# Delivery pizza--what do you do with the red pepper packets? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 4, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426 "2012-01-04T20:49:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/21 "2012-01-05T01:56:29Z")
Toss them on the rare occasion I see them. I prefer giardiniera on pizza. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/22 "2012-01-05T02:02:58Z")
I like [Star Pizza](http://starpizza.net/)–a local chain with\* two\* restaurants. Usually, they don’t include condiments unless you ask. If they add red pepper, I’ll use it on the pizza; otherwise, use some from my kitchen. If they include parmesan, I save it; it’s freshly ground stuff in aluminum foil. If I don’t save it too long, it’s great on a plate of pasta… ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/23 "2012-01-05T02:14:41Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Pizza Hut gives you those packets. I always apply the pepper liberally on top of my slices. I like to feel the heat. Meh, I use them if I’m actually at a restaurant but in order to feel the heat I’d have to open like 3 packets per slice, and it’s not worth the time. Those flakes are pretty tame. I do however love me some Papa John’s garlic sauce. And their Buffalo sauce is perhaps the most _delicious_ hot sauce I’ve ever had (even if it’s also not very hot.) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/24 "2012-01-05T06:45:12Z")
Never used them. The idea of actually liking to sprinkle hot stuff on food only came to me recently–my parents never even kept black pepper on the table. And I haven’t seen those packets in years, maybe over a decade. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/25 "2012-01-05T08:17:26Z")
We always get them, too. I save them Just in Case. And sometimes use them in recipes. The “cheese drawer?” in our refrigerator is stuffed with Taco Bell sauce, sweet & sour packets that come with egg rolls, Ranch dressing (it’s there because I never use it) and “butter” spreads. Good for if we ever run out of butter. ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/26 "2012-01-05T12:12:02Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Toss them on the rare occasion I see them. I prefer giardiniera on pizza. Huh. Another case of Ignorance Fought. I had to look this up, and now I know that you can put this on pizza and sandwiches, which sounds _awesome_, whereas before I only ate it as a side with some cheese. Oh, and I’ve had delivery pizza from PA, VA, ME, CA, FL, MS, LA and WA, and never once did I get a packet of red pepper with it.😕 ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/27 "2012-01-05T15:23:00Z")
> [@singular1](#): > > Huh. Another case of Ignorance Fought. I had to look this up, and now I know that you can put this on pizza and sandwiches, which sounds _awesome_, whereas before I only ate it as a side with some cheese. I forgot, it’s a semi-regional thing, where there are a lot of Italian-Americans. 🙂 Chicago has it all over the place. The local pizza place offers it as a topping, but they make it so freaking hot that I don’t always get it on the pizza. I prefer the milder variety so you can put more on. 😃 Pizza, sandwiches, and part of an antipasto platter (and occasionally in an antipasto-style salad) are pretty much the only ways I eat it. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/28 "2012-01-05T15:33:47Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I have never seen a red pepper packet. I imagine it’s like those paper black pepper packets that come with your hospital boiled egg meal, except it has red pepper flakes in it. I have a jar of red pepper flakes. They’re more like the packets that sanitizer wipes come in. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/29 "2012-01-05T15:37:55Z")
They look like [this](http://www.minimus.biz/images/F01-0906301-1100bg.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/30 "2012-01-05T15:41:59Z")
Hmmm…I don’t ever recall seeing such a thing with my pizza order. Were I to get such an item, I would put it on top of the pizza, of course. ---
**Author:** ![ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryan)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/31 "2012-01-05T22:30:02Z")
I can’t remember ever getting them with a pizza. If I did, I’d just toss them in a drawer with the soy and hot sauce from take-out chinese, salt and pepper packets and wrapped plastic forks. Everything except duck sauce, that stuff is nasty. I’d then use my own, good quality red pepper flakes. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/32 "2012-01-05T22:31:22Z")
I tell the deliveryman I don’t want them (nor the parmesan packets) so he just takes them back. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/33 "2012-01-05T23:20:30Z")
When available, I’ll use the Parmesan on a couple of slices, but never feel like it has materially affected my enjoyment of the pizza. I had no idea the stuff was controversial. Gee-whillikers, people, get a religion already. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/34 "2012-01-05T23:30:00Z")
I don’t recall seeing them. My wife likes pepper flakes on her pizza, but I don’t: for some reason I’m not crazy about chile-heat in Italian food. Great in Chinese, Mexican, Indian, Thai, etc., but don’t much like it in Italian. (Spicy sausage excepted). ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/35 "2012-01-06T00:26:36Z")
I’ve definitely never encountered them. Grew up in NYS, now live in New England. I like putting red pepper on my pepperoni or plain cheese pizza (but not on pizza with other toppings). I’ve always had to use my own jar. ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/36 "2012-01-06T17:22:39Z")
I use 'em on the pizza. I can’t tell them apart in taste from the ones in the plastic container I bought at the grocery store (which is what I use when the pepper packets aren’t available). They’re pretty common here in Southern California, and typically look exactly like the packet **silenus** linked to. The last time we ordered take-out from [East Side Mario’s](http://www.eastsidemarios.com/), an astonishing number of pepper and cheese packets were included in our (non-pizza) order, as well. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/37 "2012-01-06T17:27:04Z")
You left off “other” from your poll. I sprinkle them out in the garden to keep the squirrels from digging. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/38 "2012-01-06T17:28:23Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I do however love me some Papa John’s garlic sauce. And their Buffalo sauce is perhaps the most _delicious_ hot sauce I’ve ever had (even if it’s also not very hot.) :::Hijack::: . So I was in Cleveland at a bowling alley and ordered some Buffalo wings. I’d never jumped straight into a “nuclear” wing hotness since I never know when it would be too _too_ hot, but I did go right for the “nuclear” this time. Their “hot” level was straight up Frank’s – I could even see them pouring it from the can (ETA: which is good and exactly what I would expect on a “hot” level of wings). Their “nuclear” level was Frank’s – with pepper flakes 😕 . Which wasn’t horrible tasting, just weird. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/39 "2012-01-06T18:29:14Z")
Douse my pizza with them, then take the leftovers and save them in the pepper spice bottle. A combination of 1 and 3, then. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426/40 "2012-01-06T18:33:19Z")
I use them on the pizza. I’ve thought about grinding them to a fine powder and adulterating someone’s cocaine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delivery-pizza-what-do-you-do-with-the-red-pepper-packets/608426.md?page=3)