Hot Chile Hands

I was watching an episode of Good Eats today when Alton mentioned a remedy for hot chile hand syndrome (see my earlier post on the subject.) According to Alton, and backed up by Soup Song, you can also neutralize the fiery effects of capsicum on the tender flesh of your fingers by occasionally dipping them in a one to five mixture of bleach and water. Here is what Soup Song has to say on the matter:

IF YOU'RE TOO STUBBORN TO WEAR RUBBER GLOVES WHEN YOU'RE CUTTING CHILES AND THEN JUSTIFIABLY WORRY ABOUT RUBBING YOUR EYES OR PERFORMING OTHER BODILY FUNCTIONS. And this goes double for people who wear contact lenses and have to take them out at some point. WELL, there really IS a bonafide solution here--and I do mean solution. Just get yourself a little bowl of clorox (bleach), diluted 5 parts water to 1 part bleach, and so long as you dip your fingers in from time to time you've got the problem licked. Why? Capsaicin compound is not soluble in water, but chlorine or ammonia turns it into a salt, which IS soluble in water. Please be advised, though, you should never soak your hands in this solution--that will compound the problem and cause burns. Just dip the fingers quickly. Alternatively, one reader advises that you can also protect your hands by coating them lightly with vegetable oil as a barrier--not as good as rubber gloves, but the same principle.

I just want to add here that Soup Song is one of my favorite web sites. Of course, I adore soup and generally make a pot of soup (or stew) once a week or so. Soup Song feels the same way I do about soup. They tackle everything soup related, from recipes to history to folklore and song.