Milk contains a protein called casein that is known to help neutralize the compounds in spicy food that cause the burning sensation in your mouth. Capsaicin is the active ingredient in chili peppers that makes them spicy. Capsaicin molecules bind to receptors on the tongue and other parts of the mouth, which triggers a signal to the brain that the mouth is experiencing heat or pain.
So while you might automatically think to grab a glass of water, juice or even alcohol or soda, milk and milk-based products are actually a better choice. Below, we’ll discuss why this is the case.
But first, let’s cut to the chase and rank the best milk-based products to consume while eating spcy foods.
Best Milk Products When Eating Spicy Foods
Here’s a table ranking milk and milk-based products that are effective at counteracting spicy foods, along with explanations on how to consume each product and why it makes sense:
| Ranking | Milk/Milk-Based Product | How to Consume | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Full-Fat Milk | Sip or drink a glass of cold full-fat milk. | Full-fat milk contains casein, a protein that binds to capsaicin (the compound responsible for spiciness) and helps neutralize it, offering significant relief. |
| 2 | Yogurt | Eat a spoonful or enjoy a bowl of plain yogurt. | Yogurt, like milk, contains casein and also has a cooling effect due to its creaminess, providing relief from spiciness. You can also consume a yogurt-based drink called Laban (Arabic) and Ayran (Turkish) that is made from plain yogurt, water and salt. |
| 3 | Lassi (Yogurt Drink) | Sip on a traditional lassi made with yogurt, water, and spices. | Lassi is known for its cooling properties, and the yogurt base helps counteract spiciness, making it a popular choice in Indian cuisine. |
| 4 | Buttermilk | Enjoy a glass of buttermilk on its own or with spices like cumin and salt. | Buttermilk, like yogurt, contains casein and has a soothing, cooling effect, making it effective at providing relief from spiciness. |
| 5 | Cheese | Eat cheese on its own, on crackers, or as part of a dish. | Cheese, while less liquid, contains casein and fats that can help reduce the sensation of spiciness and add a rich, creamy element to the meal. |
| 6 | Ice Cream/Gelato | Enjoy a scoop of ice cream or gelato. | The cold and creamy texture of ice cream or gelato can provide instant relief from spiciness while offering a sweet contrast to the heat. |
Consuming milk and milk-based products is effective in countering the heat of spicy foods because they contain casein, a protein that binds to capsaicin, helping to neutralize its effects.
Additionally, the cooling and creamy nature of these products provides immediate relief to the palate, soothing the burning sensation caused by spiciness.
Depending on personal preference and dietary restrictions, individuals can choose from various milk-based options to find the most enjoyable and effective way to mitigate the heat.
Why Milk Is Better To Counteract Spicy Food
When you consume spicy food, the capsaicin molecules bind to the heat receptors in your mouth, which causes a burning sensation. Milk contains casein, a protein that binds to the capsaicin molecules and helps to remove them from the receptors on the tongue and other parts of the mouth. This effectively reduces the heat and burning sensation caused by the spicy food.
In addition to casein, milk also contains fat, which can help to dissolve and dilute the capsaicin molecules. This can further reduce the intensity of the burning sensation.
Other dairy products, such as yogurt and cheese, also contain casein and can be effective in reducing the burning sensation caused by spicy food.
However, water and other beverages do not contain casein, so they are not as effective in reducing the burning sensation caused by spicy food.
Milk Products To Eat With Spicy Food
There are many milk products that can be effective in reducing the burning sensation caused by spicy food. Here are some examples:
- Milk: Drinking a glass of milk can help to reduce the heat and burning sensation caused by spicy food.
- Yogurt: Yogurt contains probiotics, which can help to soothe the stomach and reduce inflammation. It also contains casein, which can help to neutralize the capsaicin molecules in spicy food. You can also add some water and salt for taste to plain yogurt to turn it into a drink, a popular beverage in Arabic and Turkish cultures.
- Cheese: Cheese contains casein and fat, both of which can help to neutralize the capsaicin molecules in spicy food.
- Ice cream: Eating ice cream after spicy food can help to cool down the mouth and reduce the burning sensation. Ice cream also contains fat, which can help to dissolve and dilute the capsaicin molecules.
- Sour cream: Sour cream contains fat, which can help to neutralize the capsaicin molecules in spicy food. It also has a cooling effect, which can help to reduce the burning sensation.
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk contains lactic acid, which can help to soothe the stomach and reduce inflammation. It also contains casein, which can help to neutralize the capsaicin molecules in spicy food.
Remember that different people may have different levels of tolerance for spicy food, and some may find that even milk products do not completely eliminate the burning sensation.
If you are sensitive to spicy food, it is always a good idea to start with milder dishes and gradually increase the level of spiciness as your tolerance develops.
What Type Of Milk Is Best To Reduce Spiciness?
When it comes to relieving spiciness, there isn’t a specific type of milk that is universally more effective than others.
Whole milk, which contains a higher fat content, is generally considered to be more effective than low-fat or skim milk in providing relief from spiciness. The fat in whole milk can help to dilute the capsaicin, the compound responsible for the heat sensation.
That said, the effectiveness of milk in relieving spiciness can vary from person to person, as individual tolerance to spicy foods differs. Some people may find that any type of milk, including low-fat or skim milk, provides sufficient relief, while others may prefer higher-fat options like whole milk, cream, or even dairy products like yogurt or cheese.
Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal preference and experimentation. If you find that one type of milk is not providing the desired relief, you can try different options to see which works best for you. Keep in mind that while milk can temporarily alleviate the spiciness, it may not completely eliminate it, and the effects may vary depending on factors such as the spiciness of the food and individual sensitivity to heat.
Non-Dairy Alternatives To Counteract Spicy Foods
There are non-dairy alternatives that can help provide relief from spiciness particularly if you can’t consume dairy or don’t want to. While they may not have the exact same composition as dairy milk, they can still offer some soothing effects.
Here are a few non-dairy options to consider:
- Starchy Foods: Foods like potatoes, plain bread, rice and pasta have starch which is known to help counteract capsaicin. So if you are eating a spicy dish, adding these items and eating them in between bites of spicy foods can help.
- Coconut Milk: Coconut milk, extracted from the flesh of coconuts, has a creamy texture and can provide a cooling effect similar to dairy milk. It contains some fat, which can help to alleviate the spiciness. Additionally, the natural sweetness of coconut milk can help balance the heat.
- Almond Milk: Almond milk is made by blending almonds with water and straining out the pulp. While almond milk has a lower fat content compared to dairy milk, it can still provide a mild soothing effect. It has a slightly nutty flavor that may complement certain spicy dishes.
- Cashew Milk: Cashew milk is made by blending cashews with water and straining. It has a creamy texture and a subtle, slightly sweet taste. The fat content in cashew milk can help reduce the spiciness and provide a soothing sensation.
- Oat Milk: Oat milk is made from oats and water. While it has a lower fat content, it has a smooth and creamy texture. Oat milk can help to provide a soothing sensation and may help alleviate the spiciness to some extent.
- Rice Milk: Rice milk is made from milled rice and water. It has a thinner consistency compared to dairy milk, but it can still provide a cooling effect and help dilute the spiciness.
Considerations To Be Aware Of
It’s important to note that non-dairy alternatives may not have the same fat content or composition as dairy milk, so their effectiveness in relieving spiciness may vary. Additionally, the flavor profile of these alternatives may not be the same as dairy milk, so it’s a matter of personal preference to find the one that works best for you.
Also be aware that if you additionally suffering from bloating, you may wish to stay away from dairy products. While dairy can help neutralize the spiciness of foods, it can make bloating worse. So if you already have a bloated stomach, stay away from dairy.
Remember that drinking water alongside non-dairy alternatives can also help to provide relief by rinsing off the spicy compounds from the taste buds. Additionally, consuming foods that have a cooling effect, such as yogurt or cucumber, can further help to alleviate the spiciness.
Ultimately, the choice of non-dairy alternative depends on personal taste preferences and dietary considerations.
Final Thoughts
When eating spicy foods, milk or a milk-based product like plain yogurt can help to quickly extinguish the heat from your favorite foods. While water would be the next choice if milk isn’t readily available, stay away from alcohol or soda which can actually make things wore.
You can check out the article Why Doesn’t Soda or Alcohol Help With Spicy Food and What Neutralizes Spicy Food to learn more about handling spicy foods as you’re actually eating it.
We’ve also looked at other angles regarding how to deal with spicy foods including the article Does Lemon Water Help With Spicy Food?