what is the best way to take the burn out of your mouth from hot peppers?

Answer 1

Wait six minutes. That's it. The nonsense about "oil based diluents" is just that -- nonsense, popular but wrong. (The Wikipedia entry is misguided in this regard, for example, though its description of the mechanism of action appears to be fairly accurate.)

The thing that makes you hurt is a vanillyl amide called capsaicin. It is COMPLETELY HARMLESS -- what it does is trick your sensory nerves into THINKING they're on fire, by flooding them with ions of the exact chemical configuration necessary to overload your heat receptors. (I'll explain one theory about why later on.)

Note carefully: by the time you feel the burn, the capsaicin has already penetrated your tissues. You can't wash it off. It's in there. You're stuck with it. Live with it, love it.

However... it takes approximately six minutes (depending on the size of the "dose") for your body to metabolize capsaicin. (It's taken as much as 11 minutes for me, the one time I did The Great Dumb Thing and popped an entire habanero into my mouth, chewed it, and swallowed. DO NOT ATTEMPT. Let's just say that getting it back OUT was worse than putting it IN...)

Why old wives' tales like "alcohol dissolves it" appears to work is that alcohol temporarily disables the sensory nerves, and a very cold beverage numbs them slightly. But the sensation comes back, and remains till you've metabolized all the stuff that's already inside your cell membranes.

And while capsaicin is lipophilic (that is, it dissolves in oil), that has no bearing whatsoever on how to stop the burn. (Well... okay: if you are cutting chile peppers and you didn't think to wear gloves and you go to the rest room and after a few moments you realize to your horror that you feel as though you have just set fire to your privates, you COULD in theory wash their surface off with alcohol or oil to make sure it doesn't REMAIN in contact with your skin. Except of course that you've got capsaicin all over your hands, and the oil will just dissolve THAT and spread the burn deeper. Which really argues, logically, for getting somebody ELSE to rub your privates with oil, which might not be such a bad thing. However: if you have been cutting chile peppers and you didn't think to wear gloves and you have the good fortune later that day to be in a position where you might touch somebody ELSE'S privates... it's better that you don't, or you won't have such an opportunity for a long, long time.)

The book referred to in the Sources field is "Peppers: The Domesticated Capsicums" by Jean Andrews (University of Texas Press, new edition 1995). I own the 1984 publication of the book, and it's full of wonderful, research-based information as well as great recipes and historical facts. Also, Dr. Andrews is a talented illustrator in the tradition of Audubon, and her botanical drawings in this book are suitable for framing. Every chile-head should own this book, or at least check it out from the library.

Oh, and as for the interesting theory about why peppers are keyed to the nerve cells that respond to heat: Apparently, while mammals have these nerve cells in their mouths, birds (given that they have beaks and all) do not. Birds, on the other hand, LOVE to eat peppers -- in fact, many small species of pepper are called "bird peppers" for this reason.

Birds have two other characteristics that pertain here: they can fly, and they have very rapid digestive systems. This means that when a bird eats a pepper, the seeds don't stay inside the bird very long; instead, the seeds tend to get deposited some distance away from the plant while they are still in usable form, thereby spreading that plant's genetic material.

Mammals, on the other hand, do NOT fly (with the obvious exception of the order chiroptera), and tend to have much slower digestive systems than birds. This means that mammals don't spread the seeds very far, and when they do they aren't in a usable form. So the plants that developed capsaicin tended to ward off mammals and attract birds, meaning their genetic material was spread more widely. Thousands of years of this have resulted in the wonderful burn that so many of us know and love.

Answer 2

If you had been paying attention in sixth-grade science class like you should've, Wiebstrom, you would already know the answer to this question, which can be summed up thusly: oil and water don't mix.

The fiery spices in the foods you mention are oil-based, and thus mix readily with the cooking oil and/or natural juices the food simmers in. When you eat the stuff, the oil coats your tongue and throat, and for complicated molecular reasons that we need not discuss right here, repels all efforts to wash it down with water. Water doesn't actually make the burning sensation worse, but by eliminating other distracting tastes I suppose we might say it purifies the agony.

So what does work? Logic would suggest two approaches: dilutants (more oil) and solvents (such as alcohol). Best dilutant I know of is milk, which generally works like a charm. If that's not macho enough for you, you can try an alcoholic beverage appropriate to the occasion. A shot of tequila, for instance, in a Mexican restaurant. Then again, you may feel that the cure is worse than the disease. Some people swear by bread or, better yet, a flour tortilla. These sop up the oil and carry it away.

Answer 3

Milk or some type of bread hot peppers have natural oils and that is what is causing your mouth to burn do not drink water this will only cause the oils to work themselves around your mouth. It's quite common that any milk based product will help with the burning sensation and one reason East Indian cuisine is found with yogurts and lots of bread products enjoy the spicy and use these tips it will help.

Answer 4

I've heard that drinking milk will help with the burning. I wish I had known this years ago when my ex heaped crushed red peppers on our pizza. My mouth hurt for days!

Answer 5

gargle with a cup of strong salt water n hold it in the mouth for 2 minutes. Rub some of the water on yr lips first

Answer 6

not just milk but also ice cream will help. things is water wont help as much it doesn't coat and cool at the same time. be glad it aint a thick purple hot sauce or you might be worse off. reason i know this is my husband grows hot peppers.

Answer 7

Milk

Answer 8

well water with ice does a little good, but it always fills you up and when you want to eat more you feel full. try a gulp of milk. it instantly and forever takes the burn out.

Answer 9

I like to just sit back and enjoy the burn

Answer 10

Avoid putting it in your mouth. It's easy to stop something you never started