It happens to many of us: You take a bite of something spicy, confident you can handle the heat, only to instantly regret it. Maybe it’s an Indian dish you boldly ordered “hot,” or perhaps it’s salsa made with a hot sauce far spicier than your usual Tabasco. Whatever the source, you’re now desperate for relief — and fast.
Your first instinct might be to gulp down a big glass of water. But then you remember hearing that water might make the heat worse. Perhaps you’ve also heard that drinking milk can help.
To separate myths from reality, we turned to experts who know a thing or two about managing fiery foods: competitive chile pepper eaters. These individuals, known for enduring extreme heat — sometimes even drinking hot sauce during competitions — have insights into what actually works to cool down a burning mouth. Here’s what they had to say.
What Not to Do When Your Mouth Feels Like It’s on Fire
Johnny Scoville, a well-known competitive eater, is someone who truly understands the effects of spicy foods. He’s eaten 10 Carolina reapers while skydiving, appeared in the Netflix series We Are the Champions, and featured in the show Superhot: The Spicy World of Pepper People. Along with other competitive eaters, he warns against three common mistakes when trying to cool down your mouth.
1. Avoid Drinking Water
Scoville confirms the belief that water doesn’t alleviate the burn from spicy foods — it can actually make things worse. “Water just moves the capsaicin [the compound responsible for the heat] around your mouth,” he explained to HuffPost. “You might feel a brief sense of relief while the water is on your tongue, but as soon as you swallow, the burning sensation returns.”
Mike Jack, another competitive eater and Guinness World Record holder for consuming 100 Carolina reaper peppers in record time, agrees. “Water gives you temporary relief, but it spreads the spice, making the heat even worse,” he said.
2. Don’t Reach for Beer
While it might seem tempting to grab a beer, Shahina Waseem, known as the “UK Chilli Queen,” warns against it. “People often think a cold beer can soothe the burn from spicy food like curry, but beer is mostly water,” she explained. “It may feel like it’s helping at first, but it actually doesn’t reduce the heat.”
3. Skip the Soda
Jack cautions against soda, explaining that it can intensify the burning sensation. Many believe the sugar in soda will counteract the spice, but the carbonation often makes things worse.
Scientific studies back this up, showing that carbonation activates a protein called TRPA1, which is associated with pain in nerve cells. It’s the same protein triggered by spicy foods like wasabi, which explains why soda can amplify the discomfort.
If water, beer, and soda don’t help, what should you do?
5 Ways to Cool Down Your Mouth
1. Drink Milk or Eat Dairy
All the experts — Scoville, Jack, and Waseem — agree that milk is one of the best remedies for a burning mouth. Scientific evidence supports this, as the fat content in milk interacts with capsaicin to provide relief. However, Scoville noted that the relief is only temporary and lasts just a few seconds.
Kris Fragale, another competitive eater known as the “Scoville Unit,” recommends swishing milk around your mouth and spitting it out rather than swallowing. In his experience, allowing milk and spicy food to mix in the stomach can lead to unpleasant digestive issues.
Waseem adds that other dairy products, such as yogurt, ice cream, and cheese, can also be effective. She personally finds Babybel snack-sized cheese particularly helpful after competitions.
2. Try Peanut Butter
For immediate relief, Scoville’s go-to solution is peanut butter. He explained that its thickness helps coat the taste receptors on the tongue, offering a protective barrier against the spice.
Waseem agrees, noting that peanut butter works similarly to cheese by using its fat content to counteract the heat.
3. Use Something Acidic
It may sound counterintuitive, but acidic foods can help soothe a burning mouth. Both Scoville and Waseem recommend trying pineapple juice or pickle juice, as the acidity neutralizes the capsaicin.
4. Eat Something Sugary
All four competitive eaters agree that sugary foods are effective in reducing the burn. Waseem often turns to chocolate milk or a Frappuccino to recover after competitions, while Scoville has seen others use a spoonful of sugar with good results. Research also supports this, showing that drinks like Kool-Aid can help ease the burn.
When your mouth feels like it’s on fire, knowing what works — and what doesn’t — can make all the difference. Try one of these expert-approved remedies next time you need relief!
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