McCormick Crushed Red Pepper, 13 oz

The container is so large, if you keep opening it then over time the flavor will fade. I highly suggest buying some spice shakers that have lids, not just pouring holes, and put the peppers in that. Use the spice shaker until you run out, then refill. That way, you're keeping the big container fresh.

Sometimes you THINK that a more boutique brand or specialty purveyor of spices will bring something unique to the table. And other times, generic dollar store style brands do the trick, but in the case of crushed red pepper flakes, this is hard to beat. Nice heat that I can’t seem to get from the cheap inexpensive off-brands, and it really DOES hold up to the more expensive specialty ones. I use this daily.

We've used McCormick spices for years. Always found them to be consistent from bottle to bottle. As fresh as could be expected w/o growing them yourself, and they also cover some of the less common ones.While we use this in a lot more things, I have to admit my favorite use of this is in tomato soup, with grilled cheese sannich. Give that a try, if you haven't already, but don't limit yourself. This goes fantastic in so many sauces and even as a main spice on chicken, for example.It was fresh, smelled wonderful, and the shake/pour lid works well. The bottle is fairly sturdy as well, which is handy since I'm a klutz. Good stuff.Don't forget to use the Smile.Amazon.com address - It's an Amazon program where many things you buy every day will generate a small donation from Amazon to the charity of your choice. Info here: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/about/ref=smi_se_rspo_laas_aas

After numerous disappointments buying expensive little jars of this stuff, or going to bulk-foods sections at supermarkets (only a bit cheaper) - what got my ordering the Big Jar on Amazon:1. My usual choices (above) were really bland, barely spicy. On pizza, could barely tell the stuff was there! I'm serious, could even eat it from a spoon. This big jar? Totally zingy, exactly what I want.2. Price. This is several times cheaper than the usual way of buying this stuff.3. Quantity. I go through a lot of it. On pizza & other foods, and as a digestive/endorphin booster. Yummm

I wasn't expecting such a large quantity and that's great because I am not using it on food... I am using it as a humane and safe way to keep my flowers from being eaten by chipmunks and other pests. It works! They ripped up every flower I had planted and ate the flowers. I added the red pepper flakes and peppermint essential oil around the flowers and they are coming back.