History and Types of Frank's RedHot and Other Popular Seasoning Powders

The History and Rise in Popularity of Frank's RedHot Seasoning

Frank's RedHot is an iconic hot sauce and seasoning brand that has become synonymous with Buffalo wings and other spicy foods. Its history dates back over 100 years to when the Frank Tea and Spice Company was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1920. The company's flagship product was Frank's RedHot Cayenne Pepper Sauce, which quickly grew in popularity. In 1977, the brand was acquired by Durkee Famous Foods and then became part of Reckitt Benckiser in 1995.

Over the past few decades, Frank's RedHot has expanded from just hot sauce into a range of seasonings and condiments. In the early 1990s, they introduced Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Wings Seasoning Blend, which allowed home cooks to easily replicate the Buffalo wing flavors they enjoyed at restaurants and bars. This versatile, all-purpose seasoning blend contains paprika, garlic, onion, cayenne pepper, salt, and spices. It quickly became a staple seasoning for wings, chicken tenders, fries, veggies, and more.

Variations of Frank's Seasoning

Beyond the original Buffalo Wings Seasoning, Frank's now offers a range of seasoning blends inspired by their hot sauces. These include Chili Lime Seasoning, Sweet Chili Seasoning, Lemon Pepper Seasoning, and an everything bagel variation made with garlic, onion, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds. They cater to a wide range of cuisines and flavor profiles while maintaining Frank's signature spicy edge.

In addition to seasoning blends, Frank's also offers hot sauce powder that allows cooks to sprinkle the iconic pepper flavor onto foods without adding liquid. This versatility and customization has been key to the brand's continued growth and the rise of Frank's seasonings as a pantry staple. According to one market research firm, retail sales of Frank’s RedHot seasonings increased over 18% in 2020 to $15 million as more people cooked at home during the pandemic.

Using Frank's Seasonings in Recipes

Frank's seasonings can spice up all kinds of foods beyond hot wings and Bufallo chicken recipes. The Buffalo Wings Seasoning is commonly used to flavor chicken wings and tenders, shrimp, fries, tater tots, veggies, dips, and more finger foods. Just add it directly to foods or blend it into a wet marinade or dip. The Sweet Chili and Chili Lime blends also work beautifully on poultry, seafood, and tofu. Additionally, they can liven up roasted veggies, avocado toast, egg dishes, chilis, pasta, rice bowls, and more.

The Everything Bagel seasoning makes a tasty topping for salads, eggs, turkey burgers, roasted veggies, and anywhere you want an extra punch of garlic, onion, and sesame flavor. Mix the hot sauce powder into mayo for spicy fry sauce, blend it into burger meat before grilling, or sprinkle it over pizza, mac and cheese, deviled eggs, and light fare that could use some heat. Endless creative options exist for incorporating Frank’s seasonings into weeknight dinners, game day foods, and anytime snacks.

Safety and Recall of McCormick Frank's RedHot Seasoning

In July 2022, McCormick & Company issued a voluntary recall of three seasonings over potential salmonella contamination concerns. This included 4,000 cases of Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Ranch Seasoning, which was shipped to 32 states. The potential salmonella was discovered through routine testing and no illnesses had been reported when the recall was announced.

Details of the Recall

In addition to Frank's Buffalo Ranch Seasoning, McCormick recalled McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning and McCormick Culinary Italian Seasoning nationwide. All products included in the recall were made between June 20 to July 21, 2022 at one specific McCormick plant. Expiration dates range from September 2023 through November 2023 printed on the bottom of bottles.

The recalled Frank's RedHot Buffalo Ranch Seasoning came in 153g glass bottles with UPC number 052100049731. The affected date codes are BB / MA 2022 SEP 06 and BB / MA 2022 SEP 05 with expiration 09/06/2023 and 09/05/2023 printed on the bottom. You can identify this seasoning by the distinctive Frank’s RedHot logo. This recall only affects bottles shipped to 32 states which are listed on the FDA recall announcement.

What to Do If You Own Recalled Seasoning

If you believe you purchased recalled Frank's Ranch seasoning or any products included in McCormick's recall, you should immediately discontinue use. The seasonings should be disposed of in sealed containers inside secured trash bags. This helps prevent any person or animal from accessing and ingesting potentially contaminated spices.

Customers can request a replacement or full refund from McCormick Consumer Affairs by calling 1-800-635-2867, weekdays from 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM. Any surfaces, containers, utensils etc. that may have touched recalled seasonings should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to avoid risk. Consult a doctor if you have concerns about potential salmonella exposure or experience symptoms like fever, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and dehydration.

Preventing Foodborne Illness

While product contamination concerns like salmonella are scary, practicing good food safety habits can greatly reduce your risks. Always wash hands and surfaces before and after food prep while avoiding cross contamination between different foods, especially raw meats/eggs and ready to eat items. Cook foods thoroughly to recommended safe internal temperatures which are 160°F for ground beef, 165°F for poultry, and 145°F for seafood. Refrigerate perishable foods promptly in sealed containers, track expiration dates, and stick to shelf life guidelines after opening.

Different Types of Spice and Seasoning Powders

In addition to Frank’s own hot sauce powders and seasoning blends, home cooks have countless spice and seasoning options to flavor their foods. These powdered products provide concentrated flavor, are convenient to store, and simplify seasoning compared to whole spices that require prep work. Common types include:

Single Spice Powders

When you want the pure flavor of one particular spice, single spice powders like cumin powder, cinnamon powder, garlic powder deliver. They mix effortlessly into foods or spice rubs. Rely on chili powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, and onion powder to add a flavor punch or heat level.

Herb & Spice Blends

Premixed spice blends combine complementary dried herbs and ground spices so your seasoning is perfectly balanced without the guesswork. Italian seasoning, taco seasoning, jerk seasoning, ranch dressing mix, onion soup mix, and Frank’s Buffalo Wings Seasoning fall into this category. Multipurpose blends work nicely on a variety meats, veggies, rice dishes, and more.

Gourmet Salt Blends

For finishing salt with flair, look for seasoning salt combinations that generally mix salt crystals with spices, herbs, citrus, garlic, onion, etc. Lemon pepper, smoked sea salt, truffle salt, chipotle lime salt, and vanilla salt elevate everyday foods.

Pudding & Coffee Creamers

Instant pudding and coffee creamer powders infuse rich flavors that would be difficult to achieve with basic ingredients alone. Simply whisk powder with milk or another liquid base and refrigerate pudding to set. Creamer powders create smoother, tastier coffee, lattes, and other hot drinks.

Drink Mixes

Powdered drink mixes offer an easy way to enjoy fruity, sweet, or nutrient/protein-infused beverages at home or on the go. Categories include powdered iced tea, lemonade, sports drink, smoothie mixes, protein shakes, hot cocoa, and more.

Tips for Cooking and Baking with Seasoning Powders

With so many seasoning powder options available today, how do you make the most of them? Here are some top tips:

Season to Taste

When using new seasoning blends, start with less powdered seasoning than the recipe calls for. Taste and gradually add more until flavors pop without overpowering other ingredients.

Bloom in Oil

Blooming spices like garlic powder, onion powder, curry powder, or chili powder in hot oil intensifes their flavors before adding main ingredients to the pan.

Mix & Match

Experiment mixing individual spice powders like cumin, smoked paprika, ginger together with multipurpose seasoning salt or blends. Create your own signature combo.

Rehydrate for Marinades

Soften dry spice rubs or seasoning blends in hot water, broth, juice, or oil before blending into wet chicken or meat marinades where rehydration is key.

Stir into Batters

Fold seasoning powders into meatloaf mix, burger patties, breading, or batter for fried foods before cooking. Powders incorporate easily without changing batter consistency.

Sprinkle on Top

Bright finishing salts, garlicky breadcrumbs, or spiced nut mixes make tasty toppings. Add them just before serving hot foods or room temp dishes like pasta salad.

Storage and Shelf Life of Seasoning Powders

To retain maximum flavor and shelf life with ground spice blends and seasoning powders:

Opaque Airtight Containers

Store powders in a cool, dark place in opaque airtight containers or bottles. Clear jars expose them to light degradation while sealable lids block humidity that causes clumping.

No Refrigeration

Despite being dried, seasoning powder textures can still harden when chilled. So keep them in the pantry without refrigerating or freezing unless a recipe specifies it.

Buy Smaller Quantities

Purchasing spice jars in sizes you can use up quicker prevents older product from lingering, losing potency. Making your own custom spice blends does allow buying bulk single spice.

Track Expiration Dates

Write the month/year you purchased or opened spices. Ground spices last 1-2 years, herbs 1-3 years, season salt 3+ years. If color fading or flavor loss occurs, replace sooner.

With a balanced combo of dried herbs, spices, salts, and extras like seeds or citrus, Frank’s signature seasoning blends, DIY rubs, and gourmet flavored powders liven up favorite recipes. Follow best practices for maximizing shelf life and safety.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.