The wife's homemade salsa with 'maters & peppers from the garden are difficult, no impossible, to beat! I can pretty well control the quality and hotness of the result.
Here is one online review for jarred hot salsas:
Recommended
1. PACE Hot Chunky Salsa, $2.49 for 16 ounces
Most tasters were impressed by this spicy salsa’s “bright tomato and chile” and “vegetal” flavors, as well as its “chunky,” “crunchy” texture. There is a “quick hit of tomato flavor, then fire” from the big burn.
2. FRONTERA Hot Habanero Salsa with Roasted Tomatoes and Cilantro, $4.69 for 16 ounces
The roasted tomatoes in this brand were clearly identifiable: “Smoky and complex, yet still has fresh zing,” said one taster. “Exciting to eat,” said another. This was also the hottest salsa in our tasting.
3. NEWMAN’S OWN All Natural Chunky Hot Salsa, $2.79 for 16 ounces
This salsa is seasoned with plenty of garlic, cilantro, and black pepper. One taster made note of an “herby flavor I like, but that isn’t typical for salsa.” “Could be hotter” was a common comment.
4. HERDEZ Hot Salsa Casera, $3.49 for 16 ounces
This salsa was the saltiest of the lot—and tasters noticed, saying, “Less of a cooked taste, but too salty.” With the shortest ingredient list in our lineup, several tasters praised this brand as “fresh-tasting” and “clean and crisp.”
Recommended with Reservations
5. TOSTITOS Hot Chunky Salsa, $2.99 for 15.5 ounces
This “basic and inoffensive,” “ordinary” salsa had average scores for heat level, flavor, and texture.
6. OLD EL PASO Thick n’Chunky Hot Salsa, $2.79 for 16 ounces
Many tasters commented on the “cloyingly sweet” nature of this salsa. The “strong tomato flavor” comes from the wealth of tomato chunks—this salsa had more solids (65 percent) than any other in our test.
7. EMERIL’S Kicked Up Chunky Hot Salsa, $3.79 for 16 ounces
“Another bland, tomatoey salsa” that was “not very interesting” but had “decent flavor.” “Not hot enough,” said one uninspired taster; “tastes like canned tomato puree,” said another.
8. GREEN MOUNTAIN GRINGO Hot Salsa, $3.79 for 16 ounces
This brand received some very high marks but also some dreadfully low ones. One thing is not debatable—it has a “fierce,” “lingering” heat. The only brand to include tomatillos, which might have polarized tasters.
Not Recommended
9. CHI-CHI’S Hot Fiesta Salsa, $2.79 for 16 ounces
“I wouldn’t dip into this twice,” said one wincing taster. Many detected “soapy,” “musty,” “funky,” “sour,” or “bitter” flavors. “Just all-around bad,” and thin, too—this salsa had the lowest solid content of the brands tasted. “Tastes stale, but if you had beer and chips you might not notice,” cracked another.