came straight from a wing shop (per Little Sunny Kitchen).